Anyone test alignments?

BrianMSmith · 12-11-2009, 11:32 PM

The car appears to have a large, maybe 2 degree negative camber on the rear, but zero on the front.

Anyone do any testing with front camber and caster, or the rear camber? I ran a lot of negative camber at the front on my last car, and it was a power rear steer monster, lots of fun.

With the Z, I'd guess the large negative rear camber makes it very hard to get sideways.

I haven't been able to drive my car to the limit yet, to see how she handles, with the cold and new engine.

spearfish25 · 12-11-2009, 11:54 PM

No problem getting my Z sideways with the stock setup. Most of the time I prefer it not go sideways though.

Chan Chee Hoe · 12-12-2009, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianMSmith

The car appears to have a large, maybe 2 degree negative camber on the rear, but zero on the front.

Anyone do any testing with front camber and caster, or the rear camber? I ran a lot of negative camber at the front on my last car, and it was a power rear steer monster, lots of fun.

With the Z, I'd guess the large negative rear camber makes it very hard to get sideways.

I haven't been able to drive my car to the limit yet, to see how she handles, with the cold and new engine.

Yes,i also noticed the rear have negative camber,what worries me is the rear tyres may wear the inside part first..

j.arnaldo · 12-12-2009, 11:32 AM

Related subject, dudes (doubt): My Z tends to drift slowly to the right while I'm driving at over 25-30 MPH. I checked the air pressure in both front tires, and they were a couple lbs/psi apart, so I inflated both to the right lbs/psi. I STILL got the "right bent" problem. Any suggestions, before I go blow away some moola at an alignment shop?! Thanks!

Modshack · 12-12-2009, 11:59 AM

kenchan · 12-12-2009, 12:32 PM

on these cars -2degrees in the back is normal.

BrianMSmith · 12-12-2009, 12:45 PM

Thank you for the alignment specs! As I guessed, about -2 on the rear...

The rear tires will definately wear more on the inside edge from normal driving, and will clearly show the -2 camber effect in an uneven wear pattern. If driven on track or very hard, this will partly offset the un-even wear pattern. And we cannot rotate these tires. The handling will get worse as the tire wears into the cambered pattern, and a noticeable edge shows.

What I am wondering is if anyone had increased front camber up to the max negative, -1.41 deg, and noticed any difference in feel?

I also have played with caster in my old car, and noticed a significant difference. More caster gave the car a much "calmer" feel when driving straight on, a bit steadier, and a bit more feel. Also makes turning the wheel harder. The Z appears to come standard with what I'd consider to be a lot of caster.

I also ran low pressure in the front of my old car, which was not good for wear, but increased feel at the limit. About 26psi cold, versus 32psi rear.

IDZRVIT · 12-12-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

The rear tires will definately wear more on the inside edge from normal driving, and will clearly show the -2 camber effect in an uneven wear pattern.

If that were the case then we would have an uneven tire wear "issue". Anyone experience this yet? I have 12K miles on my Z and the alignment seems spot on as I don't have any abnormal wear patterns.

kannibul · 12-12-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDZRVIT

If that were the case then we would have an uneven tire wear "issue". Anyone experience this yet? I have 12K miles on my Z and the alignment seems spot on as I don't have any abnormal wear patterns.

Maybe the tires are designed to have a bit more rubber on the inside than the outside, knowing that camber will be negative on most cars that will equip them?

You can definately feel a difference in heat between the inside, middle and outside...

import111 · 12-12-2009, 02:53 PM

Not sure what mine was stock but after some suspension mods my rear was at -1.7 camber and at 8k miles my rear tires were bald on the inside. At 9k miles now and today I am having rear toe bolts installed so I can get -1.2 rear camber to get a more even contact patch and make my tires last longer.

Modshack · 12-12-2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by import111

Not sure what mine was stock but after some suspension mods my rear was at -1.7 camber and at 8k miles my rear tires were bald on the inside. At 9k miles now and today I am having rear toe bolts installed so I can get -1.2 rear camber to get a more even contact patch and make my tires last longer.

