Do crash bolts provide enough camber for autoX?
 

I know there are probably a ton of variables involved in answering this but more or less generally would crash bolt provide enough/not enough/more than enough camber to maximize front tire grip in an autoX setting? Also what are possibly better alternatives for someone running with stock struts? Specifically Im currently running stock struts with TRD lowering springs and 235 +35 wheels/tires and tannabe sway bars.

So many different opinions


225 tyres. The camber bolts much better improvement for front grip, feel and less wear on the outside shoulder of tyre for me in an autoX setting. Suited my budget. The car is otherwise stock

I do run STX, what would be something more aggressive? I've heard of people using camber plates or camber bolts which I believe give more camber than crash bolts. and Im pretty sure I DO want more camber than crash bolts will give me. I also daily drive the car and am running R-S3 tires and dont want to go so far as to cause too much inside wear (although I only average about 25 miles a day). Just looking to hear what others are doing and whats working for them. Knowledge is power :o)

The crash bolts hardly change the camber at all, but for stock it is all you can do. With wider front wheels and tires and STX you are better off with plates or camber bolts.

not really...

I have roughly -1.5 in front with springs and I would ideally like 2.5-3, they don't provide much but it's better than nothing.

In STX you will need much more camber than stock bolts give you to be competitive. Stock class another story.

We're missing a little bit of data here. What size are the wheels?

This will be a trade-off situation for you then if inside edge wear is a real concern. The few serious STX people who've told me how much front camber they had were all more than 3 degrees negative. You can't get there with OEM crash bolts. Or with any camber bolts that I'm aware of (but you'll get closer). You'll likely need plates to hit those levels.

But, at those levels, your tires will see some meaningful wear. Potential ideas for that:
-Rotate religiously and flip them on the rims at what you think might be a midpoint to their life
-Make do with less camber and maybe try to mitigate that with toe settings
-Accept it as an operating cost of a car that turns well

As for struts. That's another trade-off. How attached are you to the idea of keeping the TRD springs?

The tires hankook RS4 V2 235/40-17 on xxr 530 17x8.25 +35 rims. I am attached to the idea of keeping my TRD springs. In fact I absolutely love the feel of the car right now. Its just that now that I have put this wider wheel/tire setup on. I can really tell that the back has a lot more camber than the front. Ive been looking around at camber plates and I would have no idea which one to choose and they're all actually pretty expensive...definitely outside this years budget since the tire purchase :o/

SO Im thinking SPC camber bolts it is. Ill send some pics in a second so you can see what Im talking about.

Attachment 84389backAttachment 84390backAttachment 84391frontAttachment 84392front

You can even see how some of the lettering is still present on the outside tread of the rear tire. Im ok with this Im just worried I might wear too much of the outside front when autocrossing, as even after some spirited back roads driving its wearing almost all the way to the sidewall.

Your tire wear looks fine. If I wasnt so lazy Id post a pic of mine...but imagine that arrow completely gone.

Like @vroom4 said, that outside wear looks just fine, especially given how soft the sidewalls are on that tire.

As for visually more rear camber, yeah, that'll happen when you lower a car. No camber improvement up front because of McStruts. So, when you lowered the car, you got more in the rear. Maybe also consider camber correction (lower control arms, offset bushings) in the rear as you move forward?