Quick alignment question
10-25-2017, 04:41 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Quick alignment question
I am going to get an alignment on my 96 base. I have the FSM. Are the alignment numbers listed still the best numbers for just a normal driver? I know this question seems silly but my search turned up many divergent numbers people said were "better". Thank You, Dan
10-25-2017, 05:05 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Everett WA
Posts: 7,690
Received 477 Likes
on
353 Posts
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Dan, I've never seen anyplace where someone said here are better settings than the factory settings "for normal driving".
Yes, lots of posts for "better" alignment settings for motocross events or road course driving or "quicker turn in" .... all kind of specialty things but have not seen anything that says .......hey for normal driving forget the FSM and use these settings instead.
Yes, lots of posts for "better" alignment settings for motocross events or road course driving or "quicker turn in" .... all kind of specialty things but have not seen anything that says .......hey for normal driving forget the FSM and use these settings instead.
The following users liked this post:
Whaleman (10-25-2017)
10-25-2017, 05:11 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Dan, I've never seen anyplace where someone said here are better settings than the factory settings "for normal driving".
Yes, lots of posts for "better" alignment settings for motocross events or road course driving or "quicker turn in" .... all kind of specialty things but have not seen anything that says .......hey for normal driving forget the FSM and use these settings instead.
Yes, lots of posts for "better" alignment settings for motocross events or road course driving or "quicker turn in" .... all kind of specialty things but have not seen anything that says .......hey for normal driving forget the FSM and use these settings instead.
10-25-2017, 07:25 PM
#4
Race Director
Seems like I set my front camber at .2 degrees positive, and the rear at zero. I also think spec says slightly negative camber on the front. I would not run any negative camber on a daily driver type of car.
10-27-2017, 10:23 AM
#5
Let me suggest one reason why following the factory service manual specs is NOT necessarily the right answer. That reason is because the factory tolerance on Camber (which is listed as 0.5 +/- 0.5 degrees) is HUGE! Most competent alignment shops will try to come a LOT closer to a uniform reading side to side than +/- half a degree !!!
Like many things in life alignment specs are an area where compromises need to be made. Tire life, cornering grip, straightline stability, resistance to wandering, turn in response and a number of other things all are impact by alignment angles. The factory tries to develop a set of specs that are a big compromise that will work for lots and lots of different users, that operate their vehicles on everything from interstate highways to back country roads, and they have to also make sure what they come up with is something the production guys can live with.
Personally - I like to see a bit of negative camber on the front wheels - it helps cornering, (but at the expense of inner edge tire wear). So - I normally aim to run somewhere around -0.25 to -0.5 degrees of negative camber. If you don't want to run neg camber - that's your call - but I wouldn't suggest running a full degree of pos camber either (that will cause outer edge tire wear). Tell the alignment place that you want to hold closer to zero camber on both sides.
Like many things in life alignment specs are an area where compromises need to be made. Tire life, cornering grip, straightline stability, resistance to wandering, turn in response and a number of other things all are impact by alignment angles. The factory tries to develop a set of specs that are a big compromise that will work for lots and lots of different users, that operate their vehicles on everything from interstate highways to back country roads, and they have to also make sure what they come up with is something the production guys can live with.
Personally - I like to see a bit of negative camber on the front wheels - it helps cornering, (but at the expense of inner edge tire wear). So - I normally aim to run somewhere around -0.25 to -0.5 degrees of negative camber. If you don't want to run neg camber - that's your call - but I wouldn't suggest running a full degree of pos camber either (that will cause outer edge tire wear). Tell the alignment place that you want to hold closer to zero camber on both sides.
10-27-2017, 11:01 AM
#6
Race Director
10-27-2017, 12:03 PM
#8
Race Director
10-29-2017, 03:33 PM
#9