Alignment basics

[Big Sky WRX]

glad it helped!

[1goindiesel]

Big Sky, THANK YOU for this thread. Have learned a lot and read all thru it.

I have a 13 STI,750 miles total, I have had it aligned at the dealer and they are willing to adj
more as needed.

It has a right pull bias at hwy speeds, really not terrible, and it is better than it was but I feel it could be better.
The current specs are all in the green and they are:

Camber FL -0.7 FR -0.4, RL -1.1 RR -1.4
Castor FL 6.7 FR 6.4 Rear, NA
Toe FL .01 FR -.01, LR 0.03 RR 0.01

I know you have said go to -1.0 for street use on front camber and that changing toe will change camber.
Would you mess with this setup or leave it??

Thanks for your input and thanks again for this thread.

[Big Sky WRX]

for a daily driver I'd say your fine, the additional positive caster the newer Imprezas have makes up a little for less neg camber

w/ the way roads are constructed (high crown) it's not unusual to pull to the right; if it's too bothersome- adding some (even it out w/ the driver's side or even a tenth or two more) neg camber to the passenger side would probably alleviate some of it- that would call for a full alignment, you can't mess w/ camber w/o touching toe

[1goindiesel]

Big Sky. I will try that then. Thanks again for your help.

[free2be4ever7]

Wow this thread is awesome. Thank you so much big sky and everyone who has contributed. I just learned a lot.

[06wrx4me]

*subscribed*

[wrx650]

Next time I get an alignment I will be using this. Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SubaruWRC]

So I just checking my tires and they outsides of them are all rounded down. Both front and rear... Front is worse. What's up with this? Is this alignment or just my driving? I drive my car hard and autox it. I just installed a rear sway bar so this is a recent change that could be contributing to this wear. What do you think?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[Big Sky WRX]

most likely driving, not uncommon at all- especially autoxing

by adding more static neg camber you'll spread that wear a little more across the entire tire, but even w/ aggressive camber numbers the outer edges still go first autoxing

[kprugbyplaya]

Hey,

I have a quick question and will definitely need advice from you.

Right now, I have Eibach Lowering Springs on my 11 WRX (sedan); they are currently on my stock struts.

I am pretty sure my car needs to be re-aligned, since I noticed more wear in my inner front tires. So, due to that, I had the tires rotated.

I made an appointment at RT2S2 - The R/T Tuning Speed Shop - Homepage for an alignment. I told them stock alignment for right now, until I research on some numbers.

Here is what I was thinking:

Since we cant adjust the rear camber without throwing lot of money, I was going to keep that the same (This is what I hear, correct me if I am wrong)

For the front, I was going to far as -1.5 on both ends and keep the toe 0 and stock caster

Now my question is, since I am running lowering springs on stock struts, will -1.5 in the front decrease the lifetime of the struts by a lot?
If so, what do you think is the recommended settings I should have for the front? If not, then why?

I don't take my car to the track or anything, nor do I always drive it hard. I drive normal, but there are times where I love to take those types of turns and when I do, I want them solid.

As of right now, I am just trying to meet in the middle where

1) I do not lose too much tread
2) decrease strut lifetime
3) increase handling (doesn't have to be spectacular but noticeable)

Thanks man. I appreciate your help!

Best
Kunal

[Big Sky WRX]

correct- no factory camber adj in the rear, no cheap way to do it either

-1.5 might be a little aggressive for street driving (and worrying about wear), I'd probably shoot for -1.0 as a compromise- definitely 0 toe all around- out of whack toe can eat tires in a hurry

that amount of neg camber shouldn't have any effect on strut life, the springs certainly can however

[kprugbyplaya]

Thanks for getting back.

So I bought the car at 25k miles and I found out Saturday that the car had lowering springs. So the first user already had them installed.

Assuming he installed them at 10k miles, how many miles can you estimate that the struts will last until?

My car is currently at 32k

[Big Sky WRX]

wouldn't fathom a guess, too many variables- I can tell you though that struts are a replacement part and that personally I'd be looking to replace factory struts in the 50k neighborhood regardless, obviously sooner if they degrade sooner

often you don't realize that the struts are giving up until you replace them

[kprugbyplaya]

Sweet. Thanks man. I appreciate your help!

[kprugbyplaya]

Last question. I promise! Haha

Do I need to get camber bolts if I am adjusting to -1 or even -1.1? Because I think the stock ones go up to that point. I mean if the aftermarket bolts are drastically better and efficient, then I will gladly purchase them, but I don't want to buy it if not needed. Thanks for the help again.