Finally had my 4 wheel alignment done yesterday after the install of the KW Varient 3's and i had no idea how much better the S2k can handle with the so called UK alignment spec i had been hearing about at the track.

I wanted the rear end to track better with the front and kill some of the oversteer the s is known for and even my Comptech Competition Frnt sway bar couldn't cure it all.

I had it aligned the old school way without the chance of getting a computer alignment machinie that needed recalibrated so i had a shop that specailizes in stock cars, sprint cars, and custom race setups do my job.....man are these guys good....they knew exactly why i wanted the toe in on the rear......and showed me the whole time the readings that they were getting and how they were putting the specs i wanted just right.

My initial feeling about the KW Varient 3 was so so until yesterday......turns out just putting the suspension on screwed everything up and all 4 corners were way out......the toe was turned out on all 4 tires and the camber was almost -3 degrees on the rear...no wonder i was not crazy about it

So they preset the camber to -2 degrees all the way around and then set the toe in on the rear to exactly 2mm and set the front to 0

I could see i have way more room to go even more neg.camber especially up front if i want to in the future

So out for the test drive now and WOW!!!!!! i made it 1 block away and it now felt like they just dropped about 500 lbs of bricks in my trunk......the rear end is just planted!!!!!! Its has instant response to front end movement and you can feel the G's pull you in the seat even on simple street turns....its so different i can't even explain from stock....i have a feeling the Cusco 30mm rear sway bar i am runing is adding to stiff feel out back....the KW susp. now feels totally different.....the harder you drive it the better it feels with absoultly no body roll.....and the way it tracks has the feeling like its on rails now!!! Part throttle....Full Throttle it doesn't matter.....i can't get the rear to move even an inch off line in a turn.....WOW!!

I had no idea alignment makes that big of a difference in our cars.....now the front steering feels a bit light......sort of the way the steering wheel turns when the car is jacked up in the air and you turn the wheel.....the Comptech frnt sway bar is currently set at 200% stiffer ........for you track guy's.....Should i go stiffer settting or softer now....What is my next step?? THANKS

My current setup....18 inch Volk TE37's
Frnt +48mm offset /225 series PS2 rubber / 5 mm HR wheel spacer for brakes
Rear +50mm offset / 255 serier PS2 rubber

KW Varient 3 susp setup to middle of travel on all 4 corners....1.5 turns in compression all way around

Front sway bar: Comptech Compt. 200% stiffer current setting
Rear sway bar: Cusco 30 mm

Front Camber -2 degrees Toe 0
Rear Camber -2 dergrees Toe 2mm inward

ANY SUGGESTIONS WELCOME?

 

Nice

 

pantyraider......how do you like your KW's......what specs are you runing in compression and alignment??

 

no rear bumper just to do an alignment?

 

Freq..... ....that was an install pic over the winter i took....i was having my new bumper painted at the time also.

 

Well, yeah; toe out in the rear will make it really squirrely.

 

You had me worried.

 

Do you think that is aggressive for 18" tyres? How is your wear pattern on the tyres? Are you getting much contact/wear near the outer edge of teh tyres

I have similar tyres profile 225/265 F/R. The wear pattern, on the track, was spot on with stock 16" alignment specs. However I had wheel alignment with the ditital stuffs so I am not sure how accurate they were.

Like you, I am a bit pedantic and prefer the old school alignment techniques...when ever I can.

 

I've never heard of anyone running equal camber at all 4 corners. Usually a little more in the rear and less in the front works pretty well with about a .5 split. But if it feels good to you then I'd keep it how it is.

 

Its too early yet to tell as far as wear goes because i just had it done.....however i will be watching very closely now for sure.

As far as the -neg camber goes i will probably have that changed in the near future depending on how i like it at the track and tire wear......i was thinking of going closer to -3 front .....and leave the rear at -2.......but i have a feeling it may be a bit much.....thats why i want some input from some track guys about my setup right now and what i might change