Prior to this weekends track outing I put some Tien camber plates on the otherwise stock car, and aligned it to -3.0 camber/ 0 toe, and -1.0 camber 0 toe rear. The difference is amazing compaired to the stock max negative camber (-1.8) There is so much more grip in the front, and tire wear was great. At some points I gained as much as 15 mph on corner exit speeds.

After a hard 40 min. session I got tire temps within 5 degrees all the way across the tire. I highly recommend something near these specs for track monkies.

 

This is great to hear! I was considering adding Works camber plates to my otherwise stock suspension. I was on the fence about also adding a larger rear swaybar. What do you think? Are the camber plates alone good enough?

Emre

 

Monkey see, monkey do! Mid-Ohio in 10 days!

Does otherwise stock include the Yokos or race tires?

Dave

 

I'm on the fence about a rear bar. Currently the car is fast as stink. It rotates well in medium speed turns, but has just a little "mush" right at turn in at higher speeds. I think a small toe adjustment in the rear will solve this.

That thread we had a while back has got me thinking about sway bars in a whole new way. In the past I would immedately slap a rear bar on a new car and not think twice, now I'm not sure. I still might try one, especially since its relatively cheap, and you can e-bay it and get most of you money if you dont like it.

Lots of front camber massivly increases the front grip of the car. My opinion is to try that first, then think about what else you want to try.

 

RA-1's, and I believe Toyo recommends -3+ deg of negative camber. They are right.

 

Thanks, SB. I'll probably back off to -2.5 on the Dunlops to start. Last year's -1.5 definately wasn't enough, but I don't know how much the Dunlops really want and I won't be pushing it as hard you on Toyos.

Dave

 

DAMN NEG 3!?!?! I though stock -2.0 was aggressive but great results man!

 

I've been using Tanabe springs/stock struts/stock sway bars/Cusco camber plates with -2.5/-1.5 camber front/back and 0 toe front/back for two years. IMHO this combination works really well. Pretty even wear and tire temperatures on the track. A bit more negative camber in front would be even better, but I get noticable inner edge tire wear during street driving as it is.

In a few weeks I'm going to be using my new 255/40RA-1 tires with 17x9 rims at Road America. I'll post a report with tire temperatures then.

 

out of curiousity....

at -3, how far where you from maxing out the neg camber with the Tien plates?

 

Dave, the only way to know how much camber to run is to check your tire temps. You can buy a basic core pyrometer for around $100 from racer parts wholesale and other sources. Even if you don't have a pyrometer, I'm sure you can borrow one from one of the instructors or racers.

Emre

 

Believe it or not, -3.0 degrees isn't a whole lot of negative camber for a track car on R-compounds (especially for a car that rolls as much as ours). I was running -2.5 degrees on my old BMW E30 track car with H&R + Bilstein suspension and Azenis Sports. I know some racers with E30 M3's with Gruppe N suspensions running -4.0 degreed of negative up front.

Emre

 

Pretty close. Probably another .5 available.

 

What's it like trying to get the car stopped with -3 degrees up front?

KeS

 

No problems at all.

 

any pictures of how that -3.0 camber looks like? must look mean as hell