Dropped, camber kit, aligned, want to drop it more...can I get away without aligning?

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Sep 25, 2008 | 12:59 AM
  #1  
So here's my deal. I dropped my '06 Coupe on Tein Basics a couple weeks ago with a one finger gap. Looked sick, but my negative camber was out about -1.5* in the front. Installed a front camber kit today and had to raise it to prevent rubbing once the camber was dialed in. (I don't think the garage looked for the lowest point they could lower it to prevent rubbing, they just raised it about an inch to make sure the clearance was there.) Alignment is back to spec.

However, I'm not liking the two finger gap I now have in the front (the extra finger is about 3/4"). If I go in and lower the car 1/4" - 3/8 in the front, is that going to throw my alignment way out or will the little bit of extra negative camber be a non-issue in overall tire wear? I really don't want to pay to have it re-aligned.

Thanks for the inputs.
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Sep 25, 2008 | 03:05 AM
  #2  
you probably need alignment after you lower it. Get the lifetime alignment at firestone. just make sure you go to a firestone that does a good job.

2 finger gap kinda looks high still. I have it on mine but ill wait for my springs to settle before lowering it a bit more
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Sep 25, 2008 | 07:48 AM
  #3  
Short answer - any suspension changes (like additional lowering) will throw off the alignment.
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Sep 25, 2008 | 07:55 AM
  #4  
Quote: Short answer - any suspension changes (like additional lowering) will throw off the alignment.
+1

You don't have to do it, but if you like your car, want it to handle well and don't like replacing tires due to the extra wear then it is a good idea to do it.
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Sep 25, 2008 | 08:04 AM
  #5  
Any change in ride height should be followed by an alignment to the right specs. It can be aligned with improper specs and you're not goingto be any better.
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Sep 25, 2008 | 08:13 AM
  #6  
You should be fine... how much camber do you have now? I always run at least 1 degree of negative camber in the fronts... Since we're rwd, it's the rears that need to be flatter for performance.

It's the toe I would be worried about.
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Sep 25, 2008 | 08:20 AM
  #7  
Negative camber does not eat tires as quickly as excessive toe. Lowering affects toe as much as camber.
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Sep 25, 2008 | 10:15 AM
  #8  
Thanks for the responses. You pretty much confirmed what I was thinking.

I'm noticing some pull to the right, so I'm going to take it back for a re-align anyway.
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