My alignment saga continues....
Originally Posted by TwoK4drSi
Dude, don't steal my idea 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 16
From: Keller, TX (DFW)
Well I'm about to go install the toe bolts that I got from THMotorsports (got here in 2 days!). The instructions that come with the bolts aren't very detailed so I searched for a DIY and found practically nothing here on driver ... so over to my350 and blam there it was! The thread gives a link to a PDF that shows you just how to do it: http://turboneticsownersclub.com/tur...oltinstall.pdf
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 16
From: Keller, TX (DFW)
My biggest problem in the rear is to toe, I have Stillen adjustable camber arms but the problem is when you bring the camber more positive, the toe goes more negative.
I did the install yesterday based on the links above and it really wasn't bad at all. I picked up a #115 dremel bit and after jacking up the rear allowing the suspension to hang I unbolted the stock toe bolt and used the dremel bit to elongate the hole. I couldn't believe how easily that dremel bit dug through that aluminum!!
While it was still jacked up I did an "eye" adjustment for the rear toe so it looks like the rear tires are facing the fronts. It's amazing how much toe adjustment is available in the rear tires, just by spinning the back of the toe bolt you watch the rear tire turn in and out like it has 4WS
Anyways, always rewarding to do something on your own car and learn a little more about how everything works. I feel confident enough that if I had the equipment to tell me the angles that I could align the rear tires no problem.
The front camber, now that is a different story altogether! -2.5°
I did the install yesterday based on the links above and it really wasn't bad at all. I picked up a #115 dremel bit and after jacking up the rear allowing the suspension to hang I unbolted the stock toe bolt and used the dremel bit to elongate the hole. I couldn't believe how easily that dremel bit dug through that aluminum!!
While it was still jacked up I did an "eye" adjustment for the rear toe so it looks like the rear tires are facing the fronts. It's amazing how much toe adjustment is available in the rear tires, just by spinning the back of the toe bolt you watch the rear tire turn in and out like it has 4WS
Anyways, always rewarding to do something on your own car and learn a little more about how everything works. I feel confident enough that if I had the equipment to tell me the angles that I could align the rear tires no problem.
The front camber, now that is a different story altogether! -2.5°
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 16
From: Keller, TX (DFW)
It's just a pain swapping tires over every 5k miles and having to worry about the shop scratching my wheels doing the dismount/remount since they are directional tires.
Alignment specs show a maximum of -1.25° camber in the fronts so I am running twice that. I just have to decide if I want to spend ~$400 for the front a-arms and then worry about rotating less...
Alignment specs show a maximum of -1.25° camber in the fronts so I am running twice that. I just have to decide if I want to spend ~$400 for the front a-arms and then worry about rotating less...
Originally Posted by TwoK4drSi
You really shouldn't worry about camber. It's toe that kills tires. Camber you can always get 100% out of your tires by swapping them over.
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 16
From: Keller, TX (DFW)
After the toe bolt install this weekend I made it back to Dallas Frame & Alignment today. I request Josh to do the alignment as he was the one that helped me out before.
Ran into a little snag when he tried to adjust the rear camber ... the Stillen camber arms were at their max positive adjustment although there were plenty of threads showing to move it more negative. It appears that when the adjustable camber arms were installed, they were not centered in the threads to allow enough positive adjustment. What this meant was that the camber bar needed to be dismounted, spun out and then reinstalled. In order to get the the camber bolt out, you have to remove the rear sway bar and all the plastic diffusers around it (pain). I just told him to go ahead and do it even though I was considering replacing the sway bars soon.
In the end he got the rear camber at -1.4° with a total toe at +3/16" (very very slight toe in). The front is still sitting at a heavy -2.5° camber with a total toe at +1/8".
I hadn't experienced any severe wear of the front tires with the camber the way it is, Josh explained that was partly due to the toe in compensating for the drastic camber. I will keep an eye on the tire wear over the next 5k miles and see those a-arms are really needed.
THE END!
Ran into a little snag when he tried to adjust the rear camber ... the Stillen camber arms were at their max positive adjustment although there were plenty of threads showing to move it more negative. It appears that when the adjustable camber arms were installed, they were not centered in the threads to allow enough positive adjustment. What this meant was that the camber bar needed to be dismounted, spun out and then reinstalled. In order to get the the camber bolt out, you have to remove the rear sway bar and all the plastic diffusers around it (pain). I just told him to go ahead and do it even though I was considering replacing the sway bars soon.
In the end he got the rear camber at -1.4° with a total toe at +3/16" (very very slight toe in). The front is still sitting at a heavy -2.5° camber with a total toe at +1/8".
I hadn't experienced any severe wear of the front tires with the camber the way it is, Josh explained that was partly due to the toe in compensating for the drastic camber. I will keep an eye on the tire wear over the next 5k miles and see those a-arms are really needed.
THE END!
Originally Posted by BeerViper
After the toe bolt install this weekend I made it back to Dallas Frame & Alignment today. I request Josh to do the alignment as he was the one that helped me out before.
Ran into a little snag when he tried to adjust the rear camber ... the Stillen camber arms were at their max positive adjustment although there were plenty of threads showing to move it more negative. It appears that when the adjustable camber arms were installed, they were not centered in the threads to allow enough positive adjustment. What this meant was that the camber bar needed to be dismounted, spun out and then reinstalled. In order to get the the camber bolt out, you have to remove the rear sway bar and all the plastic diffusers around it (pain). I just told him to go ahead and do it even though I was considering replacing the sway bars soon.
In the end he got the rear camber at -1.4° with a total toe at +3/16" (very very slight toe in). The front is still sitting at a heavy -2.5° camber with a total toe at +1/8".
I hadn't experienced any severe wear of the front tires with the camber the way it is, Josh explained that was partly due to the toe in compensating for the drastic camber. I will keep an eye on the tire wear over the next 5k miles and see those a-arms are really needed.
THE END!
Ran into a little snag when he tried to adjust the rear camber ... the Stillen camber arms were at their max positive adjustment although there were plenty of threads showing to move it more negative. It appears that when the adjustable camber arms were installed, they were not centered in the threads to allow enough positive adjustment. What this meant was that the camber bar needed to be dismounted, spun out and then reinstalled. In order to get the the camber bolt out, you have to remove the rear sway bar and all the plastic diffusers around it (pain). I just told him to go ahead and do it even though I was considering replacing the sway bars soon.
In the end he got the rear camber at -1.4° with a total toe at +3/16" (very very slight toe in). The front is still sitting at a heavy -2.5° camber with a total toe at +1/8".
I hadn't experienced any severe wear of the front tires with the camber the way it is, Josh explained that was partly due to the toe in compensating for the drastic camber. I will keep an eye on the tire wear over the next 5k miles and see those a-arms are really needed.
THE END!
Originally Posted by TwoK4drSi
Well then don't modify your car if you woory about things being convenient and yes toe kill tires more than camber