So, I just finished an alignment a few days ago and car drives straight, but still does pull to the right a bit, so I guess it doesn't drive straight. Here are the specs from my alignment:

FL / Front / FR
-0.5 / Camber / -0.7
8.2 / Caster / 5.7
0.05 / Toe / 0.03

Cross Camber 0.1
Cross Caster 2.5
Total Toe 0.08

RL / Rear / RR
-1.7 / Camber / -1.6
0.18 / Toe / 0.20

Cross Camber -.01
Total Toe 0.39
Thrust Angle -0.01

So, everything adjustable is all within spec.

Caster is off a bit on the front right, but within spec on the left.

My questions:

1. Is 2.5' a big enough difference that I should worry?

2. What could be causing the off spec caster on the FR? I am thinking I have to go and swap out the front LCA and link. If that doesn't fix it, then maybe strut mount?

3. Does it warrant the consideration to install 996 GT3 LCA's? Stock height, stock suspension. No plans for DE's, mainly for spirited driving.

Thankfully I can do the installs myself and I have the ability to go and get my alignment checked after each change, so labor costs is not an issue. I just don't want to be chasing bad parts with good parts.

 

Yes, front caster too much difference side-to-side. Just think of it as pushing a shopping cart with one side hanging out there. I'd try getting another alignment from a competent tech/shop to verify, instead of throwing money at a non-component issue.

 

Caster is non adjustable on the 997.2 C2S. That was why I was thinking of switching to the GT3 LCA for the caster adjustments.

 

right front caster does not seem to be in range ( if I m reading mine correctly)
should be between 7.7 and 8.7... you have 5.7.

 

My thoughts too...was the car ever hit or curbed really hard? I don't think that little bit of toe difference in front would be enough to actually "pull". That's an unusual amount of difference in caster. Since there is no way to adjust it, even at extreme suspension difference (like after lowering and before an alignment) you would never see a caster number like that...I don't think??

 

Yeah, the car has a previous front side damage. It was repaired. When I had the PPI I didn't have an alignment check, is that usually part of the PPI?

I have had 2 (one close to the seller, and after purchase our regular go to guy) trusted mechanics look at the car, visually there didn't look like anything wrong with it. Driving, besides the slight pull to the right, it handled like it should.

I did not realize it there might be an issue until I had an alignment done and saw the caster was off.

I had taken off the front bumper to install a new radiator support and did some measurements and yeah, it seems the front right is slightly off.

I have already ordered new components for the front right. If rebuilding the front shock (everything except for the shock tube) doesn't fix the issue, then I will go and check the front LCA and the link. I will probably take off both front left and right so that I can compare before buying the control arm parts. Rebuilding of the shock body, strut mount, bearing, caps, shock plates, etc. is only like $150 in parts (all Porsche genuine or OEM (lemforder or trw)) parts.


Going to work on it next weekend after the parts get in. Plus it will be a good time to get my son to start learning about taking apart cars.

 

Good work...and a good lesson. Not sure I would take the time to check alignment as part of a PPI but if it was at a dealer I'll sure as hell ask them to put it on the rack if they had one.

Having just done my springs and been through the alignment and suspension I can tell you it doesn't take much to throw things way out of whack. Something jammed those suspension components back.

 

Tore apart the front strut and rebuilt the components Mount/bearings/etc.
Realigned and still same.

Before I decide to start throwing money at parts, I took it to the best place I know...

Custom Alignment in Mountain View.

They laser measured all the mounts and the car came back perfectly in spec.

What wasn't? The Caster Control Arm.

Was it bent? Nope.
Was the bolt's bent? Nope.

It is OEM. Right part number. But for some reason, it is like 1/4" or so longer than the other side and it was pushing the wheel back causing the drastic difference in caster.

Weirdness. That was the only thing that was off on the whole front end.


So, out of all my options, I am having them install some Elephant Racing LCA bushings so the caster can be adjusted to spec.

 

That was why I was thinking of switching to the GT3 LCA for the caster adjustments.

 

I don't know much about alignment, but can the sub-frame assembly be loosened and moved slightly?

 

Not an option. Everything under the car was laser measured and shown to be in spec. The caster control arm was the only thing not in range.