Alignment time...

Ando · 07-31-2008, 11:03 PM

Wud up guys? So I finished all my suspension work, and its time for an alignment. What specs would you recommend? (This car is not my DD) I would like a set up for "enthusiasts inspired" driving style, something close to auto-x. Thanks for the help!

Gairloch · 08-01-2008, 12:27 AM

Alignment is kind of like a good pair of shoes. What works perfectly for one person is not necessarily going to be great for another guy even with the same shoe size.

Two vital questions we need answers to before any responses can have any meaning:

What did you do to your alignment?

How do you want the car to behave?

And one that isn't as vital but can be relavent

What tires do you have?

Ando · 08-01-2008, 12:56 AM

Well, I installed TRD springs, Koni struts, F&R K-sport endlinks, and droped the rear cross member to do sway bar bushings. I'm sure that will throw off my current alignment. (I should have done the ball joints too come to think of it. Drat!)

I would like my car to be a little more nimble @ low speeds (20-40) with less under steer and complement the new suspension mods. If that makes cents.

I have BFG g-forces... Meh.

Gairloch · 08-01-2008, 01:43 AM

First thing I would do is invest in some crash bolts. At least 1 per corner if not 2 on each corner. You can get 'em from Toyota for just a few $ each. If you dig you can find information on the 4 different sizes they have available.

Crash bolts are a thinner diameter bolt than the OE bolt which allows the knuckle to be tilted further providing greater camber adjustment.

Good call on the kit. That's all proper stuff.

For low speed agility what you're looking at is as much camber as you can pile on, especially in front. You can also zero out the toe setting in front and give yourself minimal or zero toe in back. You could even look at toe out in back but that would make the car oversteer like a mad man.

MR2s are highly sensitive to tire pressures. If you want to give the front end more grip and the rear end less grip you can set the rear tire pressures higher than what you sent the fronts. At most tracks I start out with 28psi in front and 32 psi in back then adjust from there. Even just half a pound change can make a noticable difference.

Something else to be aware of. As with most thing when modifying a car remember that suspension setup is a matter of trade offs. Low speed agility = high speed instability.

07-31-2008, 11:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ando MR2 nOOb Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin TX Posts: 155 Thanks: 16 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Alignment time... Wud up guys? So I finished all my suspension work, and its time for an alignment. What specs would you recommend? (This car is not my DD) I would like a set up for "enthusiasts inspired" driving style, something close to auto-x. Thanks for the help!

08-01-2008, 12:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,436 Thanks: 114 Thanked 219 Times in 192 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	Alignment is kind of like a good pair of shoes. What works perfectly for one person is not necessarily going to be great for another guy even with the same shoe size. Two vital questions we need answers to before any responses can have any meaning: What did you do to your alignment? How do you want the car to behave? And one that isn't as vital but can be relavent What tires do you have? __________________ "Inside the car, the world beyond the driver's immediate horizon ceases to exist. Alone with the solitude of his desire, survival sense numbed by the speed, he's outrun the mediocrity of the outside world, slipped the shackles it tries to clamp on us all. He is running free, chased only by a fear of failure, for failure is to risk ejection into the real world." ~Mark Hughes

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08-01-2008, 12:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ando MR2 nOOb Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Austin TX Posts: 155 Thanks: 16 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well, I installed TRD springs, Koni struts, F&R K-sport endlinks, and droped the rear cross member to do sway bar bushings. I'm sure that will throw off my current alignment. (I should have done the ball joints too come to think of it. Drat!) I would like my car to be a little more nimble @ low speeds (20-40) with less under steer and complement the new suspension mods. If that makes cents. I have BFG g-forces... Meh.

08-01-2008, 01:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Gairloch Dreaming of apexes Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,436 Thanks: 114 Thanked 219 Times in 192 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (7/100% )	First thing I would do is invest in some crash bolts. At least 1 per corner if not 2 on each corner. You can get 'em from Toyota for just a few $ each. If you dig you can find information on the 4 different sizes they have available. Crash bolts are a thinner diameter bolt than the OE bolt which allows the knuckle to be tilted further providing greater camber adjustment. Good call on the kit. That's all proper stuff. For low speed agility what you're looking at is as much camber as you can pile on, especially in front. You can also zero out the toe setting in front and give yourself minimal or zero toe in back. You could even look at toe out in back but that would make the car oversteer like a mad man. MR2s are highly sensitive to tire pressures. If you want to give the front end more grip and the rear end less grip you can set the rear tire pressures higher than what you sent the fronts. At most tracks I start out with 28psi in front and 32 psi in back then adjust from there. Even just half a pound change can make a noticable difference. Something else to be aware of. As with most thing when modifying a car remember that suspension setup is a matter of trade offs. Low speed agility = high speed instability.