Positive Camber on front, Bad?

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Jan 16, 2013 | 10:43 AM

Surfer69

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 1,720

Likes: 19

From: Manhattan Beach Ca

Positive Camber on front, Bad?

Just got new BF's all around (255) and gave the guy the VB specs for "advanced street" which calls out front camber at NEG 0.25 deg. He showed me the best he could get was POS 0.50 deg which the computer printout showed.

The car seems OK even hard around corners. Do I need to worry or go spend another $75 and try and fix it somewhere else?

Jan 16, 2013 | 11:34 AM

Rotonda

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 1,071

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From: Rotonda FL

Negative camber, wheel leaning in at the top, is added to the front by adding additional shims evenly to both sides. There is usually plenty of adjustment to achieve whatever camber you want in the front.

Older C3's frames 'settle' as they age and lose caster adjustment. Frequently you can get only 0 to 1 degree positive caster.

Please check your alignment sheet to confirm that your problem is camber, not caster.

Jan 16, 2013 | 11:45 AM

MelWff

Race Director

Joined: May 2006

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The .25- camber is the front advanced street setting from VP. Did this shop check the condition of control arm bushings, ball joints, tire rod ends, etc. before doing the alignment?

Jan 16, 2013 | 12:10 PM

Surfer69

Thread Starter

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 1,720

Likes: 19

From: Manhattan Beach Ca

Well what they did is punch in their computer 68-70 Vette specs which came out with a range of + 0.3 to + 1.3 deg pos camber according to the machine. So I think they just ignored my specs and the machine set it within the above range.

So I have to ask, if this is what the machine shows as "factory" spec settings, then maybe it's OK but not that great for performance?

Jan 16, 2013 | 12:21 PM

MelWff

Race Director

Joined: May 2006

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If you are running the stock size tires those would be the original factory specs, positive camber was within range from the factory. Not really clear if it's your dollar why didnt they follow the VP specs and did they check for worn suspension components?

Jan 16, 2013 | 01:06 PM

gkull

Team Owner

Joined: Apr 1999

Posts: 21,953

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From: Reno Nevada

2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer69

The guy did not listen to you. I recently had the same problem. I ask for .40 - .45 negative and the guy told me that i was out of adjustment. I looked at my front end and All my safety wired together shims were gone. WTF. I said negative and he said we only do what is on the spec sheet. So I said return it to what it had on the print out because it was very close to correct anyway.

With stock arms you can get about 4 castor which really helps

Jan 16, 2013 | 01:09 PM

Farmdawg

Racer

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 318

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From: Stow, OH

Whats your Caster settings?

Power Streering?

Caster on my 74 with 255s all around give me a fitt.

I had to set it 4.0*pos so the tires wounldn't rub on the front egde of the fender lip when makeing sharp turns. Then set Camber to 1.0* Neg. Both side took the same amount of shims. Seven 1/8in shims total. 4 to rear and 3 in the front. Then set the toe to 1/16th in. Recheck, drive recheck again.