Why is the UK alignment spec different that US specs? And, what difference does the UK spec do in regards to handling?

 

I woundn't mind hearing an informed answer to that one myself!

Drive Safe,
Steve R.

 

Search the U.K.Forums.
To make a short story:U.K.motor journalists complained of too much oversteer in the "S".
After some days of track testing,Honda ingeneers,recommended those settings to make it less tail happy.

 

If you look, you will see that the factory alignment specs consist of a range, and also a nominal. Way back when, Honda of UK did a bunch of testing and came up with a recommendation that was still within the OEM specs but had a different nominal. (Basically, all they said was "add a little more negative camber".)

There is nothing magical about this.

 

So how does the UK specs effect the driveability and tire wear?

Markk

 

More neutral,less oversteer,but the inside of the tires will wear faster !

 

people say it feels better. is that true? and can someone post up the actual UK specs, please?

 

U.K.geo.specs:
Honda U.K.geo.alingment specs:

Front Camber is -1 degree 00"
Front Caster is 6 degrees 45"
Front Toe is 0 degree 00"
Front Total Toe is 0 degree 00"

Rear Camber is -2 degree 00"
Rear Toe is 0 degree 0"
Rear Total Toe In is 0 degree 40"

 

And,very important, get the car" corner weighted"to get the most out of it.!!!

 

The car doesn't actually "feel" any different with the UK alignment, until you start putting down power on corner exit and letting the rear end slide out a little. Any time the rear tires start to slide the UK specs make it easier to control (or recover). I'm running an additional 1/2 degree of negative camber in the back, over the UK specs, because it lets me put down more power on corner exit when autocrossing. The tire wear issues don't matter to me, but if economy is important then you should be aware that your rear tires MAY wear out faster. I tend to slide the rear end around enough so that the added traction at the back compensates for the uneven wear; for me, the back tires last about 5k miles regardless of whether I use US or UK alignment, but I'm faster in the car (at the autocrosses) with the UK alignment plus some extra negative camber in the back.