Re: Front end alignment questions

[Godfrey DiGiorgi <ramarren@domain.elided>]

I use my Spider as a daily driver. I have IAP springs, Koni Red shocks, 
new bushings and joints throughout with adjustable upper arms. Currently 
Michelin XGT4s in 185/70-14 on 6" ('82 stock) alloy rims (probably try 
some Bridgestone 195/65s next). 

Front suspension settings I'm using are 
  Caster: ~2.3 degrees (max setting)
  Camber: 1.0 degrees negative
  Toe in: .03" (.06" total)

I'd mucked around with several different settings until I arrived at this 
setup which felt good to me, then I read a suspension article in the ARA 
"Overheard Cams" by someone notable as an expert in chassis setup who 
listed just about this setup exactly. Article was published somewhere in 
the Fall of '97, I think.

Stock camber is often slightly positive to accomodate the crown of the 
road, negative camber puts more emphasis on getting maximum tread at the 
outside tire when cornering at some expense in uneven tire wear. 

I always forget the directional references when I think of caster 
adjustments, but I believe most modern cars generally run close to zero 
caster with the extreme being Mercedes which run very high caster (up to 
11 degrees). I like the higher caster settings as it gives more 
resistance to the steering and a little more self-centering effect.

Godfrey

>The consensus seems to be:
>             STREET (FACTORY)              RACE
>  Toe in:   .06 inch, each wheel           0
>  Castor:   1.5 deg (positive?)            1.5 deg or max negative
>  Camber:   0 deg 50' (positive?)          1-1.5 deg negative

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