Coilover question about height adjustment and alignment

Ni55anPat · 11-22-2011, 02:12 PM

I'm running BC coilovers.

My question is if I get an alignment and want to adjust the height later down the road. Do I need to get another alignment ?

I've heard yes and no. Just wanna clear it up

Thanks

djpathfinder · 11-22-2011, 02:21 PM

Yes and no are the right answers. If you want to maintain the same alignment specs after re-adjusting your height, then yes you need a realignment.

However, if your car has stock suspension parts (no aftermarket front and rear camber kit), you will not be able to have your front camber adjusted and rear camber adjustability is limited. Toe adjustment front and back can be somewhat limited as well, depending on amount of drop. Because of limited adjustability with stock parts, you will have to decide whether it's necessary to get a re-alignment after a small change in height.

If you install front and rear camber kits, you will be able to adjust camber, castor, and toe, which makes re-alignment a little more specific and meaningful.

TypeOne · 11-22-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djpathfinder

Yes and no are the right answers. If you want to maintain the same alignment specs after re-adjusting your height, then yes you need a realignment.

However, if your car has stock suspension parts (no aftermarket front and rear camber kit), you will not be able to have your front camber adjusted and rear camber adjustability is limited. Toe adjustment front and back can be somewhat limited as well, depending on amount of drop. Because of limited adjustability with stock parts, you will have to decide whether it's necessary to get a re-alignment after a small change in height.

If you install front and rear camber kits, you will be able to adjust camber, castor, and toe, which makes re-alignment a little more specific and meaningful.

BOOM!

Baer383 · 11-22-2011, 02:54 PM

Any time the height of the vehicle is changed at a bare minimum you should check the alignment,I also have BC coil overs and aligned my car the day after I installed my CO then after a month the car stop settling I when back and checked it and it was off (Caster,Camber,toe front and rear)

And that was only after settling.

SPOHN · 11-23-2011, 12:25 PM

Last time I raised my car just a 1/4" the whole alignment went out of whack. Especially one side more than the other. But try to get your car where you want it and leave it. Take much consideration on you driving habits when doing this. Your car suspension needs to be set where it's going to have enough travel in it. You know, in case you want to do some spirited or track driving. Or just in general. Never really understood why people go so low.

11-22-2011, 02:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ni55anPat A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,831 Drives: Zed Rep Power: 18	Coilover question about height adjustment and alignment I'm running BC coilovers. My question is if I get an alignment and want to adjust the height later down the road. Do I need to get another alignment ? I've heard yes and no. Just wanna clear it up Thanks

11-22-2011, 02:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	Yes and no are the right answers. If you want to maintain the same alignment specs after re-adjusting your height, then yes you need a realignment. However, if your car has stock suspension parts (no aftermarket front and rear camber kit), you will not be able to have your front camber adjusted and rear camber adjustability is limited. Toe adjustment front and back can be somewhat limited as well, depending on amount of drop. Because of limited adjustability with stock parts, you will have to decide whether it's necessary to get a re-alignment after a small change in height. If you install front and rear camber kits, you will be able to adjust camber, castor, and toe, which makes re-alignment a little more specific and meaningful. __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD Last edited by djpathfinder; 11-22-2011 at 02:24 PM.

11-22-2011, 02:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Baer383 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lawrenceville,Ga Posts: 4,293 Drives: My foot up your azz Rep Power: 30	Any time the height of the vehicle is changed at a bare minimum you should check the alignment,I also have BC coil overs and aligned my car the day after I installed my CO then after a month the car stop settling I when back and checked it and it was off (Caster,Camber,toe front and rear) And that was only after settling. __________________ 2013 ZL1 754 rwhp 747 rwtq

11-23-2011, 12:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 46 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	Last time I raised my car just a 1/4" the whole alignment went out of whack. Especially one side more than the other. But try to get your car where you want it and leave it. Take much consideration on you driving habits when doing this. Your car suspension needs to be set where it's going to have enough travel in it. You know, in case you want to do some spirited or track driving. Or just in general. Never really understood why people go so low. __________________ Last edited by SPOHN; 11-23-2011 at 12:28 PM.

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