Yes, this is normal. Having aligned probably over 25 different S2000's, they vary in caster side to side.

The way the alignment should be done is to set both caster adjusters to max, then adjust the camber adjuster to desired spec, then adjust caster on the high side to match the low side. Camber may need to be adjusted again as the caster adjuster will move the camber a bit. Also, toe needs to be reset to close to 0, then the caster needs to be remeasured on the alignment system.

I own a high performance shop and this is how we do S2000 alignments.

Hope this helps.

Bill Kim

 

Oh ok, I've heard different things and wasn't sure if we had a bushing failure causing 1 side to have max lower caster or if it was normal. A bunch of people especially in AP2's said they got 6+ degrees of caster on BOTH sides even with -1.5 camber.

We tried to max out the caster and came out with 5.9 and 5.5 then set the camber at -1.3 and then went back and made the camber 5.5 and 5.7 to account for the road split. Toe was 0 and rear camber was -2.0 and .25 degree per side toe in.

 

Any idea where to get metal bushings for the S ?!

 

circa 2004

 

Not enuf people willing to spend the $ for the product.

its not cheap.

 

After seeing this thread, I decided to check my LCA bushings too and low and behold, the rubber was torn on both sides, more so on the left. This probably contributes to the alignment and suspension problems I've been having lately.

I've had the car for over 6 years old, 60k miles, and a lot of track days and autocrosses. I also discovered 3 torn ball joint dust boots and 1 broken rubber differential mount.

These are the best pics I could take while they're still attached to the car. The damage could only be seen from the top, they looked fine from underneath the car.

 

I just replaced the front LCAs and it's so nice to have the steering back as crisp as new. The rubber was not as bad as most described on the forum but enough to make the car wander when encountering pavement edges or even stripes on the road. There were just minor cracks in the rubber, but it was enough to make the rubber compliance less than needed for stability.

I did not notice the slow degradation in steering over time, but when replaced there was a large contrast in feel.

The car was bought used two years ago and has been autocrossed twice a month on average. I expect this will become a periodic $400 maintenance item every 3-5 years.

 

Noticed that one of my LCA bushings is cracked and am planning to replace just the bushing with the Mugen rubber bushings ( http://www.kingmotorsports.com/product.asp...5&vehicle=S2000 ) since they are much cheaper than replacing the arms and Honda does not sell an OEM bushing separately. $79 is for a pair of the big (caster) bushings only.... probably overpriced but still a cheap fix. Anyone else (other than Maxrev) done this and any issues with pressing the old ones out and the Mugen's in?

edit: I corrected the link to King Motorsports. They explained that it is the Front Compliance set, not the Front Lower Arm set, that is the correct piece. Seems odd, but they insisted. We'll see when they arrive.

 

Did you buy the "dedicated tool" for the press?

 

I spoke with King and they say you really don't need it, that any shop with a press can do it.