Hello everyone, maybe some one can help me, I took my car in for a alignment, having got both front struts replaced. and first off it needed a new tie rod, then they are going to align. However the "better then thou" service desk worker said I might need a Camber kit if they cannot get it aligned properly. and to install it is $450 WOW!!! So i was wondering if anyone has done it has a picture of where they go etc, also what is in the kit, it it really just two bolts? because Dodge is saying its $150 bucks for the kit, but the Moog on is $15???

Thanks for any insight

-Rinse

 

Camber kits from the dealer are $45.35 per strut. The kits from Moog and every other aftermarket one I've used are garbage. Who installed the new struts? When we install new struts, camber kits are part of the job, but $450 is a little out there.

 

The struts were installed by my mechanic, not the dealer. I was unaware that they would have been "part of the job". Anyhow, is it a job that a home mech can tackle, what is involved, any help would be appreciated!

 

CAMBER ADJUSTMENT BOLT PACKAGE INSTALLATION

The camber adjustment bolt package contains 2 flange bolts, 2 cam bolts, 2 dog bone washers, and 4 nuts. This package services both sides of the vehicle. Use the package to attach the strut clevis bracket to the steering knuckle after the strut clevis bracket has been modified. To install and adjust the camber adjustment bolt package, follow the procedure below.

1. Raise the vehicle until its tires are not supporting the weight of the vehicle.
2. Remove the front tire and wheel assemblies. CAUTION: When removing the steering knuckle from the strut clevis bracket, do not put a strain on the brake flex hose. Also, do not let the weight of the steering knuckle assembly be supported by the brake flex hose when removed from the strut assembly. If necessary use a wire hanger to support the steering knuckle assembly or if required remove the brake flex hose from the caliper assembly.
   CAUTION: The knuckle to strut assembly attaching bolt shanks are serrated and must not be turned during removal. Remove the nuts while holding the bolts stationary.
3. Remove the top and bottom, strut clevis bracket to steering knuckle attaching bolts (Clevis Bracket To Steering Knuckle Attaching Bolts)and discard. Separate the steering knuckle from the strut clevis bracket and position steering knuckle so it is out of the way of the strut. CAUTION: When slotting the bottom mounting hole on the strut clevis bracket, do not enlarge the hole beyond the indentations on the sides of the strut clevis bracket (Strut Clevis Bracket Bolt Hole Grinding Area).
4. Using an appropriate grinder and grinding wheel, slot the bottom hole in both sides of the strut clevis bracket (Strut Clevis Bracket Bolt Hole Grinding Area). CAUTION: After slotting the strut clevis bracket hole, do not install the original attaching bolts when assembling the steering knuckle to the strut assembly. Only the flange bolts, cam bolts, and dog bone washers from the service package must be used to attach the steering knuckle to the strut after the mounting hole is slotted.
   NOTE: The strut clevis-to-knuckle bolts are installed differently on each side of the vehicle. Left-hand-side bolts are installed from vehicle rear to front (Package Bolts Correctly Installed). Right-hand-side bolts are installed from vehicle front to rear.
5. Position the knuckle back into the strut clevis bracket. Using the direction indicated in the above note, install a flanged bolt from the service package into the upper mounting hole. Using the direction indicated in the above note, install a cam bolt into the bottom mounting hole (Package Bolts Correctly Installed).
6. Install a dog bone washer on the steering knuckle to strut clevis bracket attaching bolts, then install the nuts onto the bolts from the service package (Dog Bone Washer And Nuts Installed). Tighten the bolts just enough to hold the steering knuckle in position when adjusting camber, while still allowing the steering knuckle to move in clevis bracket.
7. Repeat the procedure to the other side strut clevis bracket.
8. Reinstall both front tire and wheel assemblies and tighten to specifications.
9. Lower the vehicle. Jounce the front and rear of vehicle an equal amount of times.
10. Adjust the front camber to the preferred setting by rotating the lower eccentric cam bolt against the cam stop areas on the strut clevis bracket (Camber Adjustment Cam Bolt). When camber is set, tighten the upper strut clevis bracket bolt and lower cam bolt. Again jounce front and rear of vehicle an equal amount of times and verify front camber setting. Torque both front strut to steering knuckle attaching bolts to 81 N·m (60 ft. lbs.) plus an additional 1/4 (90°) turn after the required torque is met.
11. If toe readings obtained are not within the required specification range, adjust toe to meet the preferred specification setting. Toe is adjustable using the following procedure.

 

 

 

Tizzy, Thanks for the instruction, one more thing, on the diagrams, would you happen to have what each of the 1,2,3,4 is?

Thanks

 

pic2
1 is the steering knuckle
2 upper strut knuckle bolt
3 adjustable steering knuckle bolt
4 strut

the camber bolt is really nothing more than a cam bolt that has an offset to it. see all these vans built after 1996 have no provision for camber adjustment to make any adjustments requires setting it up like the old vans were. Some alignment shops will just take a die grinder and oval one of the strut bolt holes to put some adjustment into the strut.