NC MX5 Wheel Alignment Specifications

[Charlie Brown]

I've noticed a lot of talk about alignment specs for the NC and thought this might help those searching for answers. It is an excerpt from Mazdaspeed Sport Springs installation instructions.

FRONT
Total Toe-in 2mm

Camber
Vehicle height
356 – 365mm ___-0.41 degrees
346 – 355mm ___-1.01 degrees
336 – 345mm ___-1.20 degrees
326 – 335mm ___-1.38 degrees
315 – 325mm ___-1.57 degrees

Caster
356 – 365mm ___6.27 degrees
346 – 355mm ___6.36 degrees
336 – 345mm ___6.44 degrees
326 – 335mm ___6.52 degrees
315 – 325mm ___6.57 degrees

REAR
Total Toe-in 3mm

Camber
356 – 365mm ___-1.38
346 – 355mm ___-1.56 degrees

336 – 345mm ___-2.14 degrees
326 – 335mm ___-2.30 degrees
315 – 325mm ___-2.45 degrees

Vehicle height dimensions are from centre of wheel vertically to underside of guard.
Camber figures are degrees and seconds.

[Charlie Brown]

Just had Spinning Wheel do a new alignment for me.
This is the fourth in 3 1/2 months since the lowering of the car.
Why?
'Cause the car has now settled into its new position and I wasn't really happy that the last alignment was so far in the front camber from the MazdaSpeed specs.
I’ll let everyone know the new specs after testing over the next two weeks and at Wakefield.
Suffice to say that it’s a little more aggressive than MazdaSpeed specs. Times at Wakefield will prove if it's better.

[Gramps]

I’ll let everyone know the new specs after testing over the next two weeks and at Wakefield.
Suffice to say that it’s a little more aggressive than MazdaSpeed specs. Times at Wakefield will prove if it's better.

When you get it sorted it should go into the archive with your other specs.

[Craig]

They archive the pair of you. Don't they do that with old things?


*runs for cover*

[Charlie Brown]

For those with standard suspension set ups that want to know what Mazda recommend, either see this site

http://forum.miata.net/vb/attachment.ph ... 3791&stc=1

and print out the chart or see the figures below that I have extracted.


Front wheel alignment [17-inch wheel]
Item Specification

Total toe-in Tyre [Tolerance ±4 mm] (mm) 2
Rim inner (mm) 1.4±2.8
degree 0°11'±22'
Steering angle [Tolerance ±3°] Inner 38°42'
Outer 32°54'
Steering axis inclination (Reference value) 10°47'

Camber
[Tolerance ±1°] Vehicle height: From the end of the front fender to the center of the wheel (mm)
351-360 -0°51'
361-370 -0°31'
371-380 -0°14'
381-390 0°02'
391-400 0°15'

Caster
[Tolerance ±1°] Vehicle height: From the end of the rear fender to the center of the wheel (mm)
349-358 6°34'
359-368 6°20'
369-378 6°06'
379-388 5°53'
389-398 5°39'

Note
• Unloaded vehicle: Fuel tank is full. Engine coolant and engine oil are at specified level. Jack and tools are in designated position.
• Difference between the left and right dimension for camber and caster is within 1°.

Rear wheel alignment [17-inch wheel]
Item Specification

Total toe-in Tyre [Tolerance ±4 mm] (mm) 3
Rim inner (mm) 2.2±2.8
degree 0°17'±22'

Camber
[Tolerance ±1°] Vehicle height: From the end of the rear fender to the center of the wheel (mm)
349-358 -1°42'
359-368 -1°25'
369-378 -1°11'
379-388 -0°59'
389-398 -0°49'

Note
• Unloaded vehicle: Fuel tank is full. Engine coolant and engine oil are at specified level. Jack and tools are in designated position.
• Difference between the left and right camber angle is within 1°.

Hope that helps.

[Charlie Brown]

Another quick report in my never ending quest (how long is a piece of string?) to get the ideal NC’s alignment for those who enjoy spirited driving and the occasional track day.

Previously running the Mazdaspeed specs around Wakefield, I found that the car had a combination of oversteer through high speed open corners and understeer through tight slow corners. On the road it showed none of these traits as you never get to the car limits.

Off to Spinning Wheel and Stu dialled in some more rear toe-in, a touch more front negative camber and another degree of negative camber on the rear. The car had very good manners around Wakefield. So much so that I dropped into the 1:15s for two laps. Rear oversteer problem was gone but understeer was still there. On the road the car was great. Solid as a rock during braking, no diving or darting about.

Specs (averaged) for this set up are:
Front Caster – 6.45 degrees
Front Camber – 1.41 degrees negative
Front Toe – 0.09 degrees in total
Rear Camber – 2.37 degrees negative
Rear Toe - 0.36 degrees in total

Last week I went back to Spinning Wheel to get this alignment tweaked a little more.
Wanting to remove a little of the understeer through the slow corners (and not having the Eibach adjustable sways yet), Stu has dialled up some new settings for me to try out at Queensland raceway during Natmeet.
He’s backed off the castor, increase the front camber and given it a touch of toe out in the front in an attempt to improve the already good turn in and to reduce the understeer. On the rear less camber and toe-in, to balance the car following the front adjustments. At present on the road it feels fine. Only track time will tell if it’s an improvement on the last setting.

[ncmx5]

keep us informed mate

[Charlie Brown]

I have just returned from Natmeet running the latest alignment at Queensland Raceway and I’m “over the moon” the way the NC went. I needed to run in the “Modified” class as the car is lowered 35mm. Everything else is stock.

The car was the fastest normally aspirated road tyred car in the event, finishing sixth over all with 3 race cars, Verne Johnson’s 161kW turbo 10AE and Mike Marsh’s SP on racing rubber in front of me. Compared to the standard NC it was 5 seconds a lap quicker, lapping in 1:33.84.

Back to the alignment:

The current set up is:
Castor average 6 degrees
Front Camber -2 degrees
Toe out 0.02 degrees

Rear Camber -2 degrees 10 seconds
Toe in 0.2 degrees

This set up has improved the turn in, reduced the understeer, giving excellent balance through the corners. That said, it is an aggressive street / part track setup.
If the car was just to be used on the road I think it would be wise to take ¾ of a degree out of the front camber and set the toe at zero. This will improve tyre life.

Thanks to Peter Matthews for the photo below.

[jimbojones]

congrats charlie!! you've prob already told us somewhere but what tyres are you running?

jimbo

[Charlie Brown]

Jumbo: The standard Michelins that came with the car.