Rear susp alignment problems

[69911e]

I tried to align my 911 this weekend...
The most neg camber I could get in the rear suspension was 2.4 on one side and 2.0 on the other. Has anyone else had this problem? I am using the old steel arms, not the aluminum ones if this makes any difference.

[Jim Richards]

Ed, how much are you trying to achieve? I think that having the ability to dial in -2° of camber is pretty good. I'm not surprised that there's a difference between sides with the body constructed by hand (or so I've been led to believe).

After I finish my suspension refresh, I'm thinking out setting my rear camber to -1° to -1.5°, depending on what will allow my rear tires (215/50s on 7x15s) to fit without rubbing.

[69911e]

I was trying to get about 2.5 deg, and would like to be able to get 2.75. I am trying to set it up for autox. I am not suprised about the asymetry either.

[Chuck Moreland]

The elongated holes at the rear of the spring plate typically limit the amount of camber you can get. If you elongate the holes a bit more with a grinder you may get a bit more.

If you'd like to test this before breaking out the grinder, put one size smaller bolts to give a similar increased range. You can probably do it by changing down one bolt.

[Joe911]

I have been able to get 2.1 and 2.8 on the rear of my 1969. Would anyone care to show a picture of which direction etc. to elongate the hole and the estimate how much metal is need to be removed? I am guessing about 3 MM to get another .5 degrees - am I close?

[Steven Alarcon]

Ed,

The front eccentic cam adjusts the toe adjustment, this cam
can limit the camber adjustment. To see if you have a problem
with your control arms or unibody, remove this cam and see
if your camber range increases.

Good Luck,
Steve Alarcon

[RoninLB]

[69911e]

The tow eccentric was removed and inverted as to not limit camber adjustment.

The limit is not in the rear bolts/slots.
The limit is in the camber adjustment eccentric bolt. It has reached it's maximum camber, any more rotation and less camber is dialed in. The easiest solution I can see is to replace the camber eccentric with a smaller bolt.
Will this cause the camber adjustment to change when a hard bump is hit?

[Steven Alarcon]

Ed,
99% of the 911's I work on can get -2.5 degrees of negative
camber. If your going to use your car in speed events, I would
recommend to fix the problem long term. Has the car been in
a rear end accident? If not, are your rear spring plate bushings
in good shape? Are the holes at the camber eccentric at the
steel control arm round and not oval? Check on these parts.
The last thing you need is to go to a track event and have
the rear alignment change.

RedlineRay

[69911e]

Rear alignment problems fixed. There was no worn bushings (they are the sqweeky poly bushings), no accidents either.
The cure was to slightly make the eccentric bolt more eccentric by about .070". Now I was able to get over 3.2 deg neg camber, then backed it off to 2.5 deg.

Now any suggestion on the front? I now have 1.4, and 1.7 deg neg camber. Would like to get 2.0. Should I just grind the holes in the strut tower more?

[jluetjen]

The cure was to slightly make the eccentric bolt more eccentric by about .070".

Ed; How'd you do that? Weld on some new material?

[69911e]

Yes; just back cut one side, weld the other, and file to finnish.