Hey all-

I just got back from the tire shop that's always done a great job with alignments, even on problem cars. Seems my cars always have problems.

So '86 745T 218K, they call me up to the desk to show me how bad my car is. They're reporting that the pass wheel is positive 2 degrees castor, and off 1 degree camber on both sides. The camber I'm not worried about, if I keep this car it's getting a strut tower brace.

Anyhow the reason for the alignment was new radius rod bushings and new tie rod ends. Car actually tracked quite well driving it to the shop.

They tell me the car's way out, we both looked at it and couldn't see any obvious damage, so they did their best and it now pulls right on the highway. Thanks a lot guys.

I stop in at my parts guy's place on the way home and he says maybe it's a bad strut mount. I'd never heard any clunking but figured who knows?

So I get home, pop the hood, and WHOA! The driver's side upper strut mount has the strut nut biased towards the rear of the car, and the passenger side is biased to the front! I mean this is so obvious I'm surprised I never saw it before- I'm a little embarrassed. It looks like the passenger side upper strut mount is reversed, I'm checking all the books to be sure, but can anyone confirm? I'm planning on dropping that side and seeing if I can simply compress the strut assembly and spin it 180 degrees and reinstall.

Here's what worries me- did someone do this intentionally to make up for some OTHER castor problem? The alignment guys said 2 degrees, but I've got to think this sort of reversal would result in more than 2 degrees. I guess it depends on where you measure it, no?

Any advice, warnings, finger-pointing welcome.

Thanks
-Dylan