Opinions on the Sus. setup Idea

[graphikg04]

I am thinking of going with koni adj sport yellow shocks and struts, combined with H&R springs that wil drop my car 1.4 in. and Sus. techniques front and rear sway bars. So I was wondering if I should get a good camber kit with all this, because I dont want to be changing tires every six months. So should I get an allignment, and a camber kit with this setup? And if so, what camber kit is suggested for me to get and where for the best price. Thanks

graphikG

[offtheline]

The alignment is a must. As for the camber kit, it is really your call. I have H&R springs sitting in my room waiting to go on. I am probably not going to buy the camber kit just yet because Im not sure yet that I will need them. I know of many people running sportlines (which are a lower drop) who do not even have a camber kit. However, if you have the money available, camber kits are probably not a bad idea.

[Dori Dori]

Well, since camber doesn't ruin tires, you won't have to worry about buying a camber kit.

[graphikg04]

So, do you guys have any recommendations on what camber kits to buy? Sites, prices etc? Thanks

graphikG

[EastCoast240]

Well, since camber doesn't ruin tires, you won't have to worry about buying a camber kit.

Won't excessive camber cause tire wear? Please explain.......

[BadMojo]

If it were me, I'd install the springs and see if the alignment shop can get the camber back within spec (or to whatever I want it to be) and think of the camber kit as a last resort.

The drop on the H&R springs is pretty mild, so you may well be fine without paying extra money to correct camber problems you don't have...errrr, yeah.

[Exar-Kun]

excessive camber can cause tire wear, and if your toe is messed up it can be even worse, but I'd be more concerned with keeping camber under -3 degrees and keeping toe on the low end of the OE spectrum, to keep tire wear in check. WE had this discussion about tire wear a while ago, I may dig up the thread if I get bored(probably not).

essentially, ballance out your camber and get your toe done right and you shouldnt have a problem. -chet

also: I would add a set of new suspension bushings and strut bars to your list.

[EastCoast240]

So when I install my coilovers I should stick with the OE toe and caster angles while setting the caster at my own preference?

[Dori Dori]

Uhh, your question doesn't make any sense!:icon18

Anyway, don't worry too much about camber. Like exar said, as long as it's not rediculous and you're not driving like a madman, you won't get excessive tire wear.

Toe on the other hand is a different story. Get that adjusted definately. Keeping the front toe close to zero degrees is how I like it, but some toe in or out can be benificial for certain circumstances. Same goes for the rear.

Caster shouldn't affect tire wear at all as it only changes the pivot angle from the strut top to the spindle. It's difficult for some to understand what it is, but imagine this '~' is your strut top and this '=' is your spindle. The line in between (|,/, and \) is imaginary and is only there to help display the angle change (the periods were required to make spaces).

.....~......|.....=

^Zero caster

........~......./.....=

^Negative caster

.....~.......\........=

^Positive caster

Sorry if you already knew all this caster hoopla...I'm in an artistic mood.:pface

[Meantime]

Nice use of symbols! That's even better than the Sears Auto graphical depiction of caster.

EDIT: that wasn't sarcastic, either.

[Dori Dori]

[graphikg04]

Dori explained caster quite well. But if you want to see a great example of caster, get a BMW and turn its wheels all the way to one side. you will see the tires and you will think, wow, this looks weird. The tires will look like they are "flopping" (if you will) to the side you turned them. That's because the position of the strut and change of geometry that BMW does it. And I think that goes with M-cedes too. With this, I think turn radius is advanced an all that. Arrgghh, thise German manufacturers, they just make everything more complicated... But you gotta love them.

graphikG

edit: Exar, may you be so kind and please give me a suggestion on what suspension bushings to get. I saw front and rears on PDM-racing.com. There were rear control arm bushings and lower control arm bushings. So, what do you think is best? Thanks

[Exar-Kun]

All of them

check out the NISMO bushings as well, and aslo SPL parts makes a spherical bushing kit for our cars, that replaces all the suspension bushings, if you got the dough and the time to install them, you may want to do that.-chet