Quick front/rear alignment question

[beeman]

Heading in for an initial alignment this morning. Here are the settings I'm thinking of going with. 80% street, 20% track use.
What do you think?
Thanks!

Front
Caster: 5 degrees (electric power steering-would you go for even more?)
Camber: -.75
Toe: -1/16

Rear
Toe: -1/16
Camber: -0.5

[Toy4me]

I have 7 degrees of castor with PS. The rest of your specs match mine.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I go for around 8 degrees of positive caster on power steering cars BUT be aware of thread engagement on the UCA adjustment sleeves. Unless you've changed them your Mk3.1 will have the silver & black zero degree ball joint plate upper arms. These are especially prone to having insufficient engagement in the highr caster ranges with the supplied sleeves, especially if you are not running with the SAI modification. Read this (at least the first part):

http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/244160-lots-caster-warning.html

Make sure it is set for toe IN, not out. I like to see a touch more in front and go to 3/32" for improved straight line tracking and return to center. Combined with the negative camber tire wear will not be a factor (the two will pretty much cancel the other out).

Jeff

[beeman]

We are talking about the GTM, right? Jeff, I did go to 7 degrees Caster with my Roadster and I did get the longer sleeves per your thread. Thanks again.

[Jeff Kleiner]

We are talking about the GTM, right? Jeff, I did go to 7 degrees Caster with my Roadster and I did get the longer sleeves per your thread. Thanks again.

Oh heck Beeman...that's what I get for not paying attention! I just picked this up off of the recent topics list, didn't realize it was in the GTM section, saw "Mk3.1" in your sig and thought that's what we were talking about :rolleyes: Can't offer any input on the GTM.

Jeff

[beeman]

Game time decision for the camber, .75 seemed too low.

62741

[beeman]

Game time decision for the camber, .75 seemed too low.

http://fs5.directupload.net/images/170114/u79574hy.jpg

[beeman]

Learned today that you can't get an accurate caster reading without ability to lock the front brakes! So we went with the maximum caster that the components allowed, will have to recheck that in the future. Anyone have an idea what that caster # would be?

[NAZ]

You need front brakes to measure caster? Not sure what kind of machine this shop has but since you have to go back for a second trip you should consider buying a caster/camber gauge and do your own alignment. You can get a quality Longacre Racing caster/camber gauge with a mag base adapter for $140 with a storage case or the gauge w/out the mag base for $105. Or shop around and you'll probably find a lower price -- there are a few good gauges on the market at an affordable price. I've been using a Rebco gauge for decades and it has paid for itself many times over. And you don't need front brakes to do an alignment using these gauges. In the last 47-years I've done a bunch of front end alignments and never once needed to lock up the front brakes. Learning how to do an alignment is a valuable skill if for nothing else, so you can make sure the shop is doing it correctly.

[VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC]

I would have probably went with 1/8" toe in for both the front and rear, but everything else looks reasonable.