Miata Alignment Help

[zachcrosen]

Calling on all the Miata guys here for alignment spec help. I am working on installing a set of DGR coilovers and have no clue on the alignment specs. I have read all kinds of stuff and everyone is all over the board!

The coilovers have a Swift spring upgrade at rates of 700f/400r. I am running the front RB 1.125" hollow sway bar and no rear bar. My plan is to have the front around 11.5" and the rear close to 12" but I am not certain if I can get the back that low. I am currently at 12.5 +/- but I still have to even everything out side to side. I will be running Andy Tow's old set of black Rota RB 15x7 wheels with the Toyo R888 tires to start with.

I know some of you are running awesome CSP cars and am curious about your specs.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to make it to this weekends AutoX but I am working on getting the car ready to hit the ground running next season with the "big dogs." Someone has to take up the rear of the pack right!!

Here the car is as it sits right now.





TIA,
Zach

[engled]

Front: -2.5 camber, -3 to -5 caster and as much toe out as needed for crisp turn in.
Rear: -2.0 camber, 0 toe or just a touch of toe in.
This should get you in the ball park then look at the temp across the face of the tire and adjust from there.

11.5/12.0 is a little low IMHO even with the adjustable body shocks.

[JohnW8]

Front: -2.5 camber, -3 to -5 caster and as much toe out as needed for crisp turn in.
Rear: -2.0 camber, 0 toe or just a touch of toe in.
This should get you in the ball park then look at the temp across the face of the tire and adjust from there.

11.5/12.0 is a little low IMHO even with the adjustable body shocks.

Ditto. Too low. So low that your shocks aren't doing anything but your bumpstops are working like a mother...

[engled]

I didn't think about it earlier but you will have a hard time getting -2.5 in the front without offset bushings. I would highly recommend getting a set before you get it aligned. If you are not then set the front at maximum and the the rear .4 to .5 less. Please note the the front has more negative camber than the rear, not what some would lead you to believe in miata.net.

[aMaff]

I didn't think about it earlier but you will have a hard time getting -2.5 in the front without offset bushings. I would highly recommend getting a set before you get it aligned. If you are not then set the front at maximum and the the rear .4 to .5 less. Please note the the front has more negative camber than the rear, not what some would lead you to believe in miata.net.

When I was in STS, I ran -3* front without any kind of offset bushings. We also ran the car about at that ride height, but with shortened rear shocks (fronts were fine). We actually needed offset bushings for the REAR to take OUT the camber that was there. I was only running about -.75* rear. Car loved it

Couple of caveats: From what I've seen w/ the DGRs, they likely won't last long w/ those spring rates. And this was for street tires, not R-Comps like the CSP guys run.

[engled]

When I was in STS, I ran -3* front without any kind of offset bushings. We also ran the car about at that ride height, but with shortened rear shocks (fronts were fine). We actually needed offset bushings for the REAR to take OUT the camber that was there.

I have heard of that before but have never actually seen it. Of the three different Miatas I have owned and the half dozen or so I have helped with they have all maxed out at ~ -2.1 or less. Most would get 2.1 on one side and -1.8 on the other.

With the really wide Rs and high spring rates you don't need as much negative camber as some would lead you to believe.

All I know about street tires is that I'm slow on them.