best light performance alignment specs to use?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
best light performance alignment specs to use?
Just ordered Kuhmo 255-50-17 tires for my C5 wheels I just installed. My vette is a weekend warrior only... no autocross or super high performance speeds. Rebuilt standard rear trailing arms, 7 leaf rear spring, unknown springs up front but typical of small block. The folks installing the wheels and tires will also be performing the alignment. Vette Brakes and Products lists specs for daily street and advanced street. Which is best for me if I mostly cruise but would like good cornering capabilities? I'm moving to Asheville, NC in a few months and will be living a few miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Lots of good mountain roads to drive.
Here are the specs per their catalog...
Daily Street
front-
toe=1/32" in
camber=0 degree neg
caster=2-3/4 degree pos
rear-
toe=1/8" in
camber=0 degree neg
Advanced Street
front-
toe=0 degrees
camber=1/4 degree neg
caster=4-3/4 degree pos
rear-
toe=1/8" in
camber=1/2 degree neg
Here are the specs per their catalog...
Daily Street
front-
toe=1/32" in
camber=0 degree neg
caster=2-3/4 degree pos
rear-
toe=1/8" in
camber=0 degree neg
Advanced Street
front-
toe=0 degrees
camber=1/4 degree neg
caster=4-3/4 degree pos
rear-
toe=1/8" in
camber=1/2 degree neg
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I like to put as much caster in the car as possible. Even up to 5 degrees positive for stability.
I also like Zero camber to keep the tires flat on the road. Any camber at all leads to wearing the tires more on one side then the other.
I set toe at no more then 1/8th inch in, total between the 2 tires.
I also like Zero camber to keep the tires flat on the road. Any camber at all leads to wearing the tires more on one side then the other.
I set toe at no more then 1/8th inch in, total between the 2 tires.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
I like to put as much caster in the car as possible. Even up to 5 degrees positive for stability.
I also like Zero camber to keep the tires flat on the road. Any camber at all leads to wearing the tires more on one side then the other.
I set toe at no more then 1/8th inch in, total between the 2 tires.
I also like Zero camber to keep the tires flat on the road. Any camber at all leads to wearing the tires more on one side then the other.
I set toe at no more then 1/8th inch in, total between the 2 tires.
Thanks Norval. Stability is important since the vette likes to dart around on the road is it is. My wife won't drive it. Also don't want any uneven wear on the tires. I'll take your suggestions with me to the shop.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Ask them to put in
3.90 castor
0 toe
.40 degrees neg camber
You can't get much more than 3.90 castor and hold the shims without modded A-Arm parts
Zero toe is fun once you get over the Darty feeling. It's also a benefit to run rear 0 toe like I have, except that it is very involved because of the trailing Arm
Try .40 rear neg camber also. Your not going to see inside tire ware untill your way past .50 degrees.
3.90 castor
0 toe
.40 degrees neg camber
You can't get much more than 3.90 castor and hold the shims without modded A-Arm parts
Zero toe is fun once you get over the Darty feeling. It's also a benefit to run rear 0 toe like I have, except that it is very involved because of the trailing Arm
Try .40 rear neg camber also. Your not going to see inside tire ware untill your way past .50 degrees.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 7
From: Brazos TX
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
For the front I would run max positive caster, -.25 deg camber and at least 1/32" toe. As gkull said, it will be a bit darty with zero toe. You can get used to it but if you don't drive the car regularly then you may want it a little more stable. I run the advanced street setup and haven't had any uneven tire wear problems. I usually put about 15,000 miles a year on the car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 971
Likes: 7
From: roanoke va
Did you get your ball joints replaced yet? http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1287163
Or were they not worn if you have not addressed this yet it will not do very good to have it aligned. With worn parts the alignment settings will just wander and will not give you the performance you desire.
Or were they not worn if you have not addressed this yet it will not do very good to have it aligned. With worn parts the alignment settings will just wander and will not give you the performance you desire.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
Originally Posted by wills670
Did you get your ball joints replaced yet? http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1287163
Or were they not worn if you have not addressed this yet it will not do very good to have it aligned. With worn parts the alignment settings will just wander and will not give you the performance you desire.
Or were they not worn if you have not addressed this yet it will not do very good to have it aligned. With worn parts the alignment settings will just wander and will not give you the performance you desire.
Nope... did not have a chance to get them replaced. I'm moving in 2 months and don't have the time to start another project on the vette.
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Lots More To Alignments Than What Some Specs Kick Out
If you are gonna do a good alignment...do it right...do a 4wheel aligment.
Front Camber
1/4* pos left
0 right...gotta offset for road crown to wear tires correctly (road crown drains water off of road)
Rear camber
-1/2*(neg.)...gotta allow for suspension travel.
Front toe:
In 1/8"
Rear Toe 0
Front Caster
3-3/4* plus or minus a half a degree.
Check SAI for turning at speeds (steering axis inclination-aka.cornering capabilities)...or just have a bunch of $$ to replace tires from premature shoulder wear.
You mentioned rebuilding your TA's...well...Thrust Angle has to be set as well.
Just saying.....
G/L,
Jim
Front Camber
1/4* pos left
0 right...gotta offset for road crown to wear tires correctly (road crown drains water off of road)
Rear camber
-1/2*(neg.)...gotta allow for suspension travel.
Front toe:
In 1/8"
Rear Toe 0
Front Caster
3-3/4* plus or minus a half a degree.
Check SAI for turning at speeds (steering axis inclination-aka.cornering capabilities)...or just have a bunch of $$ to replace tires from premature shoulder wear.
You mentioned rebuilding your TA's...well...Thrust Angle has to be set as well.
Just saying.....
G/L,
Jim
