Alignment FAQ Thread

[cdrazic93]

Just so I know what everyone is talking about, I know camber is the degree of the tire parallel to the ground...what is toe and caster?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

Just so I know what everyone is talking about, I know camber is the degree of the tire parallel to the ground...what is toe and caster?

[cdrazic93]

What does caster affect?

[CB762]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

It's easy to measure, but stock suspension does not have a way for adjusting height without modification.

I'd like to know why diagonal balance of the car can change if same shocks/springs are used on left and right. It is easy to understand why front-to-rear balance easily changes, but diagonal...

Thank you.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by cdrazic93

What does caster affect?

Dynamic camber and self-centering force.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by CB762

I'd like to know why diagonal balance of the car can change if same shocks/springs are used on left and right. It is easy to understand why front-to-rear balance easily changes, but diagonal...

Thank you.

http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Performa...nerbalance.htm

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

A good alignment shop can get you an alignment that's close to what you want.

A great alignment shop can even out that uneven rear camber, without adding any parts Our car came uneven in the rear, and is even now

For anyone that's in socal... http://www.yelp.com/biz/west-end-alignment-gardena . Book your appt at least 2 weeks in advance if you want your choice of time and date.

So even without lower control arms a good shop can adjust the camber of the rear tires?
To a reasonable amount that the stock control arms are capable of? I just lowered my car a half inch and one side is -1.1 and the other is -1.8 and they said nothing could be done to change it

[cnk]

Originally Posted by SuperDave

So even without lower control arms a good shop can adjust the camber of the rear tires?
To a reasonable amount that the stock control arms are capable of? I just lowered my car a half inch and one side is -1.1 and the other is -1.8 and they said nothing could be done to change it

No. He said even out the rear meaning loosen the rear sub frame and move it side to side until camber is even on both sides. You can also try to dial out camber by taking out any play in the suspension when you're tightening things down. Similar to how you would push the top of the hub in as you tighten the front shock mounting bolt/nut. To dial out camber, you need lca's or uca's. Some have used camber bolts on the lca to sub frame mounting point.

I don't think any regular alignment shop is going to mess with the sub frame though. You'd have to find a good performance alignment shop.

Sent from my Transformer using Tapatalk

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by SuperDave

So even without lower control arms a good shop can adjust the camber of the rear tires?
To a reasonable amount that the stock control arms are capable of? I just lowered my car a half inch and one side is -1.1 and the other is -1.8 and they said nothing could be done to change it

Adjust within a small range, by unbolting everything down to the subframe, and re-centering, and playing with tolerances.

West End is not just another alignment shop. They are one of the best in the business.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by ayau

sti makes an adjustable rear LCA for the BRZ. i don't know if it's adjustable or not though. i think @Racecomp Engineering has them installed on their BRZ. they may know the answer to this question.

Lmao

[Maverickgear]

Hey guys,

I've recently installed some adjustable coilovers. Sadly, I was real busy during the installation and initial alignment of the coilovers, so I didn't manage to take a look at the process/alignment stats. Since picking it up, I realised the steering was off-center and knew I had to get to my regular alignment shop to get it fixed.

Once the car was up on the rack, we found that the front axle toe was off. So we managed to align it back, and in conjunction, fixing the steering as well. Not sure whether this would be due to the springs settling down, or a shitty alignment job done by the first shop.

My camber however, were off in the rear with -2.14 on the left and -1.59 at the right. Since in my eye I can't really make do until they're both perfectly zeroed on -2, I have ordered myself an adjustable LCA to remedy this matter.

What I would like to know is, whether is it okay to run a difference of 0.5 camber on each side? From a daily drive point of view. Just for knowledge purposes.

Lastly, big thanks to @Dezoris for the article on alignment.

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Maverickgear

Hey guys,

I've recently installed some adjustable coilovers. Sadly, I was real busy during the installation and initial alignment of the coilovers, so I didn't manage to take a look at the process/alignment stats. Since picking it up, I realised the steering was off-center and knew I had to get to my regular alignment shop to get it fixed.

Once the car was up on the rack, we found that the front axle toe was off. So we managed to align it back, and in conjunction, fixing the steering as well. Not sure whether this would be due to the springs settling down, or a shitty alignment job done by the first shop.

My camber however, were off in the rear with -2.14 on the left and -1.59 at the right. Since in my eye I can't really make do until they're both perfectly zeroed on -2, I have ordered myself an adjustable LCA to remedy this matter.

What I would like to know is, whether is it okay to run a difference of 0.5 camber on each side? From a daily drive point of view. Just for knowledge purposes.

Lastly, big thanks to @Dezoris for the article on alignment.

Unless you are really competing in some type of event a .5 cross camber difference is not a big deal as most cars from the factory suffer this.

But if you have adjustable camber now, getting it closer should be easy.

[Maverickgear]

Originally Posted by Dezoris

Unless you are really competing in some type of event a .5 cross camber difference is not a big deal as most cars from the factory suffer this.

But if you have adjustable camber now, getting it closer should be easy.

Appreciate the response.

However, I've heard some say that once the lower camber arms are installed, it's a see-saw battle between the toe and camber. Any opinions on how would I go about this? Would like to have as much information before I hit the alignment shop again.

Thanks

[Dezoris]

Originally Posted by Maverickgear

Appreciate the response.

However, I've heard some say that once the lower camber arms are installed, it's a see-saw battle between the toe and camber. Any opinions on how would I go about this? Would like to have as much information before I hit the alignment shop again.

Thanks

That is always the way alignments work, typically you change the camber and it effects toe. So you get camber corrected then finish with adjusting toe and typically you are good to go. There are times where you will have to go back and get camber re-corrected again then re-adjust toe but it's very minor at that point.

My last alignment literally took 30 minutes while I sat in the drivers seat from pulling in, putting on heads and doing alignment.
If your alignment tech is good and has a modern rack it's an in and out process.

However if you are messing with ride heights or corner balancing can be an all day process.