Boxster Alignment Lowered about 1.5"

[Zakman1111]

Hello everyone! You guys are awesome and I am going to throw some more garbage your way...
I am stuck down here in South Texas and will be needing an alignment after new coilover suspension, control arm and tie-rod ends are installed. Do you think Firestone can handle it....if I give them the specs? I hear the guy is pretty experianced. I am thinking -1.9 rear camber and 1.0 Front. Slight toe in in the front, 0 in the back. Maybe -1.9 is too much?? Stock tire size. New Classic 1 chrome wheels (don't want my wheels messed up) 17x7 and 17x8.5. Ride height will be apx 1"-1.5" lower. I bought the car lowered over 2" with springs and they have got to go..I will not be driving it everyday but when I do I play hard.
Thanks in advance everyone!

[Cajundaddy]

It depends on your goals but if you want to make the most of your car with coilovers, have a Porsche race prep shop do a setup, corner balance, and performance alignment. If you are really clear about your driving preferences and experience you can get excellent results.

[dad911]

Every time I've tried a non-porsche shop for something like this, there has been a screw up. Torn bushings in a 944, and stripped threads in a camber plate on my 911.

I REALLY suggest going to a porsche shop.

[Hatzenbach]

for what it's worth, here are two alignments that worked for me:

before PSS9 and GT3 LCA (with Eibach lowering springs)
front -1.25
rear -2.25

after PSS9 and GT3 LCA
front -2
rear -2.5

you probably need adjustable rear toe arms if you lowered that much, otherwise you will go through rear tires in an amazing pace

[Zakman1111]

Thanks for the input. Problem is I cannot find a porsche shop anywhere close enough. Install does not bother me. I bought the car lowered and it is eating rear tires....does not bother me too bad I own a tire shop. I really like the way the car handles as is but the struts are bad and the car is too low. It would be nice to get it corner balanced and If I can get it together with a semi correct alignment set up I could drive the car to Houston where I'm sure I could find a shop but at 6hrs away...... I am mainly concerned about the front end/ tie-rod adjustment.

[very~worn~944]

I agree with cajundaddy, the difference with a proper setup is night and day. In order to get it exactly where you want it you'll probably need adjustable rear toe arms...otherwise you might need to find a compromise in the rear specs. That is what is going to be difficult for the non-expert as the adjustments are twitchy and you've got to be anal about your work to go back and forth and get everything exactly where you want it. Also having specialized tools helps tremendously with accessing the eccentrics and properly torquing after- without these I'd be worried someone is going to get frustrated and halfass it.
One note: I aligned my rear toe at close to 0 (knowing it would be an agressive setting). I figured I'm a good driver and wanted the fast turn in response- it was unpredictable and unstable, even on the track. I spun it twice and had to drive easy the rest of the day to not be kicked out. Granted I was on stock struts so I had alot more body movement swinging around...but I've found closer to factory toe settings in the rear is much faster due to the increased confidence level. Your camber setting ideas sound pretty solid for a sporty street car though! Right around what I try and run. Ps- what are you going to do with your old springs? Are they cut or just LOW? Would you want to sell for a steal?

[Zakman1111]

The old springs are not cut...they are just short. Thanks for the info I really don't want to spin it. I consider myself a very aggressive driver and am not much for caution.
My father and his friend are telling me about a guy that has been doing alignment for 20+ years. He currently works at a firestone about 30 miles away. They are going to try and get me behind the rack with the guy. Hopefully this will work out! At a later date I will take the car further both to have it professionally set up.

[Zakman1111]

oh ya...I will probably sell you my springs. Let me get this all in first before we make a deal.
Do you know what the factory alignment toe specs are? Or where I can find adjustable rear toe arms?

[Cajundaddy]

FWIW here are my approx. settings on a 98 with PSS9s. No GT3 arms or adjustable toe links were needed:
Camber -2.0 deg F&R
Front- 1/16th total toe out
Rear 1/16th total toe in.
My car is lowered a bit with significant forward rake.

[Zakman1111]

Awesome. That sounds like a good place to start. Maybe not -2 deg for the front though.
Thanks

[Hatzenbach]

and let me repeat it: You will need adjustable rear toe arms.
Any camber more than about ~ -1.5 on the rears pushes the wheels out that much that the rear toe arms are too short, as a result you have massive toe out and that eats your tires

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Hatzenbach

and let me repeat it: You will need adjustable rear toe arms.
Any camber more than about ~ -1.5 on the rears pushes the wheels out that much that the rear toe arms are too short, as a result you have massive toe out and that eats your tires

Chris,
It all depends on how much you lower the rear. Ride height, camber, and toe are all interrelated. On my car the rear ride height was lowered only so far that we could still get -2 degrees with a nearly neutral toe. Same with the front. Our ride height target was to get -2 degrees camber, neutral toe, and no bump steer issues. The front could come down a lot lower than the rear. No control arms or adjustable links were needed. This is why those setup guys get the big bucks. They understand Porsche suspension geometry, limitations, and maybe even a little voodoo. YMMV.

[Hatzenbach]

I rest my case

[Zakman1111]

This is starting to get expensive!!!
As per your advice (thanks a bunch) I have ordered adjustable rear toe links. I guess in the long run it will save me some bucks!
Thanks everyone for the advice!
Does anyone have a good idea as to were to start with toe setting?
I need to get the car to Houston to get the proper set up for now I that I will have is a laser alignment rack and time. Thanks