After I have replaced almost all the the front suspension plus 4 new tires on a 2008 HHR SS I recently bought, I went for an alignment at my favorite shop, which is awesome. I was informed that they could not get the passenger side rear wheel into alignment specs. It has been suggested that passenger side rear wheel could have hit a curb and bent the axle which threw out the toe adjustment and could not be brought into specs. My question for you suspension and chassis gurus is other than a new axle assembly, what are my choices for a fix? I know it's hard without seeing it but take a stab at it for me to learn on.
Thanks

 

To start with the shop set the machine to FE1/FE3 not FE5.


Looks like it's close to right to me; +.25 plus or minus .30. that makes .55 OK. However the difference between L & R is odd.

Is the shop aware that shims are available for the rear? There is no "wrench" adjustment in the rear. It takes a very experienced technician, many don't know it's possible, many don't know how.


Alignment Camber/Toe Shim Rear MOOG K6717-3 | eBay
It is also possible your rear hubs are going bad, usually that shows in camber. Which shows the R is a bit off.

 

Yes, he told me they had some shims for it. Before I get anything done, I want to get under and check out the rear myself to see if I can find any damage. I will definitely do something before unwanted tire wear sets in.
Thanks donbrew!

 

Is the top number the suggested target degree or the plus or minus tolerance zone?

 

+.55 is ok, but he's at -.60

 

My arithmetic fails. And I am looking at the wrong numbers!

The only numbers from the factory are total toe and thrust angle.

never mind.

I would still be checking the hubs.

 

We're talking about rear toe, and I know nothing about alignment. But math I can do. The GM spec, that's the one in your post? It says +.25 +/- .30 so to me that means -.05 to +.55 Is that right?

EDIT, wait that's total toe

If I understand correctly, one is toed in and one is toed out. Seems like the desired toe would be +.25 on each side.

 

I am thinking actually it is the tiny bit of camber on the right side throwing the toe off; meaning hubs getting loose.

 

I would address the hubs and redo the alignment. Go from there if your under there, I just made you think underwere! Have a look at the rear axle bushings, and take a look to see if the arms are square

 

My wife doesn't like me looking at other people's underwear

I'll check the trailing arm bushings for square, as I recall they looked worn. Doing about 25 mph I pulled up on the hand brake activating the rear brakes and the car went to the left which leads me to believe the passenger rear is toe out as specified on the original alignment sheet I posted. I'm thinking about doing the full contact circular shim with the alignment figures given for the toe and camber for correct shim if I can't find any thing wrong with the hubs or trailing arm bushings.
https://www.mcbayperformance.com/Bro..._p/46-1520.htm