Nissan 370Z Forum  

Please look at my alignment settings

I'm a car guy, I promise (installed the Swifts myself). But I have no idea how to read an alignment sheet. Could somebody take a look at this and tell

Go Back   Nissan 370Z Forum > Nissan 370Z Tech Area > Brakes & Suspension


Like Tree1Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-03-2014, 03:01 PM   #1 (permalink)
Base Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Houston
Posts: 89
Drives: 2004 Porsche 911 T
Rep Power: 13
wackjum is on a distinguished road
Default Please look at my alignment settings

I'm a car guy, I promise (installed the Swifts myself).

But I have no idea how to read an alignment sheet. Could somebody take a look at this and tell me what adjustment kits I need, if any or what I should tell the alignment people.

I'm on Swifts and stock dampers if that helps any.

wackjum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2014, 03:19 PM   #2 (permalink)
Track Member
 
GSS138's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 769
Drives: '12 370Z 6M Sport
Rep Power: 13
GSS138 is a jewel in the roughGSS138 is a jewel in the roughGSS138 is a jewel in the rough
Default

Generally you want more front camber than rear, yours seem to be the opposite. I would go for like -2.0 front and -1.5 rear instead of vice versa.

Toe, I am not the guy to ask but generally 0.0 for starters, and then a little toe in the front for FR cars so yours is fine.
Not sure on the rear but I guess I would expect 0.0 or a little negative.

Caster, seems a little low but is fine.

Ride heights -good news they are nice and even, bad news is that they are nice and even. This means your corner weights are going to be off, but no biggy there.


All in all it's not a bad alignment for regular street use, could be better if the camber angles were flip flopped.
synolimit likes this.
__________________
Current Mods: Vorpal Weapon +5.

Last edited by GSS138; 04-03-2014 at 03:23 PM.
GSS138 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2014, 05:52 PM   #3 (permalink)
Base Member
 
HngNgn19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 157
Drives: 14 370Z Dark Black
Rep Power: 11
HngNgn19 is on a distinguished road
Default

Your rear camber are pretty high and will wear out your tires fast. I'm on Swifts/Stock Shocks combo. I got the SPL rear camber kit and SPC toe bolts to get my alignment back to factory specs. As for the front, just try to get it back factory spec as close as you can, from what I read, most can get within range of factory spec or just simply ignore it. As for camber kits, you have a ton of choices out there, but most go with SPC (cheap) or SPL ($$$ but its the best you can get). Short version, get a rear camber kit and toe bolts if you don't want to wear out your tires FAST! Good luck!
HngNgn19 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 12:57 PM   #4 (permalink)
Base Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Houston
Posts: 89
Drives: 2004 Porsche 911 T
Rep Power: 13
wackjum is on a distinguished road
Default

Thanks guys. I will get a rear camber kit then.

Do I need fronts too?
wackjum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 02:09 PM   #5 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: N/A
Posts: 76,801
Drives: N/A
Rep Power: 141520
kenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond repute
Default

not too bad. id just drive it as is if the car feels good.
kenchan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 02:25 PM   #6 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
Jordo!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: nirvana
Posts: 6,394
Drives: 2023 NATM
Rep Power: 417
Jordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond reputeJordo! has a reputation beyond repute
Default

I'm only confused on toe -- too much toe in the rear can make the car handle unpredictably; but if "thrust angle" is the effective toe, the rest looks okay.

My settings on koni yellows and swift springs are -1.65*camber in front, -2.38* in rear (thanks, in part, to SPC adjustable rear camber arms), and +.1* toe all around, so we actually have very similar settings and my car handles great!
__________________
Enjoy it. Destroy it.
Jordo! is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 02:55 PM   #7 (permalink)
Base Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Houston
Posts: 89
Drives: 2004 Porsche 911 T
Rep Power: 13
wackjum is on a distinguished road
Default

The car feels fine to me after feeling real squirrely the first few days post-install. I think the rubber might have settled a bit and so that is when I took it in for alignment.

My Z is a garage queen so slightly aggressive tire wear settings would be fine. Should I just keep it as is and observe the wear for a few months?
wackjum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 03:48 PM   #8 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: N/A
Posts: 76,801
Drives: N/A
Rep Power: 141520
kenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond repute
Default

yah. my G's setup more aggressive than yours and she's also a garage queen. tires usually last 8-10K depending on how spiritedly i drive.

considering tires's life is like 5-6yrs and i only put like 3k miles on the car per season, aggressive alignment and fun to drive > tire life.
kenchan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 04:32 PM   #9 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
synolimit's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 5,051
Drives: 2013 Silver 370z
Rep Power: 3388
synolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordo! View Post
I'm only confused on toe -- too much toe in the rear can make the car handle unpredictably; but if "thrust angle" is the effective toe, the rest looks okay.

My settings on koni yellows and swift springs are -1.65*camber in front, -2.38* in rear (thanks, in part, to SPC adjustable rear camber arms), and +.1* toe all around, so we actually have very similar settings and my car handles great!
Why does the rear toe confuse you? His numbers or what it means?

Why in the world are you running that much rear camber? You saying SPC is maxed out and you can't go lower?



