super all encompacing suspension post question

[chmercer]

I am trying to tune the suspension on my 95' 240sx and there is so much i dont know, so i thought id throw up a monster of a post.

Firstly, i have Tein HE coilovers installed and have lowered my car a good bit, although i dont know how much because i didnt measure it at stock height.

I just took my car in for an alignment and he was able to get everything within spec except for the rear camber, which he said was at 2.5 degrees camber on the left and 2.7 on the right. It seemed kind of strange to me to have different amounts of camber on each side, is this somthing to worry about? i dont really care about my tires wearing because i will get a new set soon, but will different amounts on each side cause any problems handling wise? I was wondering if i should just ask him to set each side at 2.7. Also, would this be caused by my lowering the car different amounts on each side? i had trouble getting each coilover to the same height and was thinking that this would cause the different camber between the sides of the wheel. The part i would need to correct this would be rear upper control arms, correct?

What all types of aftermarket control arms are there? i was reading suspension tuning for a hachi and there is like 20 more things that need replacing than for an s14 so i got a little confused rear upper control arm which corrects camber, and rear forward links correct bumpsteer. for the front, tension rods can be adjusted to change caster, and i have also found aftermarket tie rod ends although i am not sure what these are for, other than that they are probably more durable and less flexible. please mention anything i have missed?

On the height adjustability of coilover suspension, how i adjusted mine was measuring the distance between the spring seat on the coilover from an arbitrary point on the threaded shock body and did this same distance on the other side. Is this a bad idea since i took these measurments while the car was off the ground, without me in it? i am kind of anxious about all 4 wheels of my car being different heights etc. so i was wondering if anyone could give me info on getting my car corner weighed? i think it is performed with the driver in the car and a full tank, correct? anyway, how long does this take and how much does it usually cost? trying to get some info before i start calling up various local shops.

please try to answer any of my plethora of questions, and/or provide web links that help with all of my stupid questions

edit - does anyone know of a picture similar to the one in the suspension faq that has the picture of all the bushings, but for an s14?

[Exar-Kun]

-have them measure your alignment with you sitting in the car, you may be surpised how much difference that weight makes.

on the rear, you can get: the controll arms(camber), toe rods(toe) and traction rods(bump steer), as well as other peices, like sub-frame bushings, etc.

one the front, you can get LCA, adjusts camber(in a much better place than the pillow mount, mind you.) but its usually expensive front T/C rods, controlling caster, and the tie rods, which do a few things:-stronger-if they have a spacer, you are able to "turn" more, IE the turning radious is decreased beause the wheels can angle in and out more...but this may cause scrubbing.

to correct the rear camber, the rear upper controll arms would be the best route, shoot for under 3 degrees of camber or less(preferably, 2 or so for a street car) with you sitting the car on each side.

see the sticky on corner weighiong for that info corner weighing the vehicle, and adjusting height, etc to your specs would bost about 200 dollars here, to do it with precision.

exploded view of S14 reaq suspension:http://www.courtesyparts.com/n....html

I think that got them all -chet

[chmercer]

ty very much exar for reading all my jibber jabber

what is an LCA? (not too hot on my acronyms)

and how much camber adjustment does an aftermarket rear upper control arm allow for, out of curiosity?

I am probably going to buy the battle version ones, http://www.phase2motortrend.com/batverrearup.html that price is for a set, right? i would freak out if each one was 295 :P

[Exar-Kun]

lower control arms.

uhm, a LOT. some of them can b adjusted + or - up to 5 degrees or something similar. I dont have any hard data for individual mfr's ranges though, and would assume the changes would be affected by ride height and other items.-chetalso: battle version makes nice stuff.

[yeswepromise]

well i figure i will add a little bit of info that i have in my small brain.i think every suspesnsion are and link can be replaced but it gets expensive.Cusco makes just about every part you could want for the suspension.there is also a small company called Nagisa Auto or NAMS that makes some nice parts. they make the lower control arms for the front and back...very nice. you can also get all types of chassis stiffening parts.tower bars, stabilizer bars, floor bars, fender bars, c pillar bars, roll cage, and other small trinkets.in the U.S. market there are not too many choices you have for the suspension but if you do some research and have some connections in Japan, you will find many many parts for all your suspension needs.

[chmercer]

thanks for the info, i have been looking on raretrick.com and they have all sorts of crazy stuff.

tower bar = strut barstabilizer bar = sway barfloor bar , like the do luck cross bar?c pillar bar = rear strut bar

is this right? there are so many different terms for the same thing i am trying to figure out what is what.

also, i checked prices on lower control arms and they are like 750+ dollars ?!?! why is this piece so much money?