Steering issue
 

I'm having issues with my '97 ex sedan pulling to the right. I automatically assumed alignment problem like everyone else suggested to me but it's not. I need some other opinions. First off I had brand new winter tires put on about 2 weeks ago, everything was fine with the tires. I also had an ongoing problem with a bad upper control arm bushing (it would clunk and rattle all the time), I replaced both control arms with cheap ebay prime choice auto parts brand. I'm concerned it may be an issue with the quality of the parts since I didn't have a pull until I swapped them. I brought my car in for an alignment after the control arm swap cause I didn't want to ruin my new tires. Anyway the garage said it's a tire issue not an alignment issue but like I said there was no problem until I put the cheap ebay control arms in. The steering feels sticky, like it sticks whatever way you turn it for a few seconds but it always pulls to the right when it straightens out. I checked and rechecked everything about three times, it's all tight and no problems I can find. Car drives really smooth, no vibrations with the new tires, just the pull. Any ideas? I was thinking about getting better quality name brand control arms but I don't want to throw more money at it for new control arms if it's not that. I'm at a dead end, it's my only vehicle and I don't have any time to leave it torn apart. I'm a delivery driver so going without a vehicle is not an option, thanks guys.

I'm going to move this over to the suspension forum, but meantime here's a couple thoughts...

I think the camber spec has a pretty wide tolerance. But you might be able to convince the alignment shop to make the camber nearly equal from side-to-side. For example -0.9 on one side & +0.9 on the other side might be technically acceptable but you'd rather have them match each other.

I apologize for posting in the wrong section. I honestly don't know much at all about alignment, I do almost all my own work except that. I was told to get a printout, which I wasn't aware of at the time. I've never had many alignment issues with all the cars I've ever owned. I don't trust garages to do work on my vehicles and actually do it right...they told me it was a tire issue. I may try new name brand control arms and see. Thanks for the reply. I read online and it says to lower the car and rock it back and forth to settle the suspension before tightening the nuts fully but on a youtube video they tighten everything in the air. I did control arms on my old civic before with no problems like this.

Some bushings, like inboard end of the lower control arms, don't actually pivot. Instead the rubber flexes when the arms hinge up & down. So in a way that rubber bushing acts as another "spring" of sorts. You want the rubber to be in a relaxed position when the suspension is at rest.