I just got mine done. Everything factory in the front but swift spec-r springs and the rear is SPL traction links, camber arms and mid links with my lockout toe and camber bolt kit and 65mm by 6" 10k linear swift springs lowered to about 26.18" each side. If I do a corner balance I'll probably have to raise or lower a side then get another alignment.

I don't know how yours feels with so much rear camber and so little front but mine feels great on the street. I still need front arms to even caster out and get more camber. I shot for a little toe-out in the front and a little toe-in in the rear. I love it.

Attached Images
File Type: jpg image.jpg (503.1 KB, 14 views)
__________________
13 370z-

Last edited by synolimit; 04-04-2014 at 04:34 PM.
synolimit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 04:38 PM   #10 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: N/A
Posts: 76,801
Drives: N/A
Rep Power: 141520
kenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond repute
Default

you wanted toe out on the front then for faster turn-in? thats my setup too on my G. slight toe-out on the front.

my Z is stock.
kenchan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 04:39 PM   #11 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
synolimit's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 5,051
Drives: 2013 Silver 370z
Rep Power: 3388
synolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by GSS138 View Post
Generally you want more front camber than rear, yours seem to be the opposite. I would go for like -2.0 front and -1.5 rear instead of vice versa.

Toe, I am not the guy to ask but generally 0.0 for starters, and then a little toe in the front for FR cars so yours is fine.
Not sure on the rear but I guess I would expect 0.0 or a little negative.

Caster, seems a little low but is fine.

Ride heights -good news they are nice and even, bad news is that they are nice and even. This means your corner weights are going to be off, but no biggy there.


All in all it's not a bad alignment for regular street use, could be better if the camber angles were flip flopped.
How much caster is good caster?
__________________
13 370z-
synolimit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 04:41 PM   #12 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
synolimit's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 5,051
Drives: 2013 Silver 370z
Rep Power: 3388
synolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond reputesynolimit has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kenchan View Post
you wanted toe out on the front then for faster turn-in? thats my setup too on my G. slight toe-out on the front.

my Z is stock.
From everything I read yes. I no idea what -0.05* is in length or 0.04* and 0.06*, but I went for it.
__________________
13 370z-
synolimit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 04:45 PM   #13 (permalink)
A True Z Fanatic
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: N/A
Posts: 76,801
Drives: N/A
Rep Power: 141520
kenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond reputekenchan has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by synolimit View Post
From everything I read yes. I no idea what -0.05* is in length or 0.04* and 0.06*, but I went for it.
thats good stuff. it's very subtle, but a noticable difference.
kenchan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 06:18 PM   #14 (permalink)
Track Member
 
GSS138's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 769
Drives: '12 370Z 6M Sport
Rep Power: 13
GSS138 is a jewel in the roughGSS138 is a jewel in the roughGSS138 is a jewel in the rough
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by synolimit View Post
How much caster is good caster?
Go toe in on the front(dynamically stable but slower turn in)

and add more caster - +6-7 to start.

The caster will balance out the turn in sharpness and the toe in at the front is more dynamically stable. This is debatable on street setup, but for race setup it is the norm. For street the toe out in front is kind of a gimmick but it works and is safe at speed less than say 70 mph. At high speeds toe out in front is not stable-a wind gust can basically **** your steering up. Hard to explain, but basically picture a 40 mph gust of wind hitting the right side of your car-it will instantly add toe out, if you are already toed out, then for a split second your left wheel is pointed left and your right wheel is pointed way right. This will push you into a bad understeer situation.

Compare that to having toe in, on the wind blast side you will just get closer to 0, it will slow you, but it won't spin you.

At low speeds and not in a hurricane, butt dyno tells you toe out is fast, and yes it is responsive and fun. At 100 + mph and a large rock or blast of wind, it's a spin out since your car will not hold a straight line and will steer one way or the other and cause an over correction. That's the idea anyway.
__________________
Current Mods: Vorpal Weapon +5.

Last edited by GSS138; 04-04-2014 at 06:31 PM.
GSS138 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2014, 08:52 PM   #15 (permalink)
Ronin Samurai - Assassin
 
Rusty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Fayettenam,Pennsyltucky
Age: 68
Posts: 34,864
Drives: 2011 Nismo GM 6M
Rep Power: 2684436
Rusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond reputeRusty has a reputation beyond repute
Talking

Quote:
Originally Posted by synolimit View Post
How much caster is good caster?
I'm running in the front. Camber at -2, caster at +6, toe zero. In the rear, camber at -1.7 and toe at zero. With the SPL arms up front. I bet I could see +7 caster, -3 camber easy.
__________________

浪人 - 殺し屋
"The Difficult Anytime, The Impossible By Appointment Only"
http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...o-journal.html
Rusty is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
OEM Nismo Alignment settings? Jordo! Brakes & Suspension 14 12-18-2023 08:41 PM
Autoxers: Preferred alignment settings? Any consensus? Jordo! Track / Autocross / Drifting / Dragstrip 12 04-10-2015 10:00 AM
Recommended alignment settings (camber) bldg636 Brakes & Suspension 2 06-08-2013 10:18 PM
Anyone Tweak Factory Alignment Settings? BrianMSmith Nissan 370Z General Discussions 1 07-27-2010 03:41 PM
Crossover Settings? bpd138 Audio & Video 4 05-30-2009 02:12 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2