Camber Bolt Install Questions! Please help sooner than later

jtrafidlo · 02-24-2007, 06:29 AM

Ok, yesterday I installed my RCE springs Front hardened strut mount and H&R camber bolts (the bolts were recomended to achieve better handling on this forum.) The rears were a no brainer because the two lower mount bolts on the strut are the same size so I put the camber bolts in the upper position of the two mounting bolts on either side of the car. The front was a different story because from the factory on the front struts there are two mounting bolts as well. The upper of the two has a camber bolt that allows you to adjust camber from the factory, the lower bolt is a standard bolt with no cam for adjustment and is of smaller diameter. I realized that the H&R bolts were too small in diameter to be used on top to replace the factory bolt and would only fit as the lower mounting bolt. I was told by JCS speed that these are the correct bolts. I also tried calling H&R and they couldn't give me a straight answer and directed me to their website. So I used the factory camber bolts for the upper mounting bolt as it was before and used the H&R camber bolts as the lower mounting bolts. Is this setup correct? Should I not have used the H&R bolts? When the camber is adjusted will the upper and lower camber bolts be fighting each other or working together to provide me with more negative camber? Please help me because I want to get the car alighnment done today.

Arrow · 02-24-2007, 07:02 AM

You have them installed correctly. The bolts both have cams that shift the steering knuckle relative to the lower strut mount, and in doing so, change the camber.

The bottom bolt should be set to it's maximum negative camber position and the top (oem) bolt used to fine tune the camber.

Last week I did the same thing you're doing now--RCE springs, group n tops, and camber bolts. When I installed the front springs I tried to set the lower bolts to the max setting, but I must have botched it because the alignment mechanic had to readjust them to get enough negative camber. I'm not very good at sussing out that kind of thing so it wasn't too surprising that I got it wrong..........

Be sure to let the alignment mechanic know that you have the aftermarket bolts, and give them the torque specs for the bolts--they get way less torque than the larger diameter oem bolts.

I am stoked by the RCE springs. They snug up the suspension but are easy to live with day to day.

jtrafidlo · 02-24-2007, 08:33 AM

Thanks so much for the quick reply, I feel a lot better. I was stressin!

FleaDog · 02-26-2007, 05:37 PM

Where did you guys buy your bolts?

jtrafidlo · 02-27-2007, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FleaDog

Where did you guys buy your bolts?

JSC Speed

crand002 · 02-27-2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtrafidlo

JSC Speed

How much rear camber can be achieved by the camber bolts?

Thanks

***KarlSTI*** · 02-27-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtrafidlo

Ok, yesterday I installed my RCE springs Front hardened strut mount and H&R camber bolts (the bolts were recomended to achieve better handling on this forum.) The rears were a no brainer because the two lower mount bolts on the strut are the same size so I put the camber bolts in the upper position of the two mounting bolts on either side of the car. The front was a different story because from the factory on the front struts there are two mounting bolts as well. The upper of the two has a camber bolt that allows you to adjust camber from the factory, the lower bolt is a standard bolt with no cam for adjustment and is of smaller diameter. I realized that the H&R bolts were too small in diameter to be used on top to replace the factory bolt and would only fit as the lower mounting bolt. I was told by JCS speed that these are the correct bolts. I also tried calling H&R and they couldn't give me a straight answer and directed me to their website. So I used the factory camber bolts for the upper mounting bolt as it was before and used the H&R camber bolts as the lower mounting bolts. Is this setup correct? Should I not have used the H&R bolts? When the camber is adjusted will the upper and lower camber bolts be fighting each other or working together to provide me with more negative camber? Please help me because I want to get the car alighnment done today.

OK, crap....I must have installed mine wrong then...I put them in the top hole to replace the stock camber bolts and even though I thought they were too skinny I used a jack to get maximum negative camber and torqued the crap out of them. They've held & work fine.....

I wonder if I should go back and do it the way you've done it.....

Here's a pic of the H&R bolt next to stock from my journal....

***KarlSTI*** · 02-27-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FleaDog

Where did you guys buy your bolts?

www.horsepowerfreaks.com

crand002 · 02-27-2007, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarlSTI

www.horsepowerfreaks.com

I appreciate the link but that doesn't answer my question.

***KarlSTI*** · 02-27-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crand002

I appreciate the link but that doesn't answer my question.

The link was for fleadog's question....

Sorry, hit the wrong quote....fixed it....

***KarlSTI*** · 02-27-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crand002

How much rear camber can be achieved by the camber bolts?

Thanks

With my set up I believe I'm just short of -2 degrees....say between -1.6 to -1.9 degrees. My next mod is coilovers with camber plates so these camber bolts will go to the rear....

MadMan77 · 02-27-2007, 05:52 PM

BTW, be careful putting any camber bolts in. This is what Subaru of Gwinnett found the other day while doing my 30k service and an alignment:

This was done by an un-named Subaru dealer in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Next time I am down that way I will be bringing this by and talking to their service manager.

azndc5er · 03-11-2007, 08:26 AM

Surprise surprise, my H&R camber bolts didn't come with any instructions.

Does anyone know the torque specs on these? Also, when using them in the rear struts, I ASSume it goes in the top strut mount hole and that the adjustor side of the bolt faces the back?

***KarlSTI*** · 03-11-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azndc5er

Surprise surprise, my H&R camber bolts didn't come with any instructions.

Does anyone know the torque specs on these? Also, when using them in the rear struts, I ASSume it goes in the top strut mount hole and that the adjustor side of the bolt faces the back?

Hmmmm my H&R's came with instructions. TC 114 torque to 140 Nm = 100 Ft-lb...

They go in the top hole.

***CGMDan*** · 03-11-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarlSTI

They go in the top hole.

I didn't think this was sex-ed!!!

Ok it's late and I'm tired. I've been drinking wine and it was the first ting that popped in my head. And no I can't get out of the gutter. I've tried.

02-24-2007, 06:29 AM	#1
jtrafidlo Silver Member Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: Pro Tune Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 360 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Camber Bolt Install Questions! Please help sooner than later Ok, yesterday I installed my RCE springs Front hardened strut mount and H&R camber bolts (the bolts were recomended to achieve better handling on this forum.) The rears were a no brainer because the two lower mount bolts on the strut are the same size so I put the camber bolts in the upper position of the two mounting bolts on either side of the car. The front was a different story because from the factory on the front struts there are two mounting bolts as well. The upper of the two has a camber bolt that allows you to adjust camber from the factory, the lower bolt is a standard bolt with no cam for adjustment and is of smaller diameter. I realized that the H&R bolts were too small in diameter to be used on top to replace the factory bolt and would only fit as the lower mounting bolt. I was told by JCS speed that these are the correct bolts. I also tried calling H&R and they couldn't give me