Notes on track alignment
Thread Starter
Track Rat
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,466
Likes: 3,464
Notes on track alignment
I had the track alignment done of my C7Z yesterday at Curry's and there were a few interesting points I thought I'd pass along.
The first is that there isn't a separate track alignment supplement like with the 2014s. I was looking for mine, couldn't find it, and after some internet searches discovered it was in the owners manual itself and that the specs have changed slightly (more rear camber) for all 2015 C7.
The second is that it appears to be easier to get more camber in the C7 Z06 than on the C7 Z51. We easily got -2.0 camber both front and rear as specified and could have gotten more. On the C7 Z51 I believe the most I got was -1.7.
Finally, the length of the tie rod ends tends to be the big limiting factor in getting a lot of camber and the correct toe. So start by lengthening the tie rod ends as much as you can, then adjust camber, and finally adjust the toe. That way you don't adjust the camber and find yourself out of tie rod end length.
Hope this helps.
The first is that there isn't a separate track alignment supplement like with the 2014s. I was looking for mine, couldn't find it, and after some internet searches discovered it was in the owners manual itself and that the specs have changed slightly (more rear camber) for all 2015 C7.
The second is that it appears to be easier to get more camber in the C7 Z06 than on the C7 Z51. We easily got -2.0 camber both front and rear as specified and could have gotten more. On the C7 Z51 I believe the most I got was -1.7.
Finally, the length of the tie rod ends tends to be the big limiting factor in getting a lot of camber and the correct toe. So start by lengthening the tie rod ends as much as you can, then adjust camber, and finally adjust the toe. That way you don't adjust the camber and find yourself out of tie rod end length.
Hope this helps.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 811
Likes: 177
From: Virginia
I had the track alignment done of my C7Z yesterday at Curry's and there were a few interesting points I thought I'd pass along.
The first is that there isn't a separate track alignment supplement like with the 2014s. I was looking for mine, couldn't find it, and after some internet searches discovered it was in the owners manual itself and that the specs have changed slightly (more rear camber) for all 2015 C7.
The second is that it appears to be easier to get more camber in the C7 Z06 than on the C7 Z51. We easily got -2.0 camber both front and rear as specified and could have gotten more. On the C7 Z51 I believe the most I got was -1.7.
Finally, the length of the tie rod ends tends to be the big limiting factor in getting a lot of camber and the correct toe. So start by lengthening the tie rod ends as much as you can, then adjust camber, and finally adjust the toe. That way you don't adjust the camber and find yourself out of tie rod end length.
Hope this helps.
The first is that there isn't a separate track alignment supplement like with the 2014s. I was looking for mine, couldn't find it, and after some internet searches discovered it was in the owners manual itself and that the specs have changed slightly (more rear camber) for all 2015 C7.
The second is that it appears to be easier to get more camber in the C7 Z06 than on the C7 Z51. We easily got -2.0 camber both front and rear as specified and could have gotten more. On the C7 Z51 I believe the most I got was -1.7.
Finally, the length of the tie rod ends tends to be the big limiting factor in getting a lot of camber and the correct toe. So start by lengthening the tie rod ends as much as you can, then adjust camber, and finally adjust the toe. That way you don't adjust the camber and find yourself out of tie rod end length.
Hope this helps.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,737
Likes: 551
From: North California
2 degrees of camber on the supper sticky Cup 2s seems perfect. Camber is a double edged sword. When you have over 600 lb/ft available almost at any RPM putting the power down becomes very important. More camber will give you less tire patch straight line (at some point).
Furthermore, the double A-arm in this car seems very effective. A high static camber is very useful on old McPherson strut cars, or poorly designed McPherson struts in general.
2 degrees of camber is not just a good compromise, it's almost no compromise.
Furthermore, the double A-arm in this car seems very effective. A high static camber is very useful on old McPherson strut cars, or poorly designed McPherson struts in general.
2 degrees of camber is not just a good compromise, it's almost no compromise.
Thread Starter
Track Rat
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,466
Likes: 3,464
Front:
-2.0 camber
+7.0 caster
.05 deg toe in
Rear:
-2.0 camber
.05 deg toe in.
Thread Starter
Track Rat
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,466
Likes: 3,464
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 811
Likes: 177
From: Virginia
Sorry to say that you were misinformed, anytime you change the angle (camber,caster) & length of the tie rod arms you changed the bump steer. How much it changed it & weather or not it will have an affect on handling I don't know...
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Thread Starter
Track Rat
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,466
Likes: 3,464
OK dude. I said that was my understanding. Give them a call and ask.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,737
Likes: 551
From: North California
Rear caster if very important!
The first try to get track settings right resulted in the rear caster being off and the handling was affected. Now that I got it squared away the car is much more stable.
Tadge is also using rear caster to explain why the Z didn't fare well in Motor Trend's comparison.
This car does require a specialty shop to get the alignment right. I also think the alignment gets out of whack much easier on this car than other cars. The camber shifted a bit during the first track day.
