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Wheel alignment settings

Old 05-07-2010, 02:32 PM
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Default Wheel alignment settings

I just installed a new K member and manual rack. I swapped over the LCA's so everything in the front of the car is way out of wack. I called a local guy to do the alignment and he asked me how I wanted it setup. This car is a straight line car never sees any hard turning. Alot of drag racing and limited weekend street use. Can anyone help me with where I want Caster,camber,and toe? Thanks for any help
Old 05-07-2010, 05:49 PM
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I would just find a shop in your area that does race alignments.Maybe Madman will chime in for some tips.
Old 05-07-2010, 08:46 PM
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You want an 1/16 toe in with the front wheels bareley on the ground. You want as positive caster as possible. And you want dead 0 camber. This is what I have on my setup and I drove 200 mile cruise the other weekend without a swaybar and shocks set to drag setup with full loose on front. No issues what so ever. Hope this helps.
Old 05-07-2010, 09:11 PM
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Busa thanks for the reply. Is the toe setting the only setting done with the wheels "barely" on the ground? The rest get done with all the weight on the tires? I guess the shop guy would know this but i'd like to kow for my own knowledge. I have stock upper control arms so there are no adjustments there correct? It appears everything with the exception of toe is done from the LCA's. Again thanks for your input.
Old 05-08-2010, 12:33 AM
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Good topic. I'm in the same boat right now but on a fox body car. I'm taking notes..
Old 05-08-2010, 07:43 AM
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Busa is close BUT toe is the most critical part. NEVER let the toe go out thru the full suspension travel. If the car toes out you will knock the wall down. We set toe at ride height, then recheck at extension, then I recheck it with the car squatted like its on the brakes hard. Always make sure it is toe'd in.

JFM is your alignment guy has some questions call me.
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Old 05-08-2010, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by MADMAN
toe is the most critical part. NEVER let the toe go out thru the full suspension travel.
JFM is your alignment guy has some questions call me.
Is this known as "bumpsteer?" In addition thanks for the reply your input is appreciated!
Old 05-08-2010, 09:44 AM
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No, bumpsteer is a totally different animal. However, if that is your car in your sig you will need the alignment guy at the track to re adjust after every pass. LOL
Old 05-08-2010, 01:55 PM
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Yeah thats my car and alignment was the least of my problems after that pass. I thought bumpsteer was the tires toeing in and out when the suspension traveled thru it's arc.
Old 05-09-2010, 08:30 AM
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You are correct JFM.
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Old 05-09-2010, 09:16 AM
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Madman thanks for your input. I will probably call you but will continue to ask questions in this thread because it appears there are others that will benfit from your knowledge. Should bumsteer be setup first? And if so basically I am looking for the right spacer combination on the spindle bolt that gives the least amount of tire "toeing" when lifting the the car off the ground and setting it back down? As I said I am starting literally from scratch here with this setup as far as alignment goes.
Old 05-09-2010, 05:27 PM
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Originally Posted by JRracing
Good topic. I'm in the same boat right now but on a fox body car. I'm taking notes..
x2. thanks for all the info guys
Old 05-10-2010, 05:30 AM
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You need to get your bumpsteer as close as possible before you take the car to get aligned. Most alignment shops dont have the knowledge to set it. We set it by using a tape measure and jacking the car up and down. We move spacers around on the tierod end till we get it to never toe out.
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Old 05-10-2010, 06:08 AM
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Quick recap here: first step set bumpsteer with spacer combination so the tires never toe out at any point thru suspension travel. Toe should end up at 1/16 in with wheels barely on the ground. Camber set to zero and get as much positive castor as possible.

If the above is correct id like to know a range for castor to stay within (roughly) can there be too much? Madmman excellent info added to this thread and exactly the reason this site is what it is today.
Old 05-10-2010, 06:37 AM
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You can never have too much caster on these cars.
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Old 05-10-2010, 06:47 AM
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Caster makes the car more stable at high speeds... never a bad thing.

Madman, with a burkhart front end, how far is the tierod generally spaced down off the spindle (if using all Chuck's stuff)?
Old 06-03-2010, 06:50 AM
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Workin the same beast here, I'll call your guy tomorrow and get some more info, I have a kmember, no sway, bmr rack, and let the car down off the jacks after counting threads on the power rack, and measuring end to end between the old and new racks to get it close, but the car is piggen toed!!

Btw lookin at that th350 dipstick, looks alot better than this lokar crap hidden under my cowl!!! It's near retarded to try and fill my trans!!!

Talk at y'all tomorrow!!


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