Alignment recommendations
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
I quoted that document as it has "occasional track use" where it recommends the negative toe. This is why a 0 toe was suggested for a 99% street use car as other forum members have gone to a neutral toe while retaining a -1 camber to keep a little cornering fun in the car.
If you have a suggestion for a STREET alignment that will preserve some wear on the tires SAY IT. Be clear about some suggestions rather than hiding behind a computer and stating we are all wrong. Then some people will try it and see if it works to their satisfaction of their goals. This is how a forum helps, not ridiculing like a 9 year old. I'm calling you out on this to share that knowledge rather than acting all smug about it.What is the point of saying you fought with DSC and allowing that to stand as the defacto standard? Help the new guys out.
If you have a suggestion for a STREET alignment that will preserve some wear on the tires SAY IT. Be clear about some suggestions rather than hiding behind a computer and stating we are all wrong. Then some people will try it and see if it works to their satisfaction of their goals. This is how a forum helps, not ridiculing like a 9 year old. I'm calling you out on this to share that knowledge rather than acting all smug about it.What is the point of saying you fought with DSC and allowing that to stand as the defacto standard? Help the new guys out.
I was very, very clear.
As far as a zero toe static setting; that means you are at a negative setting once the car is in motion. There is no reason for that. The car rolling forward has a natural tendency to push the tires outwards.
As far as a -1 degree camber setting; go out to your car right now and turn the steering wheel to the lock, all the way to the right.
Now get out and look at the left front tire.
You should be able to see with your naked eye, and without any special measuring instruments, that it is sitting in a negative camber position. The right front will be in a positive camber position.
A street car does not need a static camber setting in the negative. Its built Into the the suspension geometry when you turn the steering wheel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 873
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
As close to 0 camber as I can get but allowing a .3 difference between left and right.. 0 L -.3 R I think that has to do with the crown of the roads. Toe -.01 and caster stock as the book says.
Excessive Camber kills the inside tread. Excessive Toe causes the inside to scallop.
High camber is for race tracks and doing corners. Highway and street do not need high camber.
Elmer
Excessive Camber kills the inside tread. Excessive Toe causes the inside to scallop.
High camber is for race tracks and doing corners. Highway and street do not need high camber.
Elmer
It does, but this is a matter of personal preference.
Personally, I like the caster split to correct for the road crown. I always felt that a caster split was less noticeable at the steering wheel, when i crossed from the right lane to the left lane. Plus, its not a tire wear angle.
Again though, this is personal preference.
Obviously GM uses camber and asks caster to be equalized.
Last edited by PatternDayTrader; Jun 22, 2020 at 07:03 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 873
GM tends to have a wide range and a lot of "alignment" techs are lazy to get the settings ideal. Once in that "green" zone they lock it in and say its within spec.
As for how these things impact, from a feel perspective. a little toe in feels good for high speed stability at a sacrifice for cornering. As a street car, unless your goal is just to go to shows, then you may want to understand a bit more into how any of these settings will affect handling and feel.
Going with little negative toe, 0 camber and stock caster basically will kill some of the handling characteristics and feel of the car.
As for how these things impact, from a feel perspective. a little toe in feels good for high speed stability at a sacrifice for cornering. As a street car, unless your goal is just to go to shows, then you may want to understand a bit more into how any of these settings will affect handling and feel.
Going with little negative toe, 0 camber and stock caster basically will kill some of the handling characteristics and feel of the car.
Last edited by SladeX; Jun 22, 2020 at 07:09 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
GM tends to have a wide range and a lot of "alignment" techs are lazy to get the settings ideal. Once in that "green" zone they lock it in and say its within spec.
As for how these things impact, from a feel perspective. a little toe in feels good for high speed stability at a sacrifice for cornering. As a street car, unless your goal is just to go to shows, then you may want to understand a bit more into how any of these settings will affect handling and feel.
Going with little negative toe, 0 camber and stock caster basically will kill some of the handling characteristics and feel of the car.
As for how these things impact, from a feel perspective. a little toe in feels good for high speed stability at a sacrifice for cornering. As a street car, unless your goal is just to go to shows, then you may want to understand a bit more into how any of these settings will affect handling and feel.
Going with little negative toe, 0 camber and stock caster basically will kill some of the handling characteristics and feel of the car.
To the second bolded statement. I dont agree with that at all.
The overwhelming majority of Corvette owners don`t go around a corners fast enough to roll the tire over onto the sidewall. Instead, they appreciate minimal driver input at the steering wheel when driving straight. Additionally, a beginner or novice driver, on a track, may never notice the difference, and might actually be faster with specs that inspire confidence, instead of the neurotic negative camber and toe settings that a more experienced driver would appreciate.
Last edited by PatternDayTrader; Jun 22, 2020 at 07:19 PM.
