Please Help! Camber Kit???

Ok so I have a 97 civic I bought a lil while ago and I wasn't sure what it was but my rear tires were worn really fast and I just noticed that my back two tires are slanted. So I have tried to do a lil research but car stuff is not my thing, but I read that maybe the previous owner could've had it lowered and did something wrong. You can definitely tell it is lowered cuz a friend of mine has the exact same car and hers is higher.
So my question is can I take it and have it raised back to the regular height and not need a camber kit for it? or do you still need a camber kit?
I kinda need to know what to say and ask for since I am a woman mechanics always try to treat me like I have no idea what is what and I don't want to be taken advantage of...please help...thank you

Hello Jenna, if your friend's Honda is identical to yours, then look at her shocks and springs are they same color/brand/shape? if not chances are that someone installed sport type springs which are harder on bumps and shorter to make your car lower. You will have to install original springs to bring the height to normal height. Then take your Honda to alignment shop and it should be around 70$ to align it but ask for printout from alignment machine that shows before and after readings for your Honda's alignment.

an alignment could make the tires do that?

an alignment could make the tires do that?


Yes Jenna, please see this video to learn about this topic more and to easier understand this simple but very important wheel geometry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHPq6nF4EX4

ok thank you...im gonna watch it now

ok thank you...im gonna watch it now


If you don't understand something do not hesitate to ask, someon will always help you.

Thank you soo much...ive been reading things online and I got onto one site that was talking about a camber kit and someone said it was most likely that...So i was kinda worried about it cause those sound a little serious
But thank you

here is another link with pictures of camber kits, do you recognize any of the parts from here that your friend's Honda does not have?

- even new Honda civics (stock) Si models have problems with tires wearing out prematurely.


http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=honda+civic+camber+kit&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=hgdGTNn_G9GtsAaC851e&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=6&ved=0CDUQsAQwBQ&biw=1280&bih=615

not sure...i can look at it when I go home. So what am i looking for? should both of our cars have that?

One thing I forgot to say which I thought I did bt I'm not sure if it matters...but the rear wheels not only are tilting/slanting but they arent in the same direction. The top part of the tires tilt inward and the bottoms tilt out so the insides of both tires are being warn...could that still be an alignment or something else?

Yes alignment consists of toe and camber adjustments sometimes caster.

When you take your car to shop they will know what to do, just tell them that you need alignment.

thank you sooo much...im taking it tomorrow and buying new tires too!