Getting my new 07 RX ready for it's first autocross at the end of this month (local Porsche club at Tobay Beach) with 550 miles to go until the 2,000 mile break-in is complete. After having the Koni Sports installed at full hard front and rear I took the car to one of the very reputable alignment shops. It happens to be a Goodyear outlet with a very capable and cooperative tech who does many of the autocrossers cars. I've used him before.

Emptied the car out, went with 1/4 tank of gas and sat in the car as it was aligned. Had the toe set to zero toe front and rear and -1.2 degrees camber on each side in the rear. Here's where the disappointment came in, the fronts could only be set to -1.1 and -1.2 degrees (Don't have the printout handy at the moment to tell you which sides.). He gave up some caster to get even that (Again, I don't have the printout, but can post it later.) I was hoping for -1.4 to -1.8.

My question is: Is this a normal production variation or a technician issue?

Thanks!

 

dig deeper

 

Max setting on stock springs and dampers for my car was -1.2 Fr, -1.4 Rear. 6.5 Caster.

 

Checked the printout. Caster was 6.2 degrees, camber in front was -1.2 left and -1.1 right with me in the car.

 

I got -1.7 on both sides of the front of my car...

 

How much caster did you have to give up?

 

I don't rightly remember...I will look at the specs when I get home tonight.I managed to keep a lot of caster if I remember correctly though.

 

Steve -

I suspect because your car is so new, you may find it will pick-up some additional negative camber as you put miles on it as a result of the suspension settling in. My 06' gained about 2 tenths from the alignment I did in the Spring to the alignment check before Nationals in September.

Chris H

 

Thanks, Chris. I had a thought that might be a factor. However, that would still make it a long way from -1.8 camber. Do any of the stock suspensions approach that?

By the way, I'm getting used to the ride with the Konis on full hard. Had my friend tighten up my fillings just in case!

Steve

 

That much isn't always achievable. To get maximum negative camber you will have to give up ALL your caster.

 

I believe a certain threepeat driver has less than -1.5 front camber values...

 

About -1.4.

btw gym, you need to take out all of the caster you can, the minimum number will be around 4 to 4 1/2, that is where you will pick up some of your "missing" -camber.

 

I'll call the tech. I believe he said he would tweak or redo it if necessary.

 

Or in other words...tell your tech to set your camber FIRST...THEN the caster...thats the proper order...

 

No, remove all caster, then set camber. As soon as you put any caster back in you will start to lose camber.

 

cheeky detail oriented bastard...heh

 

try searching too

 

I got roughly the same value as well, and run slightly more in the rear. I didn't want to take out much caster as it improves dynamic camber.

Shawn and I felt the car handled great at Dixie...just need more seat time.

 

You go on thinking caster makes up for giving up camber on a BS RX-8. If you are turning the wheel that much you have other bigger problems to work on.

 

I was surprised I got -1.7 and -1.9 on mine with about 6 degrees caster. When the tech first slid the adjustment out, I was shocked to see about -2.2 per side, but it came back in slightly when the toe was adjusted.

I think most of the variation is in different racks. When I last had my camaro checked at a local tire place (G**dyear), the camber readings were .7 degrees higher on one side than the other both front and rear (on a solid axle!) .

The only thing special I did onthe RX-8 was to make sure the suspension was well settled out after installing the Konis and before tightening the UCAs. The alignment was done at the Mazda dealer on a Hunter xxx rack, with only ~1000mi on the car.

 

werd

 

When I installed my Konis, I let the car down and jounced it before I tightened the UCAs. I aligned it and only got -1.3 degrees, even with caster minimized. About a week later on a whim I loosened the UCA bolts and drove around town for about 15 minutes before I tightened them. Ever since then I get about -1.7 degrees.

 

I got -1.7 degrees camber @ 5.7 degrees caster