That's not eough camber to trash your tires like that...You probably have a toe problem.

Moderate to aggressive driving will wear the tires evenly (more outside wear in turns balances out the inside wear on the straights.)

Modshack · 12-12-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kannibul

Maybe the tires are designed to have a bit more rubber on the inside than the outside, knowing that camber will be negative on most cars that will equip them?
.

NO!

Zeto · 04-03-2010, 10:18 AM

Awesome thread! Thanks Mod shack!. Is there are more aggressive setting besides the stock setting on stock suspension. On the S2000's there were Euro specs that were more aggressive than US specs. Does such a thing exist with the Z? Also I'm guessing minimum on the chart means stock settings correct?

12-11-2009, 11:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
BrianMSmith Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: secret Posts: 267 Drives: 370Z, Ducati 748S Rep Power: 16	Anyone test alignments? The car appears to have a large, maybe 2 degree negative camber on the rear, but zero on the front. Anyone do any testing with front camber and caster, or the rear camber? I ran a lot of negative camber at the front on my last car, and it was a power rear steer monster, lots of fun. With the Z, I'd guess the large negative rear camber makes it very hard to get sideways. I haven't been able to drive my car to the limit yet, to see how she handles, with the cold and new engine.

12-11-2009, 11:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	No problem getting my Z sideways with the stock setup. Most of the time I prefer it not go sideways though. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

12-12-2009, 11:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
Modshack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greenville NC Posts: 2,883 Drives: 370Z Sport Rep Power: 976	__________________ Steal my car! (SOLD)...Now Porsche Cayman S Oil Cooler DIY: Here!

12-12-2009, 12:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
BrianMSmith Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: secret Posts: 267 Drives: 370Z, Ducati 748S Rep Power: 16	Thank you for the alignment specs! As I guessed, about -2 on the rear... The rear tires will definately wear more on the inside edge from normal driving, and will clearly show the -2 camber effect in an uneven wear pattern. If driven on track or very hard, this will partly offset the un-even wear pattern. And we cannot rotate these tires. The handling will get worse as the tire wears into the cambered pattern, and a noticeable edge shows. What I am wondering is if anyone had increased front camber up to the max negative, -1.41 deg, and noticed any difference in feel? I also have played with caster in my old car, and noticed a significant difference. More caster gave the car a much "calmer" feel when driving straight on, a bit steadier, and a bit more feel. Also makes turning the wheel harder. The Z appears to come standard with what I'd consider to be a lot of caster. I also ran low pressure in the front of my old car, which was not good for wear, but increased feel at the limit. About 26psi cold, versus 32psi rear. Last edited by BrianMSmith; 12-12-2009 at 12:48 PM.

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12-12-2009, 11:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
j.arnaldo Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 937 Drives: Nissan 350Z, 2004 Rep Power: 0	Related subject, dudes (doubt): My Z tends to drift slowly to the right while I'm driving at over 25-30 MPH. I checked the air pressure in both front tires, and they were a couple lbs/psi apart, so I inflated both to the right lbs/psi. I STILL got the "right bent" problem. Any suggestions, before I go blow away some moola at an alignment shop?! Thanks!

12-12-2009, 12:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	on these cars -2degrees in the back is normal.

12-12-2009, 02:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	Not sure what mine was stock but after some suspension mods my rear was at -1.7 camber and at 8k miles my rear tires were bald on the inside. At 9k miles now and today I am having rear toe bolts installed so I can get -1.2 rear camber to get a more even contact patch and make my tires last longer.

04-03-2010, 10:18 AM	#13 (permalink)
Zeto Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North NJ Age: 40 Posts: 766 Drives: 09 Pearl White 370Z Rep Power: 267	Awesome thread! Thanks Mod shack!. Is there are more aggressive setting besides the stock setting on stock suspension. On the S2000's there were Euro specs that were more aggressive than US specs. Does such a thing exist with the Z? Also I'm guessing minimum on the chart means stock settings correct?