Rear camber and toe eccentric washer mounts
 

Hi - is there any way to repair or circumvent with after market parts the use of the eccentric washer set-up to adjust camber and toe on the rear? The subframe on my car is rusty as hell - and the side lugs which the eccentric washers sit between and adjust against have rusted off! The alignment guys do the bolts up VERY tight - but it’s not a long term solution…. Any way to repair this without replacing the whole subframe?

That's a tough one. If the bolts are clean and lightly lubricated it makes a huge difference on how tight they get. Also a small spot weld might do the trick, or welding on a new lug.

Just ordered a set of upper arms from silverproject.eu. These should allow a full range of adjustments. Since they are still in transit I can't relate any experience yet.



Can you grind off the old lugs on the sub-frame and tack weld a small bit of flat steel on it? SOmething 3 or 4mm thick, 1/2"x1" should suffice. It should not take much to keep the eccentrics in place once properly tightened.

I think welding tabs onto the sub frame is the way to go - I don’t know how to weld, and need to see if I can find someone who would be happy welding without removing the fuel tank….

The alignment shop should be able to do that for you.

Don't underestimate how important clean and lightly lubricated bolts are.

Maybe you should try a different alignment shop ??

Not sure the shop I use locally can weld. They have a Hunter alignment machine - and are very good at set up - but specialise in tyres and alignment.

I take track cars to a race focused alignment and geometry specialist but it’s bit further afield. Will give them a call and gauge their thoughts - good idea!

The long term solution is a new subframe, not a large quantity of aftermarket parts that will still be sitting in rusty eccentric holes. Plus, I can pretty much guarantee that you need new subframe bushings anyway.

I’ve rebushed the subframe as it happens - as the main four bushes had all dropped when I bought the car. I also changed all other bushes and arms and bolts….

Really don’t want to drop the whole subframe out - partly as it’ll easily take me two weekends (with family and work duties), and don’t want to be without the car for two to three weeks. A new subframe is over a grand…(someone is selling a ropey one for £750 on ebay….). Hence why I’m looking for another solution. Welding tabs might be a runner - assuming they won’t just ping off - and if I can get someone prepared to weld it….

Interested to see if anyone else has had to deal with this?

Here's the thing: The subframe is slotted whether you install the aftermarket arms or not. You are depending on bolt torque to hold the arms in place regardless of whether the arms themselves are adjustable. If you don't trust the subframe, it doesn't matter what you install there.

Now, that said, the dimples are really just there to make adjustment easier. They are NOT load bearing. If your shop was able to align the car with the dimples gone, this is no less secure than if the dimples were actually there.

Ah that’s interesting about them not being load bearing. They are probably quite strong as they are pressed and hence are part of the subframe, rather than being welded on (I’d think welded on tabs much more likely to snap off… hence possible concern regarding welding on replacements.). But perhaps it’s actually ok if done up VERY tight…