Yes, absolutely. You can see the alignment numbers change on the machine as soon as you sit in the car.

Think about it- by sitting in the car, you adding 150+ lbs to one corner... Sitting in the car also allows you to see the whole aligning process and watch the screen to see how acurate the tech can get it.

Alignment spec's are a whole other story. There are a lot of opinions what is optimal and it may be best to really define in detail how the car is driving in your opinion, look at the current numbers from the machine, and then figure out how you want the car to drive different. Remember that tire wear and PSI play a major role and can fix some alignment issues.

 

Im gonna have to call your bluff here. I aligned my S2K with me in it once and then got out... there was no change in the alignment. I aligned it a week later (we were trying some different toe settings to minimize tire wear without adding too much oversteer) with me out of the car, and then got in... no difference. My friend did his M3 the same way... no difference. The spring rates on our cars (and most sports cars) are stiff enough that it doesnt make a 10th of a degree difference in an alignment if you are in the car or out.

With stiff coil overs, the difference would be even more minimal.

For reference, I weigh 145 lbs. I imagine if you are over 200 lbs, the difference MIGHT be a tenth of a degree.

Now, for corner balancing, being in the car is a MUST, but for an alignment, I can safely say there is not enough difference to warrant sitting up in the air while someone makes adjustments.

 

Read my above post... I have "empirical data" that says it doesnt make a difference

 

I installed some Motons while using stock springs and stock upper mounts and the lower perches. I precisely measured the stock distance from the center of the bottom mounting bolt to the bottom of the perch and matched that on the Motons. I pulled the car on to some scales at a Divisional event here in Atlanta and the car was near perfectly balanced! Amazing. That was with me not in the car but I often have a passenger.

I'd have to agree with TysonCRX here. Probably not worth it unless your springs settle differently (that would suck) or you can't measure for poop.

 

Sorry I may have not have done a good job in writing the reply...wasn't saying you haven't done it. Let me re-phrase:

A person has no way of knowing if they have optimized their coilovers without putting the car on scales to determine if any one corner has significantly more weight than it's diagonal corner.

How much is significantly more weight? I've heard a lot of different numbers thrown around...anywhere between a 10%-30% difference. When you put your ITB car on the scales, at what point would you have considered it worth your time to get under the car and adjust the perch?

So...if you don't use the capability of the coilover to help balance the car...what is the significant advantage of having them over selecting a set of springs with your desired rates and a set of regular adjustable shocks (given that the springs lower the car to your desired height)? Wouldn't it be cheaper and give you the same result to have a set of Koni yellows and springs?

 

Interesting data point...but it does go against traditional wisdom that says to align the car at average race weight (driver & fuel). It definitely made a big difference back in my old Miata...but then that is a much lighter car so driver weight was a larger %.

I'll test this out though at my next opportunity and add another data point.

 

im arguing the effect of corner weighing to the handling of the car is not enough to call it a "MUST" [do] as one person said.

someone else pointed out that just making sure each corner is equal, or at least close to stock, it comes out pretty damn good on the S. (not the first time ive heard it, i've actually seen the numbers myself, they did a great job of engineering the handling of the car)

so, given that ive heard shops charge over $300 for this, to street driven cars, i say its a waste, over a good $60-90 custom alignment to set your toe, camber and caster thats all you need to worry about.

just my opinion.

 

Then by that logic are coilovers a waste on a street car?

 

how is that a logical conclusion from my statement?

im disassociating the need for corner balancing from using coilovers.

 

Depends on what you consider valuable. But in general, I would say "yes".