My car is going in to Fulcrum Suspension on Friday to have Tien Superstreet coilovers fitted. I would have fitted them myself but the installation price was only $250 including a 4 wheel alignment (worth $75 alone) if I bought 4 shocks, so it's hardly worth me doing it myself.
Anyway, I need some good wheel aligmnent specs for road use and maybe a track day or two in the future - or should I just stick with the Mazda numbers which Fulcrum say they have? I've used the search function, but our USA cousins are generally specifying race track numbers which is not always ideal for the road.
Is it even worth deviating from the general alignment specs which tend to be - er -rather one size fits all!

 

I did the same searching. I am having Mazdaspeed suspension put in tomorrow.

My car is street and occasional track so I will set camber reasonably conservative with more negative camber in rear. So I am thinking camber F-1.25 & R-1.75 zero toe front and rear toe in just a fraction. From what I can gather this should ensure no oversteer and hopefully give reasonable tread wear.

Probably a suck it and see exercise I suppose as to what works for me but always happy to hear what others think.

 

There are 2 sets of numbers from Mazda.A "sport" setting and another setting..They will both be in their computer under RX8 settings.

 

lots of good info here guys.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-racing-25/alignment-settings-street-track-use-43308/

btw, the op is very, very fast.

beers

 

I have the front set to factory specs and the rear has 1.5 degrees of camber

 

I use the same setting on the road and track. I don't see any problem with inner wear on the road.

Last time, I have gained some caster at the cost of negative camber for front tyres (if I remember caster is 7.9 and camber is then -1.6 to -1.7. And the rear is -2. The car have no major understeer and the temperature across the tyre is fine.

I love toe out front and toe in rear, but that is my driving style. Lot of racer uses zero toe for 4 tyres but it is hardly good for daily drive.

 

Hey retro,
How are you finding your new Mazdaspeed shocks and what wheel alignment settings did you finally use?
I'm still trying to decide on the numbers for my alignment on Friday.....
Steve

 

I've had the MazdaSpeed shocks and springs for over two years now. They are a good value suspension mod - I highly recommend them...

 

I had them put in on Tuesday and was at Eastern Creek yesterday and the mazdaspeed shocks and springs were an improvement - car felt far more planted. Sorry Steve but can't help you about alignment yet as it wasn't able to be done on the day (my service centre had moved into new premises and they were not fully set up).

The car will be going in for service in a couple of weeks and I will change the alignment then - unfortunately doesn't help you for Friday.

 

Let me know what alignment figures you end up using retro...

 

There is no one size fit all alignment spec....

I suggest to just try and have a go. There is general concept but everyone like their car react differently.

 

Your probably right regarding personal setups takahashi - I'm more used to setting up motorcycle suspensions which can be VERY complex (compression damping, rebound damping, spring pre-load, etc, etc) without personal settings & preferences clouding the issue..
I will take in the Mazda sports suspension details with me and see what Fulcrum recommend ....
As a side issue, has anyone got a feel for ride height for street use? Stock less (say) 20/25mm sound feasable without compromising the setup?

 

I think 2cm is optimum for roll centre being optimised rather than lower for looks..

 

If it's any guide, MazdaSpeed shocks and springs give a 20mm drop in ride height.

They built the thing, so I'm happy to rely on that as being optimum.

It is a liveable drop. You need to take care with bigger speed humps/sharp ramps and dippy driveways but it's not impossible.

 

No probs.....

SteveGT my drop is also 20mm having just put in the mazdaspeed suspension though I don't think it has done that quite yet at the front - probably has to settle??
Anyway no issues yet re clearance etc.

 

Yes, it does take a little while to settle.

Got my MazdaSpeed tower brace in the mail today. Woohoo! All bright and shiny-like...

 

pix after install dave!

 

The front looks higher when lowered due to the shape of the car.The wheel arches go higher over the wheel at the front giving that impression..

 

Tein's springs aren't good if compressed too low. I used to be 30mm+ lowered and man there is no loading on the front tyre when braking!

So 20mm is ok

 

The Teins have now been fitted & there has been a 15mm lowering of the suspension front & rear. But untill the suspension has settled in over the next few km/weeks the measurements are meaningless.
The biggest improvement at the moment is the wheel alignment - again it needs to be verified after the suspension settles, but the big difference is the turn in and lack of understeer push... really, really good. If nothing else get yourself a good front/rear wheel alignment and I'm sure you will feel an immediate improvement. Good value @ $80.
Steve

 

Will do Drew.

I'm waiting on some other bits and pieces to arrive from Jarl and Andrew before I get the brace installed.

BTW, it may be a placebo effect but after installing the rear brace the back end feels more planted, particularly at speed on the track. I'm looking forward to seeing what the front brace brings to the mix...

 

When the spring settles the car will drop a little and yeah the alignment will go.

 

Just to pick up on this again. It is a month now since I had the mazdaspeed suspension put in and it seems to have settled quite nicely so had an alignment done yesterday.

As suggested before I decided to go with camber F -1.25 and R -1.75. F toe 0 and R toe in 1mm. Caster 6.0. (I know Revolver wanted this info). It seems like a good starting point.

Lord knows what my alignment was before this but driving home last night after the alignment the steering was far more responsive when turning and also seemed to centre quite easily when straightening. I think I know now why the gurus tell people the first and best thing they can do to improve the car is a proper alignment. So yes, I am with SteveGT on this one, getting a proper alignment done is wholeheartedly recommended.

 

I need an alignment done

I would reccommend

slight toe out int he front, toe in at the rear with .5 camber in teh front and 1 in teh back

 

i got my alignment done recently but because the car has been lowered so much i ran out of adjustment for camber, rear is about 2.5 and cant come down. i cant remember my other specs, but can find out if anyone is interested