Alignment specs?
#1280363
08/06/12 12:34 PM
08/06/12 12:34 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick
OP
Still wishing...
|
OP
Still wishing...
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
|
Does anybody have a set of all around good street specs for improved handling over factory specs? I have a 79 R-body, a 65 C-body wagon and a 66 C-body sedan. The guy who's skills I trust works at a shop that just got a new whizz bang alignment system and the computer in it doesn't recognize dinosaurs  My understanding has always been to jack in as much positive castor as it will give you and hope when you're done with the camber and toe that you have some left. Kevin
|
|
|
Re: Alignment specs?
[Re: bigsbigelow]
#1280365
08/06/12 01:24 PM
08/06/12 01:24 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,094
Sunnyvale, CA
Jeepmon
master
|
master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,094
Sunnyvale, CA
|
Quote:
web page
The tech archives are your friend. 
You can even shoot for these setting at 1" above ride height to further improve high speed stability.
Are those specs for racing in a straight line.. or are they also good for cornering?
|
|
|
Re: Alignment specs?
[Re: bigsbigelow]
#1280367
08/06/12 02:20 PM
08/06/12 02:20 PM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick
OP
Still wishing...
|
OP
Still wishing...
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
|
Where is the head banging smiley when you need it? Those specs are suitable for all platforms? Also can I assume that for max tire life I would go for 0 camber instead of -.5? At 1" above ride, where approx would they be at ride height? Kevin
|
|
|
Re: Alignment specs?
[Re: 5spdcuda]
#1280371
08/06/12 04:40 PM
08/06/12 04:40 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
72Swinger
master
|
master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
|
If tire wear is your main concern then aligh accordingly. If you want it to handle put in some neg camber. I've been running .7- for about 1k miles and I've finally wore the whiskers off my front tires.
Mopar to the bone!!!
|
|
|
Re: Alignment specs?
[Re: 72Swinger]
#1280373
08/06/12 11:40 PM
08/06/12 11:40 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 813
Ontario,Canada
brads70
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 813
Ontario,Canada
|
Quote:
If tire wear is your main concern then aligh accordingly. If you want it to handle put in some neg camber. I've been running .7- for about 1k miles and I've finally wore the whiskers off my front tires.
I agree, same here! .7 of a degree and next to zero tire wear.
|
|
|
Re: Alignment specs?
[Re: Jeepmon]
#1280374
08/07/12 12:46 AM
08/07/12 12:46 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,393
Pikes Peak Country
TC@HP2
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,393
Pikes Peak Country
|
Quote:
Quote:
web page
The tech archives are your friend.
You can even shoot for these setting at 1" above ride height to further improve high speed stability.
Are those specs for racing in a straight line.. or are they also good for cornering?
The chassis manual recommends drag cars use the stock settings, with possibly a bit more positive caster for high speed stability. However, those settings should be done at one inch of lift in the front end to simulate body rise through the traps with the light weight drag style front suspension.
The othe rpsecs recommended on here are good all around driving specs for use on a street car with radials.
Going fast around corner specs actually will have more negative camber and less toe in.
|
|
|
Re: Alignment specs?
[Re: brads70]
#1280375
08/07/12 01:34 AM
08/07/12 01:34 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,664
IN
ahy
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,664
IN
|
Quote:
Quote:
If tire wear is your main concern then aligh accordingly. If you want it to handle put in some neg camber. I've been running .7- for about 1k miles and I've finally wore the whiskers off my front tires.
I agree, same here! .7 of a degree and next to zero tire wear.
Agree... some negative camber .5-.75 deg - won't hurt tire wear much with radials and helps handling. If you drive it in corners the negative camber might actually help even out tire wear.
As much positive caster as possible up to 5 degrees or so.
I like to run on the high side of factory spec for toe in to promote stability, especially with wider tires. For autocross, less toe is recommended for improved responsivness. I'll take the stability.
If your setup can't get that much, at least a little of both (negative camber and positive caster) will help.
I know on my setup, getting alignment dialed in with the help of FF UCA's and adjustable strut rods made a huge difference in how it handled.
|
|
|
Re: Alignment specs?
[Re: ahy]
#1280376
08/07/12 10:39 AM
08/07/12 10:39 AM
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick
OP
Still wishing...
|
OP
Still wishing...
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
|
Sounds like -.50 is a safe number to try for handling vs tire wear. I was just concerned it was going to cut my tire life in half. They don't drive bad enough to make that sacrifice . My local guy's new machine doesn't recognize dinosaurs so I don't even know what the stock settings are. Kevin
|
|
|
Re: Alignment specs?
[Re: BergmanAutoCraft]
#1280379
08/07/12 05:15 PM
08/07/12 05:15 PM
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 841
Santa Fe Springs, CA
Dan@Hotchkis
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 841
Santa Fe Springs, CA
|
Quote:
Dan, why so much caster? Normally, I like the 3-4 range.
Improved camber curve on turns. Look at any modern performance car today and you will see the same. I believe the Corvettes have 8* from the factory.
|
|
|
Re: Alignment specs?
[Re: Dan@Hotchkis]
#1280380
08/07/12 05:48 PM
08/07/12 05:48 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 817
Eugene, Oregon
Secret Chimp
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 817
Eugene, Oregon
|
Heck, look at BMWs and Mercedes when their wheels are cranked to one side. They have so much caster you'd think something's broken!
1967 Dodge Coronet Deluxe station wagon
1.03" T-bars, QA1 arms/rods, Cordoba/GM Metric/Volare brake & knuckle, XHDs, Hellwig rear sway, 318 Magnum w/ air gap, 727, 3.23s
|
|
|
|
|
I don't know what happens to the specs when the car is dropped back down from the 1" up position. My car was set up with these specs and I really like the way it drives.
