Alignment help with Eibach Pro Kit

[speedsports]

Hello Guys and Gals!

I recently installed the Eibach Pro Kit on the ms3. It has now settled since ive driven it over 1000 miles, so im trying to get it aligned.

I took it to a shop today and they told me that in order for them to align it, they needed the new alignment specs. He told me that since the car is lowered, the geometry of the suspension changes.

Any input or more information on this?

Thanks in advance!

 

[funksilver07]

Most people with the prokit don't really have many issues with getting alignment back to spec??? Try another shop, they may have their heads up their...(butt) You couldn't have lowered more than about an inch or so.

 

[CWPspeed3]

When I had mine installed they asked me if I wanted it to factory specs or custom specs, I just said factory. It was all the same before the alignment except a bit of toe on the pass front.

 

[speedsports]

thats what i thought too. it isnt an aggresive drop. I will talk to them again, but i might just take it somewhere else instead.

 

[Nliiitend1]

Take it somewhere else. They don't know what they're talking about...

The only thing that's really adjustable is toe anyway, and if they can't figure that out than I wouldn't let them touch my car...Toe adjustment is performed exactly the same way when your car is lowered as it when at OEM ride-height.

 

[bacarl]

When your suspension travels, negative camber should increase and toe out should increase, due to the suspension geometry/kinematics. Installing lowering springs essentially places your suspension part way into its jounce travel at curb weight, so increased negative camber and toe out are some of the effects of lowering springs.

Negative camber tends to help grip (enlarges contact patch during cornering), but toe out tends to increase understeer. Tell the alignment shop to adjust your toe back to factory settings and you should be all set.

 

[Nliiitend1]

When your suspension travels, negative camber should increase and toe out should increase, due to the suspension geometry/kinematics. Installing lowering springs essentially places your suspension part way into its jounce travel at curb weight, so increased negative camber and toe out are some of the effects of lowering springs.

Negative camber tends to help grip (enlarges contact patch during cornering), but toe out tends to increase understeer. Tell the alignment shop to adjust your toe back to factory settings and you should be all set.

Good points, but I want to clarify that on this car (with it's SLA "control blade" rear setup) the rear actually toes in under compression (meaning that the outside tire toes in during a turn).

 

[bacarl]

Hey that's an excellent point. I was only considering the front, sorry about that.