Looking for DD/track/autocross alignment suggestions.

[Lynxis]

Spring is coming soon and I've got some suspension upgrades going on the car in the next month or two so I'm starting to think about my alignment and I'm looking for some advice on what to request from my alignment guy. I'm currently planning to request -2f and -1.5r but I'd like to get some suggestions from more experienced people due to my slightly unusual setup. I know this sometimes requires some trial and error but I'd like to do what I can to get it right the first time so I'm asking.

First about my car. I've got HKS Hipermax 4 GT with 6k front, 4k rear rates and have adjustable damping. Got them because they have a good reputation, seem to match my needs and the price was right. Unfortunately they are one of the very few 86 kits with lower rear rates which complicates things a bit. The fronts come with camber adjustable top hats and I have camber bolts and rear LCAs too so I've got more or less full camber adjustment. I'm running 245/40r17 square original Rivals that came with the wheels I bought but I'll probably switch to something like the RE71rs later in the year when I finish them off. The car will only be lowered around 1 inch from stock because Canada.

Regarding usage, she's daily driven year round for around 15000kms with 2-4 track events and 6-10 autocross events in STX per year. I've read plenty of threads for people with more conventional setups with similar usage to me which is how I came to -2f and -1.5r but I couldn't find anyone running lower rear rates talking about their alignments so I thought I'd ask here. Does anyone have any thoughts?

[strat61caster]

Spring rates will affect ideal camber by at most a few tenths of a degree. Given that you are not choosing alignment based on maximum performance and rather a more street oriented settings I wouldn't loose any sleep over it, your guess is a good all around setup imo.


Since you have camber plates, if you get the opportunity to casually ramp up the front camber throughout the day (preferably an autocross for safety instead of doing big alignment changes and testing them out at 90 mph) I'd recommend it, in my experience you'll just be adding more and more front grip the further you go all the way up to around -3.5 degrees if not more, but in all likelihood you will unbalance the car before you get there and make it too tail happy. While toe does change as you change camber via plates, it's very small and I never noticed the impacts.

[Ashikabi]

I have 6k front and 7k rear. Had a couple alignments and based on how my tires are wearing I'm going up to 3.5 front 2.5 rear for camber. I'm no pro mind you. Be aware, once you get past a degree or so of rear camber you need adjustable arms or your toe will be too high

[Tor]

Originally Posted by Lynxis

I've got HKS Hipermax 4 GT with 6k front, 4k rear rates and have adjustable damping.
....
The fronts come with camber adjustable top hats and I have camber bolts and rear LCAs too so I've got more or less full camber adjustment.

I'll be in almost in the exact same situation soon. Will be installing ST XTA's with 6k front and 5k rear. Otherwise the same adjustment options. On 225/40R18 Pirelli now, both will switch to AD08R later on.

I'll be installing new anti sway bars too, that are 2 position adjustable. If necessary I'll run the rear on the stiffer setting to compensate for the lower spring rate. You might also consider just only replace the rear and keep the front stock - those I need to get (street legality reasons) only come as a set.

With regards to camber I plan -2.5 in the front and -1.8 rear.

[Lynxis]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Spring rates will affect ideal camber by at most a few tenths of a degree. Given that you are not choosing alignment based on maximum performance and rather a more street oriented settings I wouldn't loose any sleep over it, your guess is a good all around setup imo.


Since you have camber plates, if you get the opportunity to casually ramp up the front camber throughout the day (preferably an autocross for safety instead of doing big alignment changes and testing them out at 90 mph) I'd recommend it, in my experience you'll just be adding more and more front grip the further you go all the way up to around -3.5 degrees if not more, but in all likelihood you will unbalance the car before you get there and make it too tail happy. While toe does change as you change camber via plates, it's very small and I never noticed the impacts.

Awesome advice. I planning to attend some local test and tune autocross and track events early in the spring so I can play with the camber and damping settings on my coils.

Originally Posted by Ashikabi

I have 6k front and 7k rear. Had a couple alignments and based on how my tires are wearing I'm going up to 3.5 front 2.5 rear for camber. I'm no pro mind you. Be aware, once you get past a degree or so of rear camber you need adjustable arms or your toe will be too high

My rear control arms have toe correction so I should be fine.

Originally Posted by Tor

I'll be in almost in the exact same situation soon. Will be installing ST XTA's with 6k front and 5k rear. Otherwise the same adjustment options. On 225/40R18 Pirelli now, both will switch to AD08R later on.

I'll be installing new anti sway bars too, that are 2 position adjustable. If necessary I'll run the rear on the stiffer setting to compensate for the lower spring rate. You might also consider just only replace the rear and keep the front stock - those I need to get (street legality reasons) only come as a set.

With regards to camber I plan -2.5 in the front and -1.8 rear.

I've also been thinking about swaybars because STX allows me to change either the front or the rear but I think I'll do some driving as-is and then look into changing what will help me most.