No alignment, sacreligeous?

HapaM1 · 06-17-2008, 09:19 AM

I'm a bit of a noob to these forums but have been reading tons of posts about suspension, etc.

I'm planning to upgrade to give myself a small amount of drop while maintaining stock feel with some improvement. I'm getting JDM pinks, prodrive bumpstops, RCE lowering camber plates and some upgraded swaybars/endlinks.

The camber plates are backordered so I'm wondering if it would be terrible if I were to put the springs on and not do an alignment for a couple of months. Also, should it matter if I have the swaybars on before an alignment? Help please.

JPotter · 06-17-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HapaM1

I'm a bit of a noob to these forums but have been reading tons of posts about suspension, etc.

I'm planning to upgrade to give myself a small amount of drop while maintaining stock feel with some improvement. I'm getting JDM pinks, prodrive bumpstops, RCE lowering camber plates and some upgraded swaybars/endlinks.

The camber plates are backordered so I'm wondering if it would be terrible if I were to put the springs on and not do an alignment for a couple of months. Also, should it matter if I have the swaybars on before an alignment? Help please.

Well, as long as you don't care about the wear of your tires. Or handling that much....

There is no way to tell exactly how off your alignment will be after installing the springs and camber plates, but they will be off. For reference, after installing my RCE Tarmac 2's, and with camber plates all around, I eyeballed my camber to what was - 3.3 up front and -2 out back.

But what I couldn't eyeball was my toe which was at least 1/4in toe out at each corner according to the alignment tech when I brought it in. That would have absolutely eaten my expensive Dunlops in no time.

If you can, I would just wait until you get everything and put them all on at the same time. Otherwise you will at least be pulling all of the strut tops off twice.

Changing sways won't affect the alignment.

***sciolist*** · 06-17-2008, 09:44 AM

You could buy some tools and learn to do the alignment yourself. This would give you some opportunity to practice and experiment.

mav1c · 06-17-2008, 10:03 AM

If you said a couple weeks, I'd say it'd be OK, but a couple months is just too long, especially if this is a DD and you put a fair about of miles on the car each month. You'll wear the tires and have to end up spending money on new ones a LOT sooner than you should. Just be patient and wait for the camber plates.

rmo55c · 06-17-2008, 11:02 AM

I believe he's saying he wants to do the springs, bumpstops, swaybars, and endlinks right now. The camber plates will be later due to being backordered. I say do them all at once not only for alignment purposes but also for ease of install. If you have to put the rest on now cause you get too restless (I tend to be that way) I would think you would be fine for a month or two. Just try to keep the miles off your car. Or just do the sways and endlinks and hold off on the rest. Those do not affect alignment and are a separate install from the springs/plates.

Spoolin415 · 06-17-2008, 11:28 AM

Not to thread jack, but what is the general time frame to wait for an alignment as everything settles? Week? Days?

A couple of months is too long, I'm already itching after a few days to get my car aligned as its pulling to the left. And I second the notion of waiting, I wouldn't want to pull all that off the car again for camber plates.

***VSGTS14*** · 06-17-2008, 11:32 AM

you should asap because the extra wear on your tires will run you 500+ real fast compared to a 75-100 alignment.

mEnTaL · 06-17-2008, 11:33 AM

I would put the sway bars on right away as they have a significant improvement in performance that will allow you to wait for the camber plates, and then throw it all on.

**Turninconcepts.com** · 06-17-2008, 11:39 AM

Couple days - no problem. Double that - still no problem.

Couple of months - problem.

HapaM1 · 06-17-2008, 04:07 PM

Thanks for all of the input. I know that with the mass suspension change it would be VERY bad. I just thought that since the JDM pinks are very close to the same spring rate and only 2/3" lower that I might be able to get away with it. I don't drive very much.. Maybe 500 mi/mo. Just antsy to get started lol.

LuVJuGGs · 06-17-2008, 08:48 PM

You could do it if the camber plates are non lowering. Get an alignment then mark your camber bolts I use yellow touch up paint. And set it back to the same spot and your camber should be pretty good.

