Wheel alignment off after wheel bearing replacement??

[evo-r]

This doesn't make sense but I just noticed my wheel alignment is off (drift to the right)... again?

After I purchased the car this past March I had replaced all 4 tires and did a 4 wheels alignment (on the stock 17"). I've only put less than 2k miles since and I don't think I had hit any major pothole or curb. I did put on a set of 19" and ran for about 1k miles then switch back to the 17" 500 miles ago. My rear passenger wheel bearing was replaced 2 weeks ago and I don't "think" the alignment was off before that but this doesn't make sense? I know I need to replace the rear trailing arms due to bad bushings. Before I spend another $120 bucks on the Hunter HawkEye alignment i would like to know the root cause. Any idea why my alignment went out so quick?

[BYprodriver]

A drift to the right is usually caused by the normal "crown" of most roads that aids water drainage to the right. After setting all tires to the same PSI used during the alignment, drive on a flat road with no crown like the middle lane of a 3+ lane freeway.
If it still drifts, the wheel bearing replacement procedure may have altered a alignment setting.

[thstone]

Unfortunatley, it doesn't take much when working on the on the suspension or wheel hubs to alter the alignment. I'd consider that to be your most likely root cause.

This is also known as the "What Ever Was Repaired Last is the Place to Start for The Problem You Have Now" theorem.

[evo-r]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

A drift to the right is usually caused by the normal "crown" of most roads that aids water drainage to the right. After setting all tires to the same PSI used during the alignment, drive on a flat road with no crown like the middle lane of a 3+ lane freeway.
If it still drifts, the wheel bearing replacement procedure may have altered a alignment setting.

Thanks and the first thing I checked was my tire pressures and they are the same as the alignment report. I drove the car in left, center and right lanes of highway and all needed similar steering wheel correction to the left. Sounds like the wheel bearing job caused it.

Originally Posted by thstone

Unfortunatley, it doesn't take much when working on the on the suspension or wheel hubs to alter the alignment. I'd consider that to be your most likely root cause.

This is also known as the "What Ever Was Repaired Last is the Place to Start for The Problem You Have Now" theorem.

Looks like the wheel bearing job was the cause, thanks! So should I wait until the 2 trailing arms are replaced then redo the alignment?

[Timco]

Since we can't exactly rotate, I'd keep it aligned after these procedures and if it drifts when flat.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by evo-r

So should I wait until the 2 trailing arms are replaced then redo the alignment?

No hard rule here. Depends on how bad it is and how long/miles until you replace the 2 trailing arms. You get the idea.

[evo-r]

Called up the indy that did my rear wheel bearing and asked if the bearing replacement had affected the wheel alignment and the guy said "no", and that whatever they did to replace the wheel bearing shouldn't affect the wheel alignment.

[Timco]

Originally Posted by evo-r

Called up the indy that did my rear wheel bearing and asked if the bearing replacement had affected the wheel alignment and the guy said "no", and that whatever they did to replace the wheel bearing shouldn't affect the wheel alignment.

Only needs alignment if the tie rod end pin connection is removed. Forget what the rear is called. Maybe if the bearing had slop, but otherwise a bearing would not cause a need for alignment.

I did all 4 of mine.