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After 2 1/2 year she’s finally back on her feet. I do have questions and would appreciate opinions on ride height and alignment specs.
Some information
Weight jacks front and rear using 1000lb springs front 200lb springs rear
1/2 taller QA1 ball joints
17x9.5 wheels with 275/40/17’s
sway bars 36mm front 19mm rear
Adjustable panhard rod lowered at the axle side
Car is not a track only car, at least not yet, so it’ll be driven on the street more than autoxed.
What would be a good ride height to shoot for? Currently the car is sitting at a 27” fender height, would 26.5” or 26” be to low for street driving?
Going off of the alignment specs below what if any would you change using the “Hard street” specs? Car we be driven on the highway what issues would I see with a 1/8” toe out condition?
My car sits at 26.5 thinking about going to 26" this year but want to up the front springs. I use the hard street specs just set the left and right caster the same.
My car sits at 26.5 thinking about going to 26" this year but want to up the front springs. I use the hard street specs just set the left and right caster the same.
I also use the hard street specs.
FYI: Factory alignment will absolutely ruin the front tires as the outside edge is burned off in short order.
YMMV.
I currently have my ride height set at 26" in the front and 26 1/2" for the rear. -4.9 degrees of castor, camber is at -.5 degrees and my toe in is -1/16". My car drives awesome with these settings. I do know going toe out will cause your car to wonder more on the road. Any lower on ride height I have clearance issues with my aftermarket exhaust.
My car sits at 26.5 thinking about going to 26" this year but want to up the front springs. I use the hard street specs just set the left and right caster the same.
For what reason did you set your caster the same left and right?
Those wheels look good. Where's your rear spoiler?...
Paid $300 for these wheels
The car originally came with the base model spoiler, earlier in the year I bought a damaged 91-92 Aero spoiler for $120, I’ve got a buddy whose a body man repairing it for me, he’ll also be going the body work and paint on the car in the near future.
I currently have my ride height set at 26" in the front and 26 1/2" for the rear. -4.9 degrees of castor, camber is at -.5 degrees and my toe in is -1/16". My car drives awesome with these settings. I do know going toe out will cause your car to wonder more on the road. Any lower on ride height I have clearance issues with my aftermarket exhaust.
Why not 26” all around or 26.5” all around?
The -4.9 degrees of caster seems pretty specific was there a reason for that number?
Rear of my car is at 27". Any lower than that and it spends too much time on the snubbers and tires spin hard. Frankly these cars perform worse and worse the lower they go if you don't correct suspension geometry.
1/8" toe out is too much for the street. It will help the car go around tight corners in parking lot cone racing but will destroy your tires in the real world. My car likes just a smidge toe out or no toe. Car will not wander as some try to prophesy (lots of caster prevents that).
Toe in is horrible with my car and gets all bucking bronco when turning corners. I have very sticky tires so any kind of lateral slip is more noticeable than somebody on normal street tires. I just drive and tinker for fun, not a racer, but use very aggressive tires on the street (because it's fun ).
Rear of my car is at 27". Any lower than that and it spends too much time on the snubbers and tires spin hard. Frankly these cars perform worse and worse the lower they go if you don't correct suspension geometry. Such as bump steer correction, adjustable panhard rod, LCARB’s?
1/8" toe out is too much for the street. It will help the car go around tight corners in parking lot cone racing but will destroy your tires in the real world. My car likes just a smidge toe out or no toe. Car will not wander as some try to prophesy (lots of caster prevents that). I’m thinking 0 Toe maybe the way to go
Toe in is horrible with my car and gets all bucking bronco when turning corners. I have very sticky tires so any kind of lateral slip is more noticeable than somebody on normal street tires. I just drive and tinker for fun, not a racer, but use very aggressive tires on the street (because it's fun ).
What’s the height set at for the front of your car, 27”?
I wouldn't go below 26.5 in ground to fender in a street car with factory bump stops.
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For race oriented 3rd gens, ride height is dependant on your spring rates and what geometry you run on your a-arms and LCA.
Lower isn't better if your geometry gets fug'd up.
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My Alignment recommendations.
Street: +5 castor, -0.5 degree camber, 0.1 degree toe in.(shops do toe in degrees now)
If you have new steering parts, you can run Zero toe. That will save tires and will track fine with a fresh steering system.
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I ran my Autocross car at around 24in ride height and it was actually slower at that ride height due to the LCA angles going to sh"it.
The tires in this pic are 25in tall, so pretty short compared to stock and other common sizes.
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