I loaded my car into a moving truck on Friday, drove it roght in the back of a 53' semi trailer. It shows up at my house yesterday, 1500 mile trip. seems fine and everything looks good. I pull it into the driveway after we unload the truck and notice the steering feels odd. I get out and look and this thing has a ton of positive camber on both wheels and the toe in seems to be too much. this is a car I drove regularly over the last three summers. What would cause a car to suddenly have A LOT of positive camber and a bit too much toe in? The tops of both tires are leaned out, that's positive right? Anyway I did call the shipper and they will be out on friday. I am wondering if the driver had the car out for a joy ride and jumped it or something, I do not know and otherwise the car looks fine. Any front end experts?

How did they secure the front?

Maybe something got bent

for positive camber,the lower control arms would have to be bent.Bent uppers usualy cause neg camber.Is the ride height the same?If the front is higher for some reason, that will camber top out.I have seen saged K-frames,but that usually ends up with neg camber also.If it looks and feels that bad,check for tire wear.If it was driven for a while,there should be evidence of outside tire wear,from the truck up the driveway should not show anything,but if joy-riding,tire wear will be there.Hope there is a simple explanation.

Bill, That's the strange part. The front was not tied down at all. There were two straps on the rear. Tons of space in the truck and just the rear was tied down. I can not see any evidence of damage. I will take it in next week and see what the shop can find.

Does this condition stay after a drive?
I have had situations similar to this. In my case, the K frame was to blame. The hole that the lower controal arm stud passes through was elongated. What happens is that the welds weaken with age, then get wobbled out. This, along with worn LCA bushings caused both Camber and toe changes.

Drive it more than "into the driveway" (like around the block) to settle the ride height and see if the problem persists.

If it does, you will need an physical inspection, and not a bunch of guesses from afar, to get to the bottom of this.

There really isn't any part of a proper 1500 mile transport that should have caused this.

PERSONALLY, I don't quite follow the drove it into a semi description, nor the "secured at the rear only" deal. It sounds rather atypical.

I'll guess you backed it out of the trailer and into the driveway and noticed the problem, yes?

I've seen this happen a few times, its usually worn out (like wasted!) brake strut rod bushings. The brake strut rods keep the lower control arm triangulated and when the bushings get pounded out the lower control arm can move forward and rearward with an associated wicked change in camber and toe!

Classic bad bushing symptom. Push the car forward a couple of feet and tell us how it looks then.

Cheers!!

John P.

I did back it out of the trailer, and I did take it around the block. No change. I will figure out whats up and let you know. All the bushing are new as of 3 years ago and have about 2500 miles on them.

68HemiB not sure how I can explain it for you any better. I drove the car into a semi trailer, I drove it out 3 days later, 1500 miles away and the camber was way off. I have pics of me driving the car into and out of the trailer if you want for verification. the movers strapped it down crossing the straps diagonally on the rear. This was a company paid for move, so they load it (although they let me drive it on), they break it and they pay for it.

I'd like to see those before and after pics. I really just would like to see more of your car. Nice Ride. The camber issue just don't make sense unless you find evidence of joy riding. Bent rim or grass hanging underneath, or some other factor.

Did you follow the haul from beginning to end or keep the keys in your pocket? Possible the car was taken for a joy ride since it doesn't sound like it would take too much to off load and reload?

are you sure your upper control arms didn't loosen up?

If the controll arms loosened up, they would fall in. You didn't happen to lower your torsion bars lately did ya?

I would look at the strut rods or the LCA's. I bet the car had "J" looking hooks that the driver put through the strut rods or around the LCA's in the front that you didn't see.Something got bent up there. I doubt they transported the car 1500 miles with just the back tied down. The car would be into the side of the trailer if they did.

To find out what happened