If the camber plates are the lowering type then you will need a 2nd alignment to zero in the toe

06-17-2008, 09:19 AM	#1
HapaM1 Amateur STI Driver Car: Siver 05 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	No alignment, sacreligeous? I'm a bit of a noob to these forums but have been reading tons of posts about suspension, etc. I'm planning to upgrade to give myself a small amount of drop while maintaining stock feel with some improvement. I'm getting JDM pinks, prodrive bumpstops, RCE lowering camber plates and some upgraded swaybars/endlinks. The camber plates are backordered so I'm wondering if it would be terrible if I were to put the springs on and not do an alignment for a couple of months. Also, should it matter if I have the swaybars on before an alignment? Help please. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

06-17-2008, 09:44 AM	#3
*sciolist* Spiteful Old Codger Location: Bend, OR Posts: 2,345 Join Date: Jul 2003 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: No alignment, sacreligeous? You could buy some tools and learn to do the alignment yourself. This would give you some opportunity to practice and experiment.

06-17-2008, 10:03 AM	#4
mav1c Professional STI Driver Car: 06 CGM STI Location: Hoodbridge! Posts: 459 Join Date: Feb 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: No alignment, sacreligeous? If you said a couple weeks, I'd say it'd be OK, but a couple months is just too long, especially if this is a DD and you put a fair about of miles on the car each month. You'll wear the tires and have to end up spending money on new ones a LOT sooner than you should. Just be patient and wait for the camber plates.

06-17-2008, 11:02 AM	#5
rmo55c The Next Petter Solberg Car: 05 WRB STi Fav Mod: PWT points. Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 953 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: No alignment, sacreligeous? I believe he's saying he wants to do the springs, bumpstops, swaybars, and endlinks right now. The camber plates will be later due to being backordered. I say do them all at once not only for alignment purposes but also for ease of install. If you have to put the rest on now cause you get too restless (I tend to be that way) I would think you would be fine for a month or two. Just try to keep the miles off your car. Or just do the sways and endlinks and hold off on the rest. Those do not affect alignment and are a separate install from the springs/plates.

06-17-2008, 11:28 AM	#6
Spoolin415 STI Driver Car: 07 STi OBP Fav Mod: Air Spencer... Squash. Location: CA Posts: 282 Join Date: Nov 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: No alignment, sacreligeous? Not to thread jack, but what is the general time frame to wait for an alignment as everything settles? Week? Days? A couple of months is too long, I'm already itching after a few days to get my car aligned as its pulling to the left. And I second the notion of waiting, I wouldn't want to pull all that off the car again for camber plates.

06-17-2008, 11:32 AM	#7
*VSGTS14* Muller Chevrolet Car: 08 Chevy 2500HD Fav Mod: a new 08 STi Location: Milford, NJ Posts: 9,844 Join Date: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (11)	Re: No alignment, sacreligeous? you should asap because the extra wear on your tires will run you 500+ real fast compared to a 75-100 alignment.

06-17-2008, 11:33 AM	#8
mEnTaL Grassroots STI Racer Car: 06 WRB STi Fav Mod: moar boost Location: Auburn Hills, MI Posts: 573 Join Date: Dec 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: No alignment, sacreligeous? I would put the sway bars on right away as they have a significant improvement in performance that will allow you to wait for the camber plates, and then throw it all on.

06-17-2008, 11:39 AM	#9
Turninconcepts.com Authorized Vendor Posts: 4,745 Join Date: Jul 2003 Trader Rating: (50)	Re: No alignment, sacreligeous? Couple days - no problem. Double that - still no problem. Couple of months - problem.

06-17-2008, 04:07 PM	#10
HapaM1 Amateur STI Driver Car: Siver 05 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: No alignment, sacreligeous? Thanks for all of the input. I know that with the mass suspension change it would be VERY bad. I just thought that since the JDM pinks are very close to the same spring rate and only 2/3" lower that I might be able to get away with it. I don't drive very much.. Maybe 500 mi/mo. Just antsy to get started lol.

06-17-2008, 08:48 PM	#11
LuVJuGGs STI Driver Car: 05 STi CGM Stg2 Fav Mod: Carbon Fibre Driveshaft Location: Ontaio, Canada Posts: 289 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: No alignment, sacreligeous? You could do it if the camber plates are non lowering. Get an alignment then mark your camber bolts I use yellow touch up paint. And set it back to the same spot and your camber should be pretty good. If the camber plates are the lowering type then you will need a 2nd alignment to zero in the toe This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.