[vampyr]

OK.. I'm new to some of these suspension mods I bought.

I know how I want to setup my suspension, but I'm can't seem to find anything that explains how to "use" the suspension components.

1.) I have a set of front RCE camber plates. So... how do I use them? I want to adjust the camber, but I can't tell what degree I'm setting them at, nor can I tell 'how' I DO change the degree of camber? (It seems that some of the stickys need to be updated with new links)

Yeah... I'm a noob and trying to learn more about suspensions and such. So I need some instruction on how it works. I wish there was some book I could read that explains how to 'adjust' your suspension components once they are installed. I have a few suspension books, but they're content is old and out-of-date (ie. Make your car handle)

[LOLSTi]

Go get an alignment.
The concepts in How to Make Your Car Handle aren't obsolete.

[CGMDan]

Technically you could change the camber yourself, but when you change the camber with the plates you are also changing the toe. Quite drastically I might add. So you are much better off taking it somewhere good to do an alignment.

[RaceComp Engineering]

Agreed. And you can have a good place "mark" two settings for you to switch from. That makes things complicated, but some people can make it work.

Any questions, you know who to call

- Andrew

[SWortham]

By the way, the marks on the RCE camber plates are not going to tell you what your actual alignment will be. They are just there for reference and once you get your car aligned you'll know what position it needs to be in to get X degrees of negative camber.

[vampyr]

Thanks.. but want to elaborate.

So is that to say that each 'position' has a set value to it?! How do you verify what camber you are at?
I read people saying "I'm currently at -.2.2 camber" etc... how can they tell?!

Also... when you get the car aligned.. don't you need to have your camber plates set at 'dead' center (or in the middle of the marks)??

Also... how difficult is it to change the camber? I mean.. can I adjust the camber inbetween my solo heats just by loosening a bolt and moving its position? Or do I have to jack the car up, etc...?

[LOLSTi]

The only way to verify camber settings is physical measurement (alignment rack or string method).

You need to do some research on what an alignment entails, and maybe even read How to...Handle.

To adjust the plates, you would need to jack the car up. However, adjusting the camber settings by a reasonable amount will also alter the toe settings, destroying any semblance of a competent alignment.

[RaceComp Engineering]

Originally Posted by vampyr

Thanks.. but want to elaborate.

So is that to say that each 'position' has a set value to it?! How do you verify what camber you are at?
I read people saying "I'm currently at -.2.2 camber" etc... how can they tell?!

Also... when you get the car aligned.. don't you need to have your camber plates set at 'dead' center (or in the middle of the marks)??

Also... how difficult is it to change the camber? I mean.. can I adjust the camber inbetween my solo heats just by loosening a bolt and moving its position? Or do I have to jack the car up, etc...?

Each position does not have a set value, but it's all relative. Remember, these plates can be used on a variety of cars, from WRX sedans to WRX wagons and STi's. So the plates will look different at 2.5 degrees on a wagon then it would at 2.5 degrees on an STi. Even the same model can vary car to car. There are a lot of variables.

The only way to tell for sure what your settings are is to have it measured.

Camber plates do not need to be set dead center....for max camber they're gonna be all the way in (towards the center of the car).

Car will need to be jacked up to adjust camber. Some people do slam the plates all the way in at autocrosses and then move them back to they're street settings. Just remember, moving your camber plates will alter your toe settings which can drastically affect tire wear and handling. Your street settings should be clearly marked if you attempt to change them. I don't think you should be changing your settings much until you understand the effects of each change. Keeping them at 1 setting will avoid a lot of headaches for you.

- Andrew

[boostedrex05]

Originally Posted by vampyr

OK.. I'm new to some of these suspension mods I bought.

I know how I want to setup my suspension, but I'm can't seem to find anything that explains how to "use" the suspension components.

1.) I have a set of front RCE camber plates. So... how do I use them? I want to adjust the camber, but I can't tell what degree I'm setting them at, nor can I tell 'how' I DO change the degree of camber? (It seems that some of the stickys need to be updated with new links)

Yeah... I'm a noob and trying to learn more about suspensions and such. So I need some instruction on how it works. I wish there was some book I could read that explains how to 'adjust' your suspension components once they are installed. I have a few suspension books, but they're content is old and out-of-date (ie. Make your car handle)

blue point aka snapon sells magnetic levels that stick to the wheels they allso have ones that bolt onto to lug nuts

[nandanrp]

When installing the plate, prior to alignment, what should the plate's position be?

i.e. if I install springs and plates, and get the camber bolts back to the stock position, is "0" easily achieved on the plates so that camber is at the stock position until I get aligned?

[CGMDan]

Since you're changing basically every adjustment you can by installing the plates, you'll just have to eyeball it or do a very rough "string method".
When I did mine I scheduled an alignment first, and did the plates (and springs) the night before.

[nandanrp]

Originally Posted by CGMDan

Since you're changing basically every adjustment you can by installing the plates, you'll just have to eyeball it or do a very rough "string method".
When I did mine I scheduled an alignment first, and did the plates (and springs) the night before.

I foresee a few days between my alignment and install days, and also I want to give the springs a few days to settle

So in other words, if I'm a 0 camber now (factory) I just need to eyeball it when I put the plates in. Fair enough.

Alignment would come days later, so I'm not too worried about it. I just don't want to be running negative camber with heinous amounts of toe-out for those few days.

[LOLSTi]

Good luck... lowering almost always results in "heinous amounts of toe out", though.

[nandanrp]

Good to know.

(Rob, sell me your plates! lol)

[CGMDan]

As long as you aren't driving any great distances, it shouldn't be a big deal. When installing mine I didn't adjust toe at all when eyeballing it, and I don't recall it being very noticable.