Alignment Specs
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Alignment Specs
Tomorrow, my new Z51 Coupe will be getting the traditional "check the alignment to see if was screwed up at the factory."
I use the car mostly as a daily driver and road tripper, but do enjoy a frequent blast through the twisties.
Those Supercar tires ain't gonna last a longtime anyway, but I don't want the alignment settings to trash them unnecessarily.
I like responsive steering, but don't want the car to be twitchy on the highway.
With those (slightly contradictory) ideas in mind, what alignment settings would you recommend? The factory specs have a WIDE range of tolerance, so just asking for factory specs could leave me disappointed.
Thanks!
I use the car mostly as a daily driver and road tripper, but do enjoy a frequent blast through the twisties.
Those Supercar tires ain't gonna last a longtime anyway, but I don't want the alignment settings to trash them unnecessarily.
I like responsive steering, but don't want the car to be twitchy on the highway.
With those (slightly contradictory) ideas in mind, what alignment settings would you recommend? The factory specs have a WIDE range of tolerance, so just asking for factory specs could leave me disappointed.
Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,642
Likes: 9
From: Dalllas/Ft Worth Area TX
Make a choice!
Since you don't really want to race, why not use a NON competition/aggressive alignment. Talk to your service manager and tech and see if they do both and then chose. I would use the NON aggressive one to save tires, the insides always wear out quickly with only half tire wear on the outside. I got tire of buying tires every 20K miles when I still had another 10k left on them. 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
Likes: 2,709
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
My dealership isn't that advanced, they'll just set it to the middle of the "accepted range" if I don't tell them something else.
I've got some numbers in mind, but don't want to mention them until I hear from others.
I've got some numbers in mind, but don't want to mention them until I hear from others.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 1
From: Vail, Arizona
I use the "Pure Street" setting, but there are others........
http://www.pfadtracing.com/docs/camb...t-settings.pdf
http://www.pfadtracing.com/docs/camb...t-settings.pdf
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
I use the "Pure Street" setting, but there are others........
http://www.pfadtracing.com/docs/camb...t-settings.pdf
http://www.pfadtracing.com/docs/camb...t-settings.pdf
I also don't understand why the toe would be set to zero rather than the factory 0.1 front. If the factory says this is needed for the suspension deflection to get the least wear, why change it?
My numbers are -0.4/7.9/0.1 for the front and -0.4/0.0 for the rear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
And that's why you should never go to a dealer who's specialty is selling cars. You should find a good tire place where they specialize in tires and tire adjustments.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Your numbers are exactly what I had been considering, it sounds like you are happy with the way the car handles and with tire wear patterns?
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 110
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From: Brown Deer Wisconsin
I use the "Pure Street" setting, but there are others........
http://www.pfadtracing.com/docs/camb...t-settings.pdf
http://www.pfadtracing.com/docs/camb...t-settings.pdf
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Destrehan La
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 563
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From: Destrehan La
[QUOTE=Gearhead Jim;1570699024]First alignment, if done within xxx miles, is free under warranty.
The dealer stated that the alignment is covered under warranty for the first 6500 miles.
I have 13k on the clock.
The dealer stated that the alignment is covered under warranty for the first 6500 miles.
I have 13k on the clock.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
Yes, I am VERY satisfied with the wear and handling compromise with those numbers. My first set of tires were perfect on the back (I could have done a few more burnouts
) and worn a little excessively on the left front. I check the alignment myself before having it done and the left front was -1.0 on the camber. The other 3 were very close to perfect and wear was a little more on the inside but acceptable for the handling I expect. I don't think I could have gotten 10% more mileage if I had 0 camber.The only change I might have is to reduce the caster slightly next time. That is more for personal driving style then anything else. I tend to hold the wheel more than most drivers so I don't need as much self centering.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
But my experience with dealers tells me I'd be better off giving $10 and the DIY instructions to the kid at the counter in McDonalds. ANYHOOO...
Yes, I am VERY satisfied with the wear and handling compromise with those numbers. My first set of tires were perfect on the back (I could have done a few more burnouts ) and worn a little excessively on the left front. I check the alignment myself before having it done and the left front was -1.0 on the camber. The other 3 were very close to perfect and wear was a little more on the inside but acceptable for the handling I expect. I don't think I could have gotten 10% more mileage if I had 0 camber.
The only change I might have is to reduce the caster slightly next time. That is more for personal driving style then anything else. I tend to hold the wheel more than most drivers so I don't need as much self centering.
Yes, I am VERY satisfied with the wear and handling compromise with those numbers. My first set of tires were perfect on the back (I could have done a few more burnouts
) and worn a little excessively on the left front. I check the alignment myself before having it done and the left front was -1.0 on the camber. The other 3 were very close to perfect and wear was a little more on the inside but acceptable for the handling I expect. I don't think I could have gotten 10% more mileage if I had 0 camber.The only change I might have is to reduce the caster slightly next time. That is more for personal driving style then anything else. I tend to hold the wheel more than most drivers so I don't need as much self centering.
This dealership does accurate work on the alignments, they just don't get involved in stuff that would tell them what settings are the best compromise on a Corvette.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,642
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From: Dalllas/Ft Worth Area TX
Simple test
Are all the tires on the front the same size and wear, also same for the back, also air pressure. Try going down the same side of the road the opposite direction and see what happens. This might give an idea if crown.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,015
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
This is the third new Corvette we've had a warranty alignment on, all between 1,000-3,000 miles. All three cars had at least one setting that was outside the loose factory limits.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
Got the car back this afternoon from the warranty alignment done per his numbers, LF wheel had .25 toe before changing.
This is the third new Corvette we've had a warranty alignment on, all between 1,000-3,000 miles. All three cars had at least one setting that was outside the loose factory limits.
This is the third new Corvette we've had a warranty alignment on, all between 1,000-3,000 miles. All three cars had at least one setting that was outside the loose factory limits.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 728
Likes: 30
From: Paris
As for me, my current settings are camber -.5 and toe 0; castor is 7° (although I have never asked the techie to change castor.). My tires at 13k miles show nearly no wear at all and are wearing just fine.
I get my wheels aligned as I feel that they are out of alignment.
a++ Cedric
ps: I do drive quite fast.
