the alarming effect of lowering suspension on camber!

Jimi · Postby **Jimi** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:28 pm

Just got my alignment done today after adjusting ride heights on a set of coilovers, to get the car high enough to miss speedhumps comfortably. The old alignment was from stock heights on a na6.

So the specs from the old alignment (before changing the heights) was:
front camber was ~ 1.2* negative, and rear was ~ 1.8* negative

after lowering the ride height, this blew out to:
front : -1.9
rear: -3!!!!!

Also, the thing I really wasnt expecting was a significant amount of toe out at the front - presumably from the new geometry of the steering tie-rods I can't recall the exact measurement, but lots of it!

Anyway, spinning wheel sorted out the alignment now for the new height, but I was amazed by just how far out of spec the alignment became from only moderate lowering. So if changing ride heights at all, beware your alignment will be MILES out of spec!

jonosx · Postby **jonosx** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:04 pm

Yep, found the same thing with mine. I actually had 25mm of toe out!!!!

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 2:59 pm

Makes sense!

elitee · Postby **elitee** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:08 pm

Pretty straight forward, if you don't know this you shouldn't be lowering your car.

jonosx · Postby **jonosx** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:23 pm

Yes it is pretty straightforward, but i was very surprised at how much bump steer these things have.

I'm actually a little suprised i've never seen it mentioned anywhere in forums.

rodent · Postby **rodent** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:27 pm

Yeah, good tip to all of you out there with adjustable suspension - get an alignment done if you're playing with ride height! Your tyres will thank you for it too

tobias · Postby **tobias** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:59 pm

I change my ride height too often to worry about my alignment. The only thing I keep an eye on is my toe, along as my wheels are facing straight I couldn't care less

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:24 pm

Mrs nanotech wrote:I change my ride height too often to worry about my alignment. The only thing I keep an eye on is my toe, along as my wheels are facing straight I couldn't care less

So how do you check or know that they are?

G

rodent · Postby **rodent** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:34 pm

Mrs nanotech wrote:I change my ride height too often to worry about my alignment. The only thing I keep an eye on is my toe, along as my wheels are facing straight I couldn't care less

What's your reason for changing your ride height so often? I know people in the VIP scene who, at any given moment, will jack their cars and in 5 minutes have it sitting on rails, but that's obviously pretty extreme

tobias · Postby **tobias** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:53 pm

I use the old rope from across the back wheels and the fronts and I also measure across the front wheels, measure from the front of the left wheel to the same
Spot on the right wheel and match it on the rear of the wheel, I don't worry about camber too much cause I know I'm going to change it the next week, and to answer why I do so often is because I can haha some weeks I feel like being able to drive over speed bumps other weeks I feel like destroying my frame rails