Alignment Question

[04GT]

A few months ago, I got a set of Ford C Springs installed. Didn't think I would need alignment. When I put my winter tires on last week, found that inside of both front tires are bald. I believe treadwear has been pretty even before now.

I'm traveling this week, so I decided to get a quick alignment last week. The guy at the tire shop said he couldn't get it back to a factor alignment on the camber. It's at 2 degrees negative, stock being .5 degrees positive.

I went ahead and ordered a set of Maximum Motorsports CC plates and I plan to take it to a good alignment shop next week.

Anybody else found that they needed CC plates with C Springs and Bilsteins?

 

[Skidzz]

Well I wouldn't think you would NEED an alignment either, but I would get the C/C plates and do an alignment after any spring swap, just to be sure.

 

[whyask]

Im with SKIDZZ on this one

 

[bdcardinal]

its .5 degress negative camber stock. very few cars come with positive camber anymore.

the ability to adjust camber with the factory setup is very limited. always suggest getting proper C/C plates to get your alignment as accurate as possible.

btw i run -.4degrees camber, 4.7 degrees caster and 0.00 degrees toe on my car, tire wear is very even and the car handles amazing at high speed.

 

[SaleenGT2001]

i'm with cardinal. i'm an alignment tech and i run -.3 camber, as much +caster as i can get and 0.00 toe. your tire wear will be MUCH better.

 

[04GT]

The alignment I had prior to the spring install was a little more negative on camber than stock, but I don't remember the number. That was like 2 years ago. My plates are coming Friday and I'm taking it to the shop next Tuesday.

 

[04GT]

Got my plates installed today...alignment is back to what it should be. -1 degree negative camber.

 

[SaleenGT2001]

thats still a little too much IMO

 

[04GT]

I've had that alignment for 3 years and never had any uneven tire wear until the springs went in.

 

[squares98]

Are these numbers still what is advised(Saleen2001gt and Bdcardinals)? For a car with sportlines?

 

[SaleenGT2001]

i have sportlines on my car. the springs themselves dont change the spec that you want the car at.

i'll try to summarize this up

when you drop any car the camber will move negative (top of the tire moves inward.)

mustangs run about -1.0 camber from the factory. this means the top of the tire leans in more than the bottom.

negative camber is good for cornering but bad for tires b/c trhe tire rides on its inside edge.

i like to run about-0.3 camber on my car. this still gives you enough to help plant the tires while cornering but will reduce the inside edge wear on the tires.

these are the specs that i like to set up mustangs with

camber
-.02 to -.05 on both sides

caster
as much posative as you can get but offset the drivers side -.5 from the passeger side
examples
drivers side 4.0 passenger side 4.5
drivers side 3.7 passenger side 4.2
the reasn you offset the caster is to correct for the road crown. it is always slanted downward on the edges to allow water to run off. caster is not a wear angle so almost any combination will work as long as it is not negative and there is close to a -.5 offset

toe i run .25 degrees

these specs will help your tires last a lot longer.