Houston Area Alignment
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
Most alignment shops attempt to get your alignment within a range but Curt is very meticulous and will take the time to get it spot on. He's a huge favorite over on the S2000 forum and I'm glad to see he gets respect over here too. He did my alignment after lowering it on the stock bolts and I've got no complaints.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Well I went to Southwest Alignment on Saturday. Asked that the front be set to Z51 spec and the rear be set for maximum tread life. Took ~1 1/2 hours, not bad. $100, ok. No printout and none available when I asked for it, hmmmm, not too keen on that. I would have liked to have known how far out it was when I brought it in and what they set it to. As soon as I got on the highway I quickly figures out I did not like what they had done. Could be my fault for asking for the rear to be set for "maximum tread life" but it drives REAL swimmy now. Changing lanes on the highway I can feel the front of the car move first, then the rear catches up. And hte car just feels "heavy". It didn't drive like this when I first put the R888's on so I don't think it's just how the tire rides. They said that if there was anything wrong or I didn't like the ride that I could take it back and I'll be doing that soon and asking for it to be set to Z51 spec.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,854
Likes: 8
From: Pearland, TX
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '20
Well I went to Southwest Alignment on Saturday. Asked that the front be set to Z51 spec and the rear be set for maximum tread life. Took ~1 1/2 hours, not bad. $100, ok. No printout and none available when I asked for it, hmmmm, not too keen on that. I would have liked to have known how far out it was when I brought it in and what they set it to. As soon as I got on the highway I quickly figures out I did not like what they had done. Could be my fault for asking for the rear to be set for "maximum tread life" but it drives REAL swimmy now. Changing lanes on the highway I can feel the front of the car move first, then the rear catches up. And hte car just feels "heavy". It didn't drive like this when I first put the R888's on so I don't think it's just how the tire rides. They said that if there was anything wrong or I didn't like the ride that I could take it back and I'll be doing that soon and asking for it to be set to Z51 spec.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
So I took it back last weekend and told them to set it to PFADT pure street specs: http://www.pfadtracing.com/docs/camb...t-settings.pdf
They came and got me in ~10 minutes and showed me that it was very very close to that spec already. They got their printer fixed and dug my printout out of the trash from two weeks ago showing that it was within spec then and printed out a new one.
So I'm happy with Southwest Alignment but now I don't have anything to blame my swimmy handling on other than my 305/30/19 Toyo R888's.
They came and got me in ~10 minutes and showed me that it was very very close to that spec already. They got their printer fixed and dug my printout out of the trash from two weeks ago showing that it was within spec then and printed out a new one.
So I'm happy with Southwest Alignment but now I don't have anything to blame my swimmy handling on other than my 305/30/19 Toyo R888's.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,913
Likes: 2,060
From: Cypress TX
)? Mine didn't get "swimmy" until ~150, but that was before the alignment and still on stock rubber. Haven't ventured there with the Invos and the updated alignment.I attributed my problem to road surface and aerodynamics. This is why I am looking at front splitter, side and rear diffusers and full-width spoiler not to mention the Pfadt sport suspension.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Cypress Texas
St. Jude Donor '09-'11-'12
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
It's most noticable at highway speeds. Changing lanes you can feel the back of the car follow after the front. I would not be too comfortable doing any road racing with the way it handles now. I may try increasing the tire pressure of the R888's. I hear they like more pressure. They are at ~32-34 now depending on temp. May try going to ~40.
Monique, No, I always went in on Saturday mornings and never met Greg.
Monique, No, I always went in on Saturday mornings and never met Greg.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Cypress Texas
St. Jude Donor '09-'11-'12
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 13
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
Took mine to SW Alignment a couple of weeks ago. Greg did the job himself. Got me in and out pretty quick. I asked for it to be real stable at high speeds, yet I didn't want it to train real bad on old two lane roads. Jumped out on westpark when it was done to check it out. Heck - it's quieter now at "highway" speeds and much more stable.
It may be pulling a little, but I think my air pressure is out of whack. I'll be checking it soon.
Overall, I was pleased with their work and chose them based on the recommendations here. If I were on the north side I would have tried the other recommendation.
chris
It may be pulling a little, but I think my air pressure is out of whack. I'll be checking it soon.
Overall, I was pleased with their work and chose them based on the recommendations here. If I were on the north side I would have tried the other recommendation.
chris
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,913
Likes: 2,060
From: Cypress TX
Of course, both of you are faster than me right now. These crutches aren't very quick. Minor details.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Cypress Texas
St. Jude Donor '09-'11-'12
As far as the stang goes....its not good to assume ANYTHING!!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
Likes: 38
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Oh I'm not assuming. We IM'ed a while ago about your stang and my ability to live up to my forum name. I know it's fast, I was more just getting in on the ribbing.
Now that I have my DTE differential brace installed and these Toyo R888's I plan on going out to the track in the near future so maybe we can run heads up.
If my diff doesn't grenade I'm hoping to run a super low 11 and get tossed out.
Now that I have my DTE differential brace installed and these Toyo R888's I plan on going out to the track in the near future so maybe we can run heads up.
If my diff doesn't grenade I'm hoping to run a super low 11 and get tossed out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,913
Likes: 2,060
From: Cypress TX
Only low 11s? A C6Z putting down the power you are is easily in the 10s. Hell, there's at least one stock C6Z on drag radials in the high 10s. I should be deep into the 11s with the power I'm putting down based on similar cars (driver aside, of course). Maybe I'm faster than you think.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: Cypress Texas
St. Jude Donor '09-'11-'12
Oh I'm not assuming. We IM'ed a while ago about your stang and my ability to live up to my forum name. I know it's fast, I was more just getting in on the ribbing.
Now that I have my DTE differential brace installed and these Toyo R888's I plan on going out to the track in the near future so maybe we can run heads up.
If my diff doesn't grenade I'm hoping to run a super low 11 and get tossed out.
Now that I have my DTE differential brace installed and these Toyo R888's I plan on going out to the track in the near future so maybe we can run heads up.
If my diff doesn't grenade I'm hoping to run a super low 11 and get tossed out.
I doubt you will get that low 11...more like 10s!!!!
And as far as the track goes...I don't do the track....but I would definitely cheer you on.
