need an alignment
 

hey guys its about time I get an alighnment on my C6. I was wondering if there is anything I should know before doing it. For instance are the factory specs still good? Ive heard some people getting their alighnments and they are still having premature tire wear

Factory specs are perfect for the "totally" nimble car.

Factory specs will also cause excess wear on the inside of the tires.

Do you want nimble? Use Factory settings.

Do you want maximum wear? Drop all the Camber to -0.1, 0 toe in rear, -0.01 toe in front. My current settings.

Elmer

Don't go to the Dealer for an alignment! Use the recommended settings with no + or- allowances at an Independant shop, keep 30#'s inflation pressures and you will get maximum wear and handling.

I agree with the "Don't go to the dealer."

I agree on the proper inflation.

I agree on the handling.

I don't agree on the maximum wear. The camber is too much to give a flat wear across the entire tire footprint. Keeping the stock camber will wear out the inside of the tire before the outside. If you are tracking the car, the stock settings are fine and tracking the car says I will accept a large amount of tire wear. If you want maximum mileage on the tires, you need to drop the camber down. The lower camber will give better highway mileage for the tires. I vividly recall the pictures of the guy's tires that had cords showing on the inside lip and still had adequate rubber in the middle and outer edges. This is what I'm referring to: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...7&postcount=20

:cheers:

Good info. Thanks. I had alignment by a local tire store and they noted the wear but did not recommend a solution as that is according to 'factory specs'. I think I will go back and get the settings changed as you recommended.

BTW, the closest store of that chain is 3/4 mi. from my house but they recommend a store 20 miles away because they had better alignment equipment. Does one need to be aware that some alignment equipment does a better job? I also understood that the local dealer (2 miles) didn't have the better equipment.

I have a good relationship with my local GY dealer. He totally understands my position on tires and had no issues going to my request. He agreed that the wear would be better for highway driving with those specs. Get the best and most accurate alignment you can. The +/- stuff is a fudge factor for less than accurate ability to hit it spot on. I'd do the 20 mile drive to get it exact.

If you drove a lot of twisties and autocross, the turns would have a "flat" foot print for better traction. So drive zigzag all the time and your tires will wear evenly drive in a lot of "straight" and the inside will go before the rest.

That's how I see it. The "pros" can take their shots now.

All I can go with is my experience. Stock Supercars wore even side to side & F&B. Very even wear all all 4 tires with mostly city driving even though the rears spin easily in 1st and 2nd. $99.95 alignment by an experienced Independant Alignment shop.
Specs;
LF camber -0.2°, caster 2.8°, toe 0.09°
RF ------- -0.3°, ----- 2.9°, --- 0.10°
LR camber -0.4°, toe 0.00°
RR ------ -0.4°, --- 0.01°

I kept the same alignment specs for the BFG KDW2's that replaced the Supercars.

The stock settings

LF camber -0.45°, caster 7.9°, toe 0.10°
RF ------- -0.45°, ----- 7.9°, --- 0.10°
LR camber -0.45°, toe 0.00°
RR ------ -0.45°, --- 0.00°
Comparing the two, you have less camber in the front than stock calls for. You rears are good. Your front Caster is way off of the stock numbers.

My settings

LF camber -0.1°, caster 8.2°, toe 0.01°
RF ------- -0.1°, ----- 8.2°, --- 0.01°
LR camber -0.1°, toe 0.03°
RR ------ -0.1°, --- -0.03°


So, are you saying you are running "stock" settings or you have "custom" settings per your specific settings requested?


Elmer

Where is the best place to take the vette in for an alignment?

Go to any alignment shop. Ask what are you using? Then ask how old is it? Is there anything newer? Then call around and see if anyone has the newer gear. That is what I did and I found the GY dealer. When you "ask" for an specific alignment, stress that is WHAT you want and you don't like +/- variables.

Sorry, my old eyes read the 7.8 and 7.9 caster as 2.8 and 2.9. I corrected my post.

The "less camber" is 0.05°! 5/100 of a degree! I guess you could call it custom, the settings are what was recommended by the shop owner after he questioned my goals and use of the car. He wanted more caster but couldn't get it with the stock setup.

Blind old bat! Stop it! That's my excuse!;)

Ok, your Caster is up high and I agree with it.

I didn't see any changes to your camber numbers but basically my thoughts are get the wheels flat while you go down the highway. The -0.1 is my camber setting as opposed to the -0.45 the book calls for. The numbers you listed were -0.2 and -0.3 on the front of your car and -0.4 on the rear. Is that correct?

Correct on the camber settings. With my driving of 90% city and stoplight to stoplight racing my only performance driving he correctly used the #'s I corrected. I wanted more caster to give lighter steering and a quicker on-center return but couldn't get it without modifying parts. Even with the even wear I only got 11,000 miles out of the Supercar tires, they were barely above the wear bars when I swapped them for BFG KDW2's.

Thanks. :thumbs:

Does anyone have any recommendations on alignment place around the SJ/SF Bay Area?

I'm confused .................. (what else is new ?) rofl
 

Ok soooooooo, between haljensen and, eboggs_jkvl , when I take the car to the new Firestone shop, what specs do I give them to set the car at ? I have the BFG KDW ll's. Thanks.

Mileage or road course performance?

Elmer

Milage please :D

Then use "My Settings" shown above.

Elmer

Thank you. I shall print them and take them with me. It ought to be a law that all tire, alignment and, service shops have wi-fi. It would make things sooooo easy. :D

Thanks for the info in this thread. i have a friend who recently wore out the inside of the tires on his c5. Maybe the same issue with his car.