Due to some odd tire-wear (and the fact that CG keeps kicking my ass at the local auto-x's ), I got my alignment checked/fixed today. Specs laid out by the service manual are:

Front
Camber -0.5 +/- 0.16 degrees
Caster 6.0 +/- 0.25 degrees
Toe 0.0 +/- 0.08 in.
Rear
Camber -1.5 +/- 0.16 deg
Toe 0.25 +/- 0.08 in.

My alignment was (Red == out of spec):
Front L , R
Camber -0.36 deg , -0.25 deg
Caster 5.43 deg , 6.07 deg
Toe -0.07 in. , -0.32 in.

Rear L , R
Camber -0.80 deg , -1.22 deg
Toe 0.25 in. , 0.36 in

Yowza. Moral of the story: Go get yours checked! This was the first time in 19k miles that I had done anything with the alignment. Now we'll see if it makes a difference on the track (and tire wear) .

 

Did u lower your car?

 

can you give details on the "odd tire wear" im think about getting my alignment checked due to the edges feathering

 

Nope...stock suspension and tires.

 

I was getting a lot of wear on the outer shoulders of the tires. I particularly noticed it on my Kumho auto-x tires...I've run like 4 or 5 events on the set I've got now, and the outer shoulders are shredded (like I would expect), while the inner shoulders still have the little knobby things on them like they're brand new. I suppose given the whacked toe settings I had, I should notice a left-right difference, but I haven't really made that comparison. Plus, there's no guarantee I've had the same wheels on the left/right sides for each event, so it may not be as noticeable as it could be.

I've always felt that my back end was very twitchy too. A couple of instructors have also commented on the fact that the back breaks loose really abruptly. Maybe this is the cause. We'll find out in a week or so at the next event.

 

When is the next time your on the track? Let us know if u feel a difference!

 

Were those readings and alignment done with or without the driver in the car?

 

I have had 4 PM's in the last two days in regards to alignment. Abnormal tire wear first and foremeost is caused by incorrect tire inflation. What was the prealignment pressure? What was the pressure at alignment? Prior to any alignment activity make sure the technician puts 32 PSI in each corner (measured using a 2" minimum dial gage....not a pencil gage). Any alignment data or story posted lacking the first step in alignment ...Step #1 (tire pressure) is worthless. I should also note that many of the alignment systems adjust a single element at a time. Castor/Camber/ and Toe are interrelated. If you see a tech go green on the castor and then adjust toe be aware.....the latter adjustment invalidates the first (unless using an advanced system such as the Hunter). If not using a four wheel Hunter system assure the technician revalidates all readings after all adjustments are made......or you may leave the shop worse off then you were even though you saw all green bars. I might also add that if the printout is not in Degrees/Minutes/Seconds find another shop.......so to this post.....find another shop.

Utah

 

Driver was NOT in the car.

 

Well I can't be sure of the tire pressure precisely, but I generally keep the tires at 32 psi all around. And I can see how tire pressure might affect camber, but I don't think it'll make a bit of difference on the toe setting. The tire will be pointing in or out regardless of whether it's over or under-inflated. As for the alignment system, I believe it measures all the parameters all the time, as I have a "before" printout and an "after" printout. All parameters are printed right from the computer screen, thus indicating that regardless of whether they were adjusted individually or together, in the end what was printed is what each setting was at that moment. Even the parameters that were green to begin with have changed, so I shouldn't have to worry that they tech just altered the toe on one side and didn't bother seeing what else changed. And what's the big deal about printing out in degrees/minutes/seconds? It's not that difficult to convert....6.5 deg = 6 deg 30'.