Adjustable rear upper control arms

[Thrill91Si]

I just bought my 91 Si Hatch a month ago. Before we bought it, we knew the suspension was shot. A couple owners back, the springs were blowtorched in a cheap man's attempt to lower the vehicle. I assume when his/her tires started to shred, they got adjustable rear upper control arms to correct the camber. The last owner didn't want the car as low as it was, so he added spacers in the springs, inconsistantly, 6 spacers in one spring, 1 in another, etc... However, he didn't change the adjustable control arm, so the inside of his tires are being ground away rapidly, as can be seen on the current set of rear tires.

As would be expected, I am doing a suspension overhaul. Urethane bushings and new tokico blue shocks and springs all around.

My question is, what should the rear control arm be set to? The Tokicos are supposed to lower the car 1 1/4". I am planning on taking the car into the Honda dealer for an alignment once I get everything reassembled(shocks haven't arrived yet). Would they correct the upper control arm during the alignment?

Thanks for your help!

[kris]

Whoever does your alignment should adjust it for you.

[chopstick1981]

if the last owner raised the car then the tires should be wearing on the outside. you wear on the inside of the tire when you lower the car. You should also get under there and check whether or not you have a front adjustable camber kit cuz if you dont they cant adjust camber on the front without installing a kit themselves.

[Thrill91Si]

Thanks Kris.:flash:

I don't think the front has a camber kit on it chopstick. The front suspension appears stock. I'm not sure why anyone would correct the camber in the rear and not the front. The front tires are new, or else I could tell where it was rubbing.

If the rear arm was adjusted for a lowered car, and then the car was raised, pushing the wheel center away from the arm, wouldn't that pull the top of the wheel in and the bottom of the wheel out? I think that would rub the inside of the tire. Just a newbie thought...no real experience. Its possible the previous owner tried to correct the camber in the rear and went too far.