Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

Lowered daily driver alignment specs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 12, 2012 | 10:04 PM
  #1  
dabest09's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default Lowered daily driver alignment specs

I just finished up my bmr/koni swap today and need to get it aligned this week. What caster, toe, and camber are you guys that dd your lowered cars running? I want to get good life out of my tires but also get the best handling out of the alignment as possible. I know tire wear is sacrificed for handling but I want a little of both.

I tried searching but everyone runs different specs. I don't want to run -1 camber if it's gonna make my tires wear uneven, etc. Let me know what you guys think.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 12:16 AM
  #2  
dabest09's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default

60 views and no responses? Come on guys help me out.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 09:18 AM
  #3  
jimmyblue's Avatar
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 12,604
Likes: 7
From: East Central Florida
Default

I've been getting aligned to these specs:

-1.3 camber
4.5 caster
zero toe

and seeing no tire-wear asymmetry on the fronts.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 12:10 PM
  #4  
z28camaross2's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
From: south jersey
Default

Do you have the koni 4/3 or the 4/4? I have the 4/3 with koni's front set at 4 and back set at what I think is full
soft got I am getting the harshest ride from the back end the front feels fine going over bumps but soon as the back hits it I feel like i hit a pothole even over little bumps and it bounces like crazy
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 01:35 PM
  #5  
BMR Tech2's Avatar
LS1Tech Premium Sponsor
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,173
Likes: 20
From: Tampa FL
Default

Originally Posted by z28camaross2
Do you have the koni 4/3 or the 4/4? I have the 4/3 with koni's front set at 4 and back set at what I think is full
soft got I am getting the harshest ride from the back end the front feels fine going over bumps but soon as the back hits it I feel like i hit a pothole even over little bumps and it bounces like crazy
Dial your rear Koni shocks down to about 1.
__________________
T.C.
Sales Pro
BMR Suspension
(813) 986-9302

Like us on Facebook!
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 01:49 PM
  #6  
BMR Tech2's Avatar
LS1Tech Premium Sponsor
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,173
Likes: 20
From: Tampa FL
Default

Originally Posted by jimmyblue
I've been getting aligned to these specs:

-1.3 camber
4.5 caster
zero toe

and seeing no tire-wear asymmetry on the fronts.
These sounds good. I usually like a little toe out, but the alignment shop should be able to set you up accordingly.
- Kevin
__________________
T.C.
Sales Pro
BMR Suspension
(813) 986-9302

Like us on Facebook!
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 04:51 PM
  #7  
cookba's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,841
Likes: 0
From: Tampa
Default

1/16 TOE-IN , +4.5*L/+5*R CASTER , -0.7*CAMBER

been running this for a few years now.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 06:48 PM
  #8  
dabest09's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default

Originally Posted by jimmyblue
I've been getting aligned to these specs:

-1.3 camber
4.5 caster
zero toe

and seeing no tire-wear asymmetry on the fronts.
Yours is a daily driver, correct? I was thinking 4.5-5 caster, 0 toe, and -1 camber. Would that be good?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-2

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-9

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 06:53 PM
  #9  
dabest09's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default

Originally Posted by z28camaross2
Do you have the koni 4/3 or the 4/4? I have the 4/3 with koni's front set at 4 and back set at what I think is full
soft got I am getting the harshest ride from the back end the front feels fine going over bumps but soon as the back hits it I feel like i hit a pothole even over little bumps and it bounces like crazy
I have the 4/4. I have mine set at full soft, yours are full hard it sounds like. Full soft seems good for me, I might set it up one notch and see how it feels.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 09:05 PM
  #10  
whitess1's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: chillicothe, il
Default

Factory specs are 4.5 to 5.5 caster, -.7 to .7 camber, -.7 to .7 toe. Would set left caster at 4.5 right caster at 5.0. camber at -.5 . toe at zero. You can go a little more negative on your camber if you want but i think much more than a -1 will give you some inner tire wear and as far as handling you not going to notice the difference from -.5 of a degree to -1 degree. Hope this helps
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2012 | 10:19 PM
  #11  
dabest09's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default

So as far as caster goes, is the higher the better? Or should aim to keep it more toward 4.5? I've heard many people say max out the caster as high as the alignment shop can get it.
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 11:00 AM
  #12  
jimmyblue's Avatar
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 12,604
Likes: 7
From: East Central Florida
Default

Caster will help you some with the "groove walk" effect.
The camber helps even out edge wear if you like to corner
aggressively, often. The camber I use has gotten me down
to the wear bars without evident wear-asymmetry side to
side. The appearance is "set up" but not rice-boi kooky.
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 05:13 PM
  #13  
dabest09's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default

In that case, I think I might go with -0.5 camber.... Occasionally I'll rip it through turns but not often enough I don't think. Hopefully this with help with the stock camber and how it wears the tires unevenly. Is 90 bucks expensive for just a front end alignment? That's the average that I'm getting quoted. I don't wanna get ripped.
Reply
Old Aug 14, 2012 | 09:52 PM
  #14  
therabidweasel's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 876
Likes: 2
From: NH/MA
Default

$90 seems ok, depends on the area.

FWIW it seems like alignment specs are a bit of a touchy subject around here, but I second jimmyblue's specs. I do run the tiniest bit of toe out. Not good for running 1/4, and it will feel much more darty until you get used to it. No measurable wear difference with -1 camber after 3 sets of tires over 11 years.
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2012 | 06:56 AM
  #15  
dabest09's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Default

Originally Posted by therabidweasel
$90 seems ok, depends on the area.

FWIW it seems like alignment specs are a bit of a touchy subject around here, but I second jimmyblue's specs. I do run the tiniest bit of toe out. Not good for running 1/4, and it will feel much more darty until you get used to it. No measurable wear difference with -1 camber after 3 sets of tires over 11 years.
What are your driving habits? I think that's a big factor in tire wear with different camber settings.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:46 PM.

story-0
10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

Slideshow: 10 reasons daily-driving a swap project might not be for you. Or is it?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-17 09:39:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-2
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-18 10:26:23


VIEW MORE
story-3
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-5
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-7
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE