Alignment Questions

[Quickurt]

Good descriptions and advice renzop. Proper alignment is like taste in music! Everyone has their own idea of what "you" want, unless you're able to find:
1-someone really qualified and
2-you're able to talk to them and know what you want as well as have the ability to describe what you want.
If you don't have BOTH of the above, go to your dealer, have a long talk with the service advisor/manager and tell them what you don't like about the current alignment.
If you're not tracking the car, I'd stay with the basic factory settings. A car set up for tracking is not safe to drive, if you're in the habit of less than TOTAL concentration. You'll look down to adjust the AC and look up to be in another lane!

[Lil bastard]

Originally Posted by Quickurt

Good descriptions and advice renzop. Proper alignment is like taste in music! Everyone has their own idea of what "you" want, unless you're able to find:
1-someone really qualified and
2-you're able to talk to them and know what you want as well as have the ability to describe what you want.
If you don't have BOTH of the above, go to your dealer, have a long talk with the service advisor/manager and tell them what you don't like about the current alignment.
If you're not tracking the car, I'd stay with the basic factory settings. A car set up for tracking is not safe to drive, if you're in the habit of less than TOTAL concentration. You'll look down to adjust the AC and look up to be in another lane!

I agree that everyone has their own preference when it comes to the setup and with being able to convey what you want to the shop.

Agree that cars with track setup can be a little darty, but I don't really see that as an issue. Even with a street setup the Boxster is pretty responsive, especially in comparison to the 'avg.' car. Blue has been driving his for some time and I believe he'd adjust after, or even during, the first drive.

Cheers!

[Quickurt]

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

I agree that everyone has their own preference when it comes to the setup and with being able to convey what you want to the shop.

Agree that cars with track setup can be a little darty, but I don't really see that as an issue. Even with a street setup the Boxster is pretty responsive, especially in comparison to the 'avg.' car. Blue has been driving his for some time and I believe he'd adjust after, or even during, the first drive.

Cheers!

Agreed. also, up to a point.......I like front toe-out and rear zero toe - leaning toward toe-in - on my track cars, but I'd never have that set up on my street car.

[Adam]

Rick try a search here on the forum and read through some of the alignment threads. It helped me out alot and will give you an idea on what to tell the tech doing the alignment and get you familiar with alignment jargen. Also check wikipedia if you aren't familiar with camber, caster, toe ect. I wrote my specs down and brought them with me to the shop.

[rick3000]

I got a nail in the sidewall of one of my rear tires yesterday and was forced to replace both rears today, (which I was planning on doing soon anyway). They checked the alignment for free and it was way off in the rear, so I had them align it. I was wondering if you guys could check the specs and let me know how it looks.

Also they said an arm was bent (I think the right toe) and they could barely get it within spec. He said most likely a previous alignment guy had heated it up and bent it. Should I be worried about this?
Thanks again!

[rick3000]

Anyone ... Anyone ... Bueller ...

[Adam]

Rick, your specs look pretty decent. Typically for a good handling street setup you want 0 toe up front, very slight toe in on the rear and a little negative camber. All the specs there reflect that and are close. I have more negative camber dialed in up front and less toe in at the rear but I use the car a lot for autocrossing. Your car's specs look good for normal street use.

[rick3000]

Thanks!
And should I be worried about the heated up and bent right toe arm?