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Rear camber issues

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shw104

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
We have a 2015 Odyssey with 51,000 miles on it.. Our first set of tires ended up with abnormal wear on the outside (all 4). We rotate regularly. I got it aligned and put winter tires on it this past winter. After 3-4K miles on brand new tires ended up with the same wear pattern on the back.

Honda garage said there is no adjustment for rear camber on the Odyssey. Alignment numbers show -2.0 and -1.9 camber on the back. "Specified range is =-1.3 to 0.3".

Honda garage said it's normal and nothing they can do, just rotate your tires regularly. I smell BS but don't have any data or information to argue....

Has anyone else run into this?

scott
 
#2 ·
I purchased these adjustable rear links from Moog. Surf the usual vendors for a deal. You can put them in yourself if you can do shocks/struts. If you have to pay to have them done you'll pay retail+ and the labor. Fixed my issues.


 
#4 ·
Those alignment numbers indicate too much negative camber. That would cause excessive wear on the inside of the tread. But you described the wear as on the outside. Did you mean on the inside of the tread?

Negative rear camber (with the non-adjustable stock suspension) can also be caused by worn rear springs. Do you tow or carry heavy loads?

Dave
 
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#5 ·
Following on what davedrivesody said,

How are the rear toe numbers?

Maybe something failed (on both sides) back there, causing the increase in camber and also toe-in. The toe-in would give you wear on the outsides. Rear toe definitely is adjustable, but it is easier for the shop to not do it, so ...

Also, that toe adjustment does end up making some change to camber, so it might actually slightly improve camber. When I aligned my '99 several years ago (gave up on the dealer who claimed the only adjustment on the whole van was front toe), I found that correcting my rear toe did help rear camber enough to get it within spec. I don't have those adjustable control arms some others have, but I don't tow things, so the load back there is pretty normal most of the time.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
davedrivesody said:
Those alignment numbers indicate too much negative camber. That would cause excessive wear on the inside of the tread. But you described the wear as on the outside. Did you mean on the inside of the tread?

Negative rear camber (with the non-adjustable stock suspension) can also be caused by worn rear springs. Do you tow or carry heavy loads?

Dave
Click to expand...
'

You are correct... inside tread. :)
 
#8 ·
For those that did the link swap
What did you use to make sure the adjustments don't change?...Caliper???
 
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#9 ·
DNK said:
For those that did the link swap
What did you use to make sure the adjustments don't change?...Caliper???
Click to expand...
There's nuts that you tighten to keep the alignment where it's set. If you mean while under heavy load, there's nothing out there that will correct camber/toe on the fly.
 
#10 ·
NathanJax said:
If you mean while under heavy load, there's nothing out there that will correct camber/toe on the fly.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the independent rear suspension on these vans goes negative on camber under load by virtue of the suspension geometry. There's no way to avoid it.

Air bags, that keep a constant ride height loaded or not, would probably help.

Dave
 
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#11 ·
Don't have an answer to OP's question, but I did replace all 4 tires on my 2014 at about 58K miles because of outside wear. I didn't check the alignment, but did later when I got new tires. If there was no outside wear, I may run the tires maybe another 5-8K miles.

When they did the alignment, I don't reall it being really off. The Honda dealer did realigned it, but I consider that "normal" rather than anything excessive.
 
#12 ·
NathanJax said:
There's nuts that you tighten to keep the alignment where it's set. ...
Click to expand...
I understand that.
My question is...It don't come out of the box at the correct length. What is the best method to match to the OEM one hat is coming out?
Using a caliper?
 
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#15 ·
Yes, that would be a good way to set it initially. Then the alignment would set it precisely.

That's similar to how a new tie rod end is installed - counting the same number of threads as the old gives a reasonably accurate position.

Dave
 
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#16 ·
Well of course you'd get an alignment after.
Lets say the OE comes off and they are 6"OA
The one you put on the passenger side is 8"OA
Drivers side is 5.5"OA

You drive 30 miles to the shop and tear a set of tires up
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
oldskewel said:
Following on what davedrivesody said,

How are the rear toe numbers?

Maybe something failed (on both sides) back there, causing the increase in camber and also toe-in. The toe-in would give you wear on the outsides. Rear toe definitely is adjustable, but it is easier for the shop to not do it, so ...

Also, that toe adjustment does end up making some change to camber, so it might actually slightly improve camber. When I aligned my '99 several years ago (gave up on the dealer who claimed the only adjustment on the whole van was front toe), I found that correcting my rear toe did help rear camber enough to get it within spec. I don't have those adjustable control arms some others have, but I don't tow things, so the load back there is pretty normal most of the time.
Click to expand...
Full rear numbers
Camber: -2.0 (left), -1.9 (right)
Toe: 0.01 (left), 0.12 (right)
Cross Camber: 0.1
Total Toe: 0.13
Thrust Angel: -0.05
 
#18 ·
shw104 said:
Full rear numbers
Camber: -2.0 (left), -1.9 (right)
Toe: 0.01 (left), 0.12 (right)
Cross Camber: 0.1
Total Toe: 0.13
Thrust Angel: -0.05
Click to expand...
The right toe and total toe are out of spec, and are adjustable. Is there a good reason the shop doing the alignment did not adjust that?

BTW, usually toe being out of spec is more of an issue with tire wear than camber is.
 
#19 ·
Probably have worn springs. Camber -1 to 1.5 is great for cornering. I put new springs and will install adjustable camber control arms. Will make it -1 in the rear -1.5 to -2 in the front.
Need to have a slight toe in the back to keep van straight on highway. Front toe of 0 is good. Maybe a little toe in.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
took it to our local honda garage.. they said that all is normal. they had their 20 year+ suspension specialist look at it and he said all is normal. Take it to another garage?

What is or should this be covered under warranty? It only has 50K on it..

Scott
 
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oldskewel
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