Alignment Specs

Here's something you folks can surely help me on. My Baby is going in for a 4-wheel alignment tomorrow. The shop has lots of questions for me and I trust them, but I do want this car set up for 'sport,' even though I drive it every day. All suspension parts are still stock.

Right now it is pretty darty since it has way too much front toe-out. It has lots of negative camber in the rear and nearly bald front tires (they get changed tomorrow too). So, the car is challenging to drive but I am just now starting to not like it. In other words, I'm happy to put up with plenty of dartiness. I am thinking of asking for more negative camber in the front (the car pushes way too much - I'd like it to oversteer).

So, what alignment specs do you think I should suggest when I talk with them in the morning?

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'83 SC

I just picked mine up today after a four wheel alignment. This was supposed to be the last item on the work list after a long winter rebuilding the Chassis i.e. new bearings, bushes, steering, brakes, etc, etc. I took the car into a Porsche specialist and asked them to use the Euro Spec settings as listed on page 101 of the recent Porsche Excellence Tech Notes II supplement. In practice they couldn't match those settings but did achieve the following on the electronic printout:

Porsche 911 1970-89 except 975-89 USA, Japan, Canada

Remember I asked for Euro Spec

(all readings in degrees and decimal degrees)

Left Front:
Actual Specified Range
-1.1 -0.2 0.2 Camber
5.6 5.8 6.3 Caster
0.12 0.08 0.17 Toe

Right Front:
Actual Specified Range
-1.1 -0.2 0.2 Camber
5.5 5.8 6.3 Caster
0.13 0.08 0.17 Toe

I asked for 6.0 Caster but the mechanic just couldn't get above 5.5 on the left so we decided to set both the same.

Front:
Actual Specified Range
0.0 -0.2 0.2 Cross Camber
0.1 -0.5 0.5 Cross Caster
0.25 0.17 0.33 Total Toe

Left Rear:
Actual Specified Range
-0.9 -1.2 -0.8 Camber
0.13 0.00 0.33 Toe

Right Rear:
Actual Specified Range
-1.0 -1.2 -0.8 Camber
0.16 0.00 0.33 Toe

Rear
Actual Specified Range
0.29 0.00 0.67 Total Toe
-0.02 -0.17 0.17 Thrust Angle

My car is slightly lower than Euro Spec, 24.5" at the rear fender lip, 25" at the front fender lip.

So far I'm happy with the handling although I haven't pressed it too far. Still bedding in the new brakes etc. like you I would welcome comments.

I said at the start of my reply that this was supposed to be the last item on the list. Now one of the CV joints is knocking every time I drive hard round a corner.

'83 SC Coupe
Detroit

P.S. One week driving around Detroit and it will handle like a Lincoln Continental.

Thank you. Any other volunteers?

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'83 SC

Okay, FWIW: Those of you who understand alignment specs will wonder if Superman has any idea how a 911 should handle. In addition, apparently a tie rod retaining bolt was loose making my front toe change as I drove. I only just recently with bald front tires, became uncomfortable with the handling.

I can tell you the car handles much differently. I think this means I will be kicking Tyson's butt at autocross Saturday. Here are the specs:

***********BEFORE***********
Front
Camber -0.39 0.14
Caster 6.48 6.78
Toe -5.2mm -2.1mm

Rear
Camber -1.51 -2.53
Toe -0.3mm -4.2mm


************AFTER**************
Front
Camber -0.86 -0.78
Caster 6.69 6.87
Toe 0.00mm 0.00mm

Rear
Camber -1.58 -1.50
Toe 0.00 0.00




[This message has been edited by Superman (edited 04-19-2001).]