The first try to get track settings right resulted in the rear caster being off and the handling was affected. Now that I got it squared away the car is much more stable.
Tadge is also using rear caster to explain why the Z didn't fare well in Motor Trend's comparison.
This car does require a specialty shop to get the alignment right. I also think the alignment gets out of whack much easier on this car than other cars. The camber shifted a bit during the first track day.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 811
Likes: 177
From: Virginia
Rear caster if very important!
The first try to get track settings right resulted in the rear caster being off and the handling was affected. Now that I got it squared away the car is much more stable.
Tadge is also using rear caster to explain why the Z didn't fare well in Motor Trend's comparison.
This car does require a specialty shop to get the alignment right. I also think the alignment gets out of whack much easier on this car than other cars. The camber shifted a bit during the first track day.
The first try to get track settings right resulted in the rear caster being off and the handling was affected. Now that I got it squared away the car is much more stable.
Tadge is also using rear caster to explain why the Z didn't fare well in Motor Trend's comparison.
This car does require a specialty shop to get the alignment right. I also think the alignment gets out of whack much easier on this car than other cars. The camber shifted a bit during the first track day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 62
Thats a good cheap idea. I had mine move already. We marked it this time but i like the idea of a small bolt.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 294
Likes: 16
I had the track alignment done of my C7Z yesterday at Curry's and there were a few interesting points I thought I'd pass along.
The first is that there isn't a separate track alignment supplement like with the 2014s. I was looking for mine, couldn't find it, and after some internet searches discovered it was in the owners manual itself and that the specs have changed slightly (more rear camber) for all 2015 C7.
The second is that it appears to be easier to get more camber in the C7 Z06 than on the C7 Z51. We easily got -2.0 camber both front and rear as specified and could have gotten more. On the C7 Z51 I believe the most I got was -1.7.
Finally, the length of the tie rod ends tends to be the big limiting factor in getting a lot of camber and the correct toe. So start by lengthening the tie rod ends as much as you can, then adjust camber, and finally adjust the toe. That way you don't adjust the camber and find yourself out of tie rod end length.
Hope this helps.
The first is that there isn't a separate track alignment supplement like with the 2014s. I was looking for mine, couldn't find it, and after some internet searches discovered it was in the owners manual itself and that the specs have changed slightly (more rear camber) for all 2015 C7.
The second is that it appears to be easier to get more camber in the C7 Z06 than on the C7 Z51. We easily got -2.0 camber both front and rear as specified and could have gotten more. On the C7 Z51 I believe the most I got was -1.7.
Finally, the length of the tie rod ends tends to be the big limiting factor in getting a lot of camber and the correct toe. So start by lengthening the tie rod ends as much as you can, then adjust camber, and finally adjust the toe. That way you don't adjust the camber and find yourself out of tie rod end length.
Hope this helps.
.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 811
Likes: 177
From: Virginia
I've also seen guys cut camber into their tires as well. One can assume the reason is going back & forth between street & track settings. I do not know if camber can be cut into our tires though....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 811
Likes: 177
From: Virginia
I took them out of my circle track car & bought a set of "slugs" (square metal pieces with different offset holes that fit in the same slot where the eccentric bolts go) since us circle track guys bump & rub a lot. I'll take a picture & post later when I'm back at my race shop.
Thread Starter
Track Rat
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,466
Likes: 3,464
Rear caster if very important!
The first try to get track settings right resulted in the rear caster being off and the handling was affected. Now that I got it squared away the car is much more stable.
Tadge is also using rear caster to explain why the Z didn't fare well in Motor Trend's comparison.
This car does require a specialty shop to get the alignment right. I also think the alignment gets out of whack much easier on this car than other cars. The camber shifted a bit during the first track day.
The first try to get track settings right resulted in the rear caster being off and the handling was affected. Now that I got it squared away the car is much more stable.
Tadge is also using rear caster to explain why the Z didn't fare well in Motor Trend's comparison.
This car does require a specialty shop to get the alignment right. I also think the alignment gets out of whack much easier on this car than other cars. The camber shifted a bit during the first track day.
MustOfBeenYellow - thanks for the tip of bump steer. I'll ask about that as well but it's not something we've looked at in the past.
As far as switching back and forth on alignments is concerned, my plan is to daily drive the track alignment and see how the tire wear is. I suspect that with the occasional track duty I'll wear the tires out before the extra camber would wear the inside edges.
On my C6Z I used to switch back and forth by adding and removing washers and then resetting toe with toe plates but that car had a camber kit on it and now that it's 99% track I don't bother.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 3
From: Austin Texas
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 262
From: swoyersville pa
behind the a-arms (top) there are 2 washers(shims) behind each of the four bolts, in the 2014 owners manual it says not to remove washers(shims) in the 2015 manual it tells you to remove one from each bolt to get neg camber. did that myself yesterday and in the morning im getting a alignment and expect to get all neg. camber i want! we shall see.