Need some advice getting front end set up

[Jamespbaum]

I’m hoping someone can give us some advice to get the front alignment on our 818S set up correctly. I have read the alignment threads here and seen a number of recommendations including slotting the IFS bracket and cutting the longer threaded leg on the upper control arm. Maybe someone can take a look at what we’ve done here and make some suggestions.

What we are finding is that when setting the camber, caster and toe, we are unable to get sufficient wheel to frame clearance AND the correct alignment angles. We can get a small amount of wheel clearance with toe set and caster around 3.5 degrees but that leaves us with significant positive camber. So far, the only solution we can see is to cut a slot in the top hole of the IFS bracket where it attaches to the spindle to allow the camber to be set. It sure seems like the kit should go together without mods like that. But if that’s the answer, we will do it.

Here’s the setup:
4.5” ride height
Rear LCA hurricane brackets oriented with the offset flange down.
Rear LCA hurricane brackets in the inside set of holes in the frame.
Front LCA bushing mounted in the inside lower holes.
215/40 R17 front tires.

Here’s the overview of the setup of the right front. We also tried with the UCA grease fittings facing down.

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Rear hurricane bracket installation (right side). Longer hurricane bracket flange is facing toward the car’s centerline. Factory five tech support said that I should reverse these brackets side to side and flip them over. That didn’t make much sense to me since when installed as they are here, the rear of the LCA is moved further away from the car’s centerline which seems to be what we need.

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Front bushing mount installed in the inside, lower hole.

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This is all the wheel clearance we get with the steering at full right lock.

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Removing the top bolt from the spindle / IFS bracket, I can see how much “slot” we’d need to bring the camber into the desired range.

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Suggestions?

Thanks!

[SixStar]

You're on the right track. Try putting the arms into the inner holes in the front and the outer holes in the rear, you'll get a ton of caster (and bind) from this setup but it gets the tire off the frame.

[STiPWRD]

Some have trimmed down the threaded hex standoffs on the upper control arms to get the upper ball joint more inward. That should also help with getting more negative camber.

[phil1734]

I (amoung many others) had this issue when I first put my car together. I thought I had it taken care of with some smaller wheels/tires and alignment adjustments, but when I installed the inner wheel well aluminum it just hit there instead.

Long story short, I've just learned to live with it and try to avoid full-lock in order to run the caster I want. Others have added rack limiters. How FFR managed to design a custom tube frame car that doesn't fit the wheels it was allegedly designed for is still beyond me.

[Harley818]

make sure you read Hindsights thread. He has a lot of practical info on setting up the alignment.
I am pretty happy with mine, but I plan to add the spacers where the lower arms attach to get a little more caster.