SPL Eccentric lockout kit question - Lockout camber arms only?

[dP3NGU1N]

So, really not a short way to say this so I'll try to be as succinct and to the point as possible.

I have the SPL rear camber arms but I have the stock buckets that help adjust toe. When the car is stock, the rear has some adjustment of camber and toe using eccentric bolts on the top and bottom of each side. Now that I have proper camber arms, should I use an eccentric lock out kit to lock it up and adjust camber/toe exclusively through the arms?

The way I see it, this should remove one variable in the set up that would mess with my alignment over time. As I do not have after market spring buckets, I'll need to keep the bottom eccentric bolt to make sure I can dial in my toe.

Does anyone see any problems that I should take into consideration before doing this? Would the lockout kit mess with my suspension geometry as it moves throughout the compression and rebound range?

I'll edit this post with clarifications if I find I've left some detail out later on.
Serious answers only, please.

[DEpointfive0]

You need a lockout for the camber arm. I can sell you a set for like $20, shoot me a PM with your address

[Zoren 370]

Andrew do you have picture of this eccentric lockout kit? I just want to know if this is the one I have. Thanks

What I have is SPC with toe bolts. Is this thing only for SPL?

[DEpointfive0]

Originally Posted by Zoren 370

Andrew do you have picture of this eccentric lockout kit? I just want to know if this is the one I have. Thanks

What I have is SPC with toe bolts. Is this thing only for SPL?

For YOU, no, I don't...


I'll get one later today if I remember. If you didn't buy lockouts separately, you don't have them. Instead of a circular washer it's a square one

[sandersd]

Originally Posted by dP3NGU1N

Now that I have proper camber arms, should I use an eccentric lock out kit to lock it up and adjust camber/toe exclusively through the arms?

Yes, that's the whole point of the adjustable arms.

[rustindung]

I have a similar question to the OP about the eccentric lockout kit.

I will be installing lowering springs or coilovers (1" drop or so). I will be ordering SPL rear camber arms, but to adjust for toe, most research I've done points to toe bolts (more specifically, the SPC ones).

Do I only need the rear camber arms and the eccentric lockout kit to solve all my rear camber and toe worries? Do I still need toe bolts?

[sandersd]

Originally Posted by rustindung

Do I only need the rear camber arms and the eccentric lockout kit to solve all my rear camber and toe worries? Do I still need toe bolts?

Many report being able to return toe to within specs with the OEM adjusting bolt. If it were me I would try aligning it first and only use the SPC adjusting bolt if absolutely necessary.

[dP3NGU1N]

I'm rather certain I'm only on a 1" drop, it's very mild because I track and need the suspension travel. However, I was not able to get my desired toe and camber settings even without the lockout kit.

My plan is to get the lock out kit for the upper camber arms in and get SPC bolts for further toe adjustment. I'm hoping I'll be able to get the alignment spec I want at that point.

[RN SHARK]

I've got a brand new set of SPL rear camber arms sitting in my garage waiting to put on, so I guess I need the lockouts as well.

[Zauskycop]

I am doing the SPL camber arms only (with lockouts) for the One Lap of America. Keeping the suspension stock otherwise in the rear. My goal is to set the camber and then the toe (with the eccentric bolts for toe). My plan is to do just a little tack weld on the eccentric bolts to hold them in place, which I hope, will do the trick

Tracy Ramsey

[Jordo!]

Wait -- so is this necessary no matter what, or only if toe cannot be returned to about zero?

Even if both points were adjusted independently, is the idea that having an extra region where you can make adjustments requires you to lock the other one due to changes in how force is exerted on the vehicle, which can cause one or the other to nudge out of alignment? If everything is torqued to spec, shouldn't it be fine?

I don't know about the SPL, but I though the SPC came with all needed hardware.

I don't think I understand...

[Masterbeatty]

What kind of driving do you usually do? I have had my setup for almost a year now, coilovers, spl toe and camber arms. I autocross and do spirited drives and my alignment is still where it was set to last march. You might not need them but I also don't daily drive my Z and now that snow is on the ground in CT I drive it even less, three days in the past two months.

[sandersd]

Originally Posted by Jordo!

Wait -- so is this necessary no matter what, or only if toe cannot be returned to about zero?

Even if both points were adjusted independently, is the idea that having an extra region where you can make adjustments requires you to lock the other one due to changes in how force is exerted on the vehicle, which can cause one or the other to nudge out of alignment? If everything is torqued to spec, shouldn't it be fine?

I don't know about the SPL, but I though the SPC came with all needed hardware.

I don't think I understand...

There is an adjustment bolt on each of the lower links - one on the front lower link and one on the rear lower link. Download the service manual for a detailed description and alignment procedures.

Camber is set by adjusting the cam bolt on the front lower link (camber arm). Toe is set by adjusting the cam bolt on the rear lower link (that holds the spring). If you replace the front lower link (camber arm) then you will also replace the cam bolt with a lockout kit so the only adjustment is via the arm itself. There is no need to have two adjustment points.

The toe adjustment is accomplished with the cam bolt on the rear lower link. If the toe cannot be set within spec then you will replace this cam bolt with the SPC bolt which requires enlarging the hole at the inboard attachment of the lower link.

Hope this helps.

[Jordo!]

^^^ Okay -- that makes sense. Thank you for clarifying

[4TthAnnyZ]

Originally Posted by sandersd

There is an adjustment bolt on each of the lower links - one on the front lower link and one on the rear lower link. Download the service manual for a detailed description and alignment procedures.

Camber is set by adjusting the cam bolt on the front lower link (camber arm). Toe is set by adjusting the cam bolt on the rear lower link (that holds the spring). If you replace the front lower link (camber arm) then you will also replace the cam bolt with a lockout kit so the only adjustment is via the arm itself. There is no need to have two adjustment points.

The toe adjustment is accomplished with the cam bolt on the rear lower link. If the toe cannot be set within spec then you will replace this cam bolt with the SPC bolt which requires enlarging the hole at the inboard attachment of the lower link.

Hope this helps.

Useful information!

However, could it be said that if the stock cam bolt is enough to keep the factory camber arms in place, they would also be enough to keep an aftermarket adjustable arm in place, thus making the lockout kit NOT 100% necessary...? Despite the fact that it is not necessary to have two points of adjustment, I think a lot of folks are wondering if they MUST get the lockout kit in order to use the SPL or SPC camber arms. To which the answer is no, you don't, BUT it would be a good idea to eliminate that variable.

That being said, the toe bolts will likely be necessary to get within factory spec.

Key points:

• Lockout kit and toe/camber bolts are NOT the same thing
• No you do not HAVE to get the lockout kit to use aftermarket adjustable arms (but it would be a good idea if you are doing any sort of hard driving)
• There's no difference between the functionality of the SPL and SPC arms. SPL is just much higher quality

/thread