Camber question (stock suspension)

[acrossthec]

Hoping someone can provide some feedback - I'm not the most knowledgeable on most car issues, though I do my fair share of reading though the forums to almost know what I'm talking about!

I've got a 2004 Mazda3 GT hatch that has some serious camber issues. I'm at 125k, with the stock suspension all around, no work done except for the trailing arm bushings replaced last year. The last alignment I had in August, they (Altech) told me the rear camber was just barely in spec and couldn't be adjusted any further, and that I would likely have to get a camber kit to correct it.

My question is this; if I have a stock ride (not lowered), could the camber issues be the result of wear and tear on the shocks/struts? Would it be more cost effective to replace the shocks/struts than to put the camber arms on?

The camber is really pretty bad at this point, I have more or less destroyed my all-seasons even with rotating them at every oil change. I don't really want to trash my winters, so I'm hoping to resolve the issue in the coming weeks so I can get the winters on before the first snow hits! Any help/insight would be much appreciated!

[aris]

Just put adjustable camber kits on your car and then take it for aligment... I did this and so did my sister in law and 2 other Mazda that my brother installed the camber kits... And them we had it set at 0... Mine had to o to -1.5 do to rubing and me being lowered.

If the shocks are fine then don't replace

[Jackal]

Your camber issues are most likely due to huge potholes taking them out of spec. There are several camber kits to choose from but many on the forum including myself have chosen the Eibach camber kit. Try one of our sponsors in the Sponsor section. I got mine from NextMod but send a few PMs for best prices and one near you.

[acrossthec]

Thanks for the responses. I guess the camber kit is the best way to go here. I just wanted to make sure it was the only solution - when I asked my dealer about the issue they seemed clueless. I understand it's likely the result of wear and tear (potholes, overloading my trunk and back seat with camping gear and/or equipment for work), I just wasn't sure on which parts. I had already priced out the Eibach kit and looks like Nextmod has the best price, may have to make a trip out this weekend.

[aris]

The camber issue has nothing to do with wear and tear or even pot holes. I've chewed up two sets of tires and so has my sister in law. When the cars were brand new they chewed up the tires went back to dealer... Their solution it needed aligment so we did it. Still chewed up tires.

My sister in law put a new set of tires and at the same time my brother installed the eibach Camber kits this summer then alignment and had the camber set at 0 and 40,000km the tires are wearing fine.

We ended up buying ours from tire rack it was $207 each shipped to my door.

When I priced them out from sponsors Nextmod wanted $250 cash and gofortires wanted $239 tax in

[Jackal]

Thanks for the responses. I guess the camber kit is the best way to go here. I just wanted to make sure it was the only solution - when I asked my dealer about the issue they seemed clueless. I understand it's likely the result of wear and tear (potholes, overloading my trunk and back seat with camping gear and/or equipment for work), I just wasn't sure on which parts. I had already priced out the Eibach kit and looks like Nextmod has the best price, may have to make a trip out this weekend.

You should see if you can get a deal with Altech for both installation and alignment. I know that when I did my alignment at Level Auto, they gave me a deal on the install and alignment.