Rear Alignment in '91 Civic?

Before I move to another state, I went to the same Honda mechanic for
decades. Before I left, I had him give the car one last look and fix
everything that needed fixing. I got new shocks/structs and other
funky things. And a week later a new radiator because the old one
blew. I love my car, that's why I keep it. People ask me all the
time if I'm selling. It looks great.

Anyway, my tires were cupped and that was the very last thing he wanted
me to do, but I decided to move first (driving) and get new tires then,
which I did.

Long story short, I was rear-ended with no damaged, seemingly, except
bent plate frame holder and scrapes on the bumper. I was in my old
neighhood and had my old mechanic do another once-over on the car. He
said the rear tires were cupped. He then looked under the car ro see
if the rear end was "alignable," said it was, and suggested I get it
fixed.

Well, when I mentioned it to my new mechanic he looked at me like I was
nuts. Can the rear be aligned on this car or not. If so, what should
I exactly say to a shop to avoid being treated like a "woman."

 

yes, the 91 rear is definitely alignable. the chassis bolt mounting for
the rear suspension compensator arm is elongated for this purpose. if
your mechanic doesn't know this, find another one because this
individual doesn't know what they're doing. i had this experience
recently at an alignment shop - had the show the tech how to do it.

 

Jim, you are just a font of '91 Honda information. Perhaps one day
I'll ask you about the horn that only gives one tone when it's damp or
very humid outside, and the dash lights that used to just work once
things got warmed up, but now not at all. (I bought a cool little red
LED pocket light for when I need it. Works great.

 

One of the two horns (or their wiring) are bad. They are located behind the
front bumper, on the outside corners of the car. They tend to rust badly.

Each horn has a slightly different tone.

 

Hmm, I bet I can give it a soft filing if the wires are accessible. I
like being handy.

 

The wires are easily accessible, but require the removal of the front
bumper. That takes about 5 minutes and the removal of 8 screws and bolts.
Have new signal light gaskets handy ($5 each at the dealer) otherwise
you'll get moisture inside the lights after.

 

Oh... nevermind. I'll get someone else to do it. I'm handy, but
terribly lazy. That antenna thing was hard enough.

 

check the dimmer rheostat. they burn out.

 

What's your mileage?

 

-trimmed-

The rear alignment in my 91' civic sedan is always going stray. At high
speeds the rear of the car is turbulent (rapid bouncing). Aligning always
seems to remedy the problem. I think it might be the way I corner hard to
get the alignment to go off. I'm not sure. It might be my slamming thru
potholes in the road.

 

I doubt it is your cornering that is the root of the problem. There is no way
that Honda sold a car that would go out of alignment simply by corning hard.
I would go over all the parts in the rear suspension to make sure they are not
worn. Your car is 14 years old, so replacing all the bushings in the rear
suspension would probably not be a bad idea.