Frustrating Alignment Q's
 

Greetings,

Since I've had this car I've not had a good experience with alignments.

After first alignment I had, it veered right.

Second alignment, veered right, said it was road crown. It isn't.

Third try, still veering right. Took the tech on a test drive to show him. "Oh yeah that's not road crown". Traced it to movement in the front driver's side wheel, need a new outer tire rod end. Alright, I'll bite. Bought and had a new one installed, with a bearing so it can be greased (was 10 bucks more than stock). Still veers right at this point.

Today, waited 90 minutes to get it back and the same goddamn issue. I'm trying to figure out if they're liars (I mean I saw it up on the rack), incompetent, a mixture of both, or if Infiniti is so finicky or has some special tool needed or part adjusted that they just don't know about it or specialize in?

Here I'm attaching my specs. It veers off to the right about 1:00 or 1:30 on a clock. I tried looking in the FSM for the specs but it only has total toe in inches and not in a way I can make sense of. Also what's the kingpin?

I tried searching for alignment issues and all I got was camber kits and people who had lowered their suspensions. I'm not in either of those boats, just want it to go straight. Is it possible they didn't center the steering wheel correctly (I've asked twice).

Any help would be appreciated, I'm even contemplating getting it aligned at the stealership (dealership).
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/g35driv...aba450d66f.jpg

8.5 degrees of camber up front? cripes

Camber says it's within spec? I think you're commenting on the caster? Would caster cause pull to the right like that? Even if they're both relatively the same (8.6, 8.5 respectively?) Also what would cause such a dramatic reading like that anyway?

rofl oops i read the diagram incorrectly my mistake

No worries happens to the best of us. Since you're in So Cal with a first gen G, can I ask you what part of So Cal (I'm in San Diego) and where you get your alignments done? You don't happen to have your last one's specs laying around, do you? Super curious if it's just me or this vehicle or others have the same experience. Keep in mind suspension is all stock as far as I know...

since i derped it i may as well give it a shot, im guessing somethings either bent or bushings are bad, you checked the bushings and arms up front?

I have not, I don't know too much about suspension. Bushings in where? Control arms?

im in santa barbara, i just take mine to big brand. im also having alignment issues, my rear camber is not within spec and im not lowered. i just got tires and alignment done like 2 months ago lemme see if i can find mine. the drifting right is a known issue with our cars by the way

I hadn't heard about the drifting right being an issue :( I swear it was perfect when I first got it. Maybe the specs in the system are bad and everytime they align it they set it to those bad specs? Like I said I'm contemplating the stealership so.... I don't know. I'm not lowered either how do these things get so out of whack? I understand hitting potholes and curbs and parking blocks (I don't do either) but wouldn't it take something pretty gnarly to throw camber and caster that far out of spec? If could see your specs that'd be great. Although if you're drifting too... not sure how much that helps me to get back to center. But at least it's something to compare to... if it's not too much trouble.

You have the gemini exhaust? Does that mean coupe?

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/g35driv...1b078a54c8.jpg

yes i have a coupe so not sure if thats gonna help

You're way outside spec on rear toe. You need to print the last page of the FSM sections FSU and RSU and give it to them, set everything at the nominal value except for front toe set it as the maximum value.

It's also very possible that you have worn front suspension components that are dragging the car once it's under load. if you are taking your car to like a Firestone or something for a alignment check they usually don't know what to look for for parts wear. Independent shops that specialize in alignment or frame straightening will almost always give you better results than Firestone or Midas or places like that. Even the dealership can be really shitty about alignment since they usually put their least experienced technician on it.

google " g35 compression rod tsb"

Also, in the before section of that alignment report you linked your specs for wildly off and I'm not surprised it was dragging the car to the right.

My sincerest apologies for a late response, it did not notify me there were replies to this post.

I have also been away dealing with the wife's hyundai and getting new tires and wheel covers and alignment and brakes and have not had opportunity to come back to my G yet.

Yesterday I took it in to a trusted shop, not Evan's, but my main mechanic. He said that the caster/camber is way out of whack and not adjustable. I need to buy a caster/camber kit.

I have heard of a camber kit, but I don't know how caster works. What actual parts need to be replaced? I don't know enough about suspensions to be comfortable yet. I know there's the double-wishbone which is like upper and lower control arms, right? And McPherson struts which have the spring on them yeah? But I'm not real clear on what our cars have, and between sway bars, bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends... I get lost and I'm not sure what contributes to what?

So if I wanted adjustable *caster* *and* *camber* which is what he thinks I need... what do I replace? I've seen camber kits for sale on performance sites and ebay, etc. Do these camber kits allow for caster adjustment inherently? Or is there specific parts I need to replace in order to do both? The camber kits I've seen basically look like upper control arms. Am I off here? I've also seen camber shims? Or is it caster shims? What are these and what are they used for?

I was quoted in the area of $1000 for parts and labor but I must admit I wasn't clear on what exact parts are being replaced. While I trust the mechanic I go to, I also want to verify. He did say that two bushings are wearing out I believe lower control arm bushings? Does this sound accurate? They're closed today and I can't follow up right now, but I want to be able to be informed when I go in again. Our meeting yesterday was sort of rushed due to the fact that we are under curfew where I live right now.

I did check for the TSBs about the car drifting to the right. I am the 2nd owner of this car and I don't know if all the recalls were serviced or what TSBs he had addressed. Would the compression rod TSB apply to this sedan (it says only for Coupe from what I've read). If so, would that be the issue moreso, over the incorrect/out of spec caster/camber?

Regarding the Toe, I will check the pages you sent me to. I didn't quite understand some of the specifications when I looked but I will check again. You're saying it is still way out on the "after" printout for the rear?

Thank you so much for your feedback this forum and it's members has always come through for me and just want you to know how thankful I am and that's why I bought a membership!

Sorry for so many questions but you all seem to be a wealth of knowledge and despite youtube videos and reading, sometimes I just don't seem to grasp things until they are explained well to me by folks like you.

Thanks again and I will patiently await your response.