Technical Front wheel negative camber

[PAUL999s]

Here's a question for any suspension gurus out there....
I have just replaced lower arms, front struts and drop links on wifey's 500 1.2.
Been for a couple of new front tyres and had the wheel alignment done.
Rear is not spot on but within limits.
Front toe is now spot on but camber is about -1.5 on both sides.
First question, is this likely to cause any issues.
The guy doing the Hunter alignment check said that camber can be adjusted by loosening the 2 bolts which mount the hubs to the struts which gives a bit of vertical movement on the hub. His manager said no, camber is non adjustable on these cars.
Who is right? Can front camber be adjusted?
Paul

 

[John202020]

You can only adjust toe in/out via the track rod end everything else is fixed-dependant on manufaturing tolerances of arms struts etc.

 

[percymon]

Just had alignment done on our 1.2s and was told no camber adjustment

 

[callisr]

Had mine done last week and my camber is more or less the same. As already said, it cannot be adjusted and it will be fine! Fret not!

Rich

 

[John202020]

This is mine!that's a brand new rear axel

 

[u33db]

Have you put the top mounts on the correct way?

They are directional and if not fitted can affect camber IIRC

 

[rmjbn1]

This is mine!that's a brand new rear axel

Hmm that's a little disappointing for a new axle. But then maybe it indicates a highly accurate copy of the original build quality Was that aftermarket or original FIAT?

It might be an idea to monitor your rear tyre wear. My left rear was chewing itself to bits because of excessive toe-in.

A few Panda owners (including me) have added shims to the rear hubs to try and correct the mis-alignment (again no provision for adjustment).

 

[portland_bill]

First thought would be top mounts, as mentioned above.
Next, if you still have the old bottom arms, check them against the new ones. Are they short? I think the 500 ones are longer than Panda, and you may have Panda ones.

There is a small amount of play in the hub carrier bolts, but not enough to change the camber significantly, so not really adjustable.

Fiat rear axles were poorly made. Aftermarket ones seem to have copied them exactly, missing an opportunity to be better than OE. Mine came with all the little brackets for cables and hoses bent. A whole pile of axles all had them looking identical, so deliberately bent to match the old sample. Genius.

 

[PAUL999s]

First thought would be top mounts, as mentioned above.
Next, if you still have the old bottom arms, check them against the new ones. Are they short? I think the 500 ones are longer than Panda, and you may have Panda ones.

There is a small amount of play in the hub carrier bolts, but not enough to change the camber significantly, so not really adjustable.

Fiat rear axles were poorly made. Aftermarket ones seem to have copied them exactly, missing an opportunity to be better than OE. Mine came with all the little brackets for cables and hoses bent. A whole pile of axles all had them looking identical, so deliberately bent to match the old sample. Genius.

Thanks for the comments and advice everyone.
Topmounts are definitely correct.
Surely if I had fitted Panda lower arms (shorter) they would have the opposite effect and cause excess positive camber?
To be honest I am not really concerned, the front camber readings are not too excessive and the car seems to drive OK. After doing a bit of research it looks like -1.5 deg front camber is standard for the Abarth, and the N/S lower arm which I have fitted has mounting points for what looks like a HID headlamp levelling device?
Perhaps I have fitted 500 Abarth lower arms? Are they different?

 

[John202020]

My new arms on our 09 pop has the blank hole impression for the HID sensor our arms are Lemforder