People with lowered Versa - rear shims for alignment

[AZhitman]

Assuming you all ha an alignment after you lowered your car (i'd hope), what did you do about rear camber and rear toe?

Apparently there's no shim kit available?

[superskunk]

to tell you the truth ive yet to align my car.... even after 1 and a half years

[Promise Land]

You mentioned something about a Buick shim kit on another thread? What's the part number? I'll ask around to see what people are doing for the Versa and Cube.

[viet510racer]

are there any problems with ur inner CV boots?? i think i have a rip and grease is coming out. only the left side is at fault. should i change back to stock springs and get it fixed out of warranty and put the tanabe back on? sorry im lost and in need of options/opinions.

[shiryu0]

unless u have a machine to bend the rear beam, like the B14s Sentras...........theres no adjustment of any sort for the rear.........

[steed77]

There must be way to make them.

I have made these for my VW R32 a few years ago. It was about 80 bucks in stainless parts. A little cut and weld, your done.



Does anyone have a detailed picture of the rear suspension? I have not looked under mine yet. I did just order springs, so it looks like I will find out.

[AZhitman]

steed - Here you go:

http://www.nicoclub.com/articl...shtml

The shim kit looks like this:



http://www.rockauto.com/catalo...DE%5D

[steed77]

steed - Here you go:

http://www.nicoclub.com/articl...shtml

The shim kit looks like this:



http://www.rockauto.com/catalo...DE%5D

YOU ROCK!! 20 bucks and simple, no welding. I guess I will save the welding for later....

Ordered shims.... thank you

[BigBodyV]

so this is to align the rear?

[AZhitman]

Yes.

Rear toe and camber are affected when you lower a car. Seems to be worse on these (Cube and Versa).

Toe misalignment will make the tail feel "jumpy" over bumps, like it's trying to hop out to one side...

[BigBodyV]

So what exaclty those this do?

[AZhitman]

They re-align toe and camber to proper specs.

You may want to read up on alignment, but here's the basics:

Toe: Tires point IN or OUT in relation to the road. Stand with your feet pointing straight ahead - That's neutral toe (which is ideal). Point them IN and that's what you'll get when you lower your car. Not good.

Camber: Top of tire is leaning IN or OUT in relation to a line drawn perpendicular to the ground. If the top of the tire is leaned IN, it's negative camber (a little is actually good for handling). Lowering a car creates too much negative camber.

Shims are mounted behind the hub and bring the wheels back into proper alignment on both planes.

[biggie]

Glad there were some shims available.

I'll change the title incase anyone is searching for such things.

[BigBodyV]

oh ok gotcha so when i decide to lower my car i just buy this items and take it to were ever ima get it align at>?

[AZhitman]

Correct.

OR, just print out the list of other cars that use the same shims, and they should have them in stock at the alignment shop.

[BigBodyV]

oh ok somethinng to keep in mind

[viet510racer]

so these are ideal to a lowered car. which i assume that it is good for daily driving to have theses installed, and probably improve handling even more? how about the camber bolt kit that versaspeed has? are both easy to install?? can anyone do a write up on both??

[AZhitman]

This page has the interchange list, as well as a diagram of how the shims work:

http://www.iapdirect.com/produ...age=1

Also, watch the video - Good info!

[superskunk]

Bob over at Versaspeed carries the bolts to align the front....

[biggie]

so these are ideal to a lowered car. which i assume that it is good for daily driving to have theses installed, and probably improve handling even more? how about the camber bolt kit that versaspeed has? are both easy to install?? can anyone do a write up on both??

Both would need to be used by an alignment shop, so usually allowing them to install them would work.

And you may not need the shims if you are on just lowering springs. Depends on how the alignment is and if it needs to be corrected in the rear. But can't hurt to have them.

[AZhitman]

UPDATE:

My beautiful wife took the Cube in yesterday and had the alignment done... $200 later, it's tracking straight, handling better than ever, and feels real solid.

$59.95 - Basic alignment price$30.00 - Shims$100.00 - 2 hours labor$10.00 - shop supplies

Not bad - I'm pleased with the outcome.

Keep in mind that ANY TIME you lower a vehicle, you alter the suspension geometry and a re-alignment is required.

I won't be destroying tires, and handling is way better than you'd expect from a goofy-looking car like this!!!

[nick425]

Mmk im new to all this. If I buy the Tanabe NF210, I should also buy rear shims? What about the front suspension? No shims for that? Thanks!

[VersaMG08]

I had a re-alignment done after I got my Tanabe springs installed, but I don't have the shims. Next time I get another alignment, I'll have to get the them installed.

[biggie]

Mmk im new to all this. If I buy the Tanabe NF210, I should also buy rear shims? What about the front suspension? No shims for that? Thanks!

Should get the shims for the rear alignment to be perfect.

The Front already has alignment adjustment, though aftermarket camber bolts may be needed (not sure).

[viet510racer]

has anyone tried installing cam bolt kits that bob has?? do we really need them if we lower our cars? i know by lowering a car it will change the specs but can we live without it? any long term problems without camber kits?

[Rodeo]

Wait a second...isnt the versa a straight axle rear, meaning that if you drop the springs everything just goes straight up and keeps the same geometry? I could be wrong.

Mine doesnt seem any more cambered after my Tanabes (I did realign the front though), and it definitely doesnt "jump" over bumps when banking. Feels nice...low, tight, all the right stuff. Potholes are a b**** though. I might want to get some different shocks...the stockers dont seem to do very well with a drop.

Edit: WHat, I cant say b****?

[AZhitman]

I had a re-alignment done after I got my Tanabe springs installed, but I don't have the shims. Next time I get another alignment, I'll have to get the them installed.

Then you didn't get a rear alignment.

There are no OEM adjustments in the rear suspension of the Cube or Versa.

[morgan]

Yes, the Versa has a straight rear axle, but the plates the hubs are mounted to have a factory toe and camber setting that is set for the vehicle at stock height with a full tank of gas. If the vehicle is lowered the axle pivots on a point approx. 1.5ft in front of the axle so instead of the wheels "pointing" forward they are actually "pointing" more toward the ground, so negative camber would be less negative and toe would be more negative all depending on the severity of the drop and the actual original alignment specs, this or some variation of it.

By the way for everyone doing these lowering kits a friendly reminder to break loose the bolts for the front bushings on the rear axles and re-tighten them with the full weight of the vehicle on the tires at its new ride height, this will extend the life of these bushing and make for a less stressed out car

[AZhitman]

Great info, Morgan!

What part of the valley are you in?

[morgan]

Just moved to Maricopa last week, its way closer to work and mortgage is cheap, I will miss being near civilization (costco), movies the city etc...

everyone should be doing this with the bushings though, lowering puts a ton of pre-load on them and they were designed to be loaded only over bumps and turning, or with a ton of weight in the car temporarily. Hope it helps extend the life, and enjoyment, of some of your cars.