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posted on March 24th, 2003 at 08:55 AM
Wheel Alignment for the street/ race
Hi all
I really need to get a wheel alignment done, but most cars I've had done in the past, the alignment shops were rubbish.
So I figure I find out what specifications (ie Camber/ toe and caster) others are using and take these along with me to the alignment shop, and make
sure they do it properly.
What are the enthusiastic drivers out there using, ie Steve and Jak and I'm sure theres others of you that like to give it a good thrashing
around the twisty roads....
Cheers
Jeremy
PS And I forgot this important piece of info, it's a '71 1302
[Edited on 23-3-2003 by Jeza]
......random gibberish for today.......
jakriz
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posted on March 24th, 2003 at 07:34 PM
Hi Jeremy ,
Steve uses a guy that has been doing wheel alignments since the dawn of time but I've just been using the local Bob Jane T-marts. I always get my
car done with me sitting in the car & with half a tank of petrol.
I've got 3 degrees camber on the front & 1.5 degrees on the back. 1 degree toe in on the front & 0 toe in on the back. Hopes this helps
u.
I would also get the front wheels balanced on the car, it costs a little more but is more than worth it for a superbug. Just remember to mark the
wheel & rotor with a little paint so u get the wheel back on the right place when u take them off.
regards
Jak
Congratulations to Ben Durie for breaking the hillclimb record at Ringwood in his stroker beetle!
Jeza
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posted on March 25th, 2003 at 06:47 PM
Thanks Jak
I found a little bit on the germanlook website to. I'm sure there was a big discussion somewhere, probably shoptalkforum.
From the little measurements that I've made (at the front) I'd say that I've got lots of camber on one side and much less on the other.
And definitely toe out, not in, which makes it steer real quick- heaps of fun until... the other day when I took the back route home along a really
bumpy road. And every time I hit a bump I got thrown across the road- frightening really :o
Anyone else with any input?
Cheers
Jeremy
......random gibberish for today.......
70AutoStik
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posted on March 25th, 2003 at 08:46 PM
Stock Beetles have +1degree of camber at the front - for racing (remember I said racing,) many use 1-1.5degrees negative. If you are talking off-road
forget that piece of advice.
The main area you will see improvement on road use is to get castor shims and increase your castor 1.5-3 degrees (remember - if you lower the front
more than the rear, you will reduce your castor: this is why people will comment on the great improvement in handling having the front higher than
the rear.)
Toe-in is best kept stock - unless you like oversteer!
P.S. If you're stuck for someone to do a four-wheel alignment (assuming you have IRS,) the guys who do laser-aligning for trucks can do it.
