complacentsee

Don, what did you do to get your car aligned after using the H&R kit from AWE. I just got a call from the shop saying they couldn't even adjust the steering since the upper control arms were non-adjustable. Same shop that adjusted it last time. They said it maxed out their tools due to the drgree that the tires were sitting perpendicular to the ground. I was told I would need adjustable upper control arms just to get the car aligned.

donromani

Wha..? I had no problems with getting an alignment. I don't know how changing shocks and struts is supposed to make a car "unalignable"...

The upper control arms are adjustable - you just swapped them out so you know what I mean - you can control the initial angle when you tighten those bolts attached to the metal cap at the top. I still don't see how the upper control arms are an issue - you need to tell those punks to quit smoking PCP and fix your car!

donromani

Also, the steering is done with the tie rod ends!

complacentsee

The length of the uppers isn't adjustable. So there is no way to bring the upright back to perpendicular with the ground.

donromani

Hmmm, alright. That wouldn't have anything to do with the AWE stuff though. Is it possible you got the wrong upper control arms? I know there were a few versions of the lower control arms for the different model years...

The only other thing I can think of is that the upper control arms didn't have the right initial angle. If they were angled up to high then when the car is on the ground and the suspension under weight they won't be in the correct position.

complacentsee

I did the whole put weight on the car before tightening. So thats good. I just did some more searching. Sounds like a common issue. Just that they usually still align it.

donromani

I guess it's time to go to another mechanic

complacentsee

VW shop said they should have no problems being able to align the steering. Going in at 11 Central tommorw.

donromani

My experience with the AWE combo has been good - At first I thought it was too low and I had messed up, but there is practically zero give in these shocks. I haven't had any tire scraping issues, but potholes will cause your bladder to burst.

MikekiM@PureMS

That is correct, which is why we offer the Stern adjustable control arms.
They allow you to make changes to camber and caster which you can't normally make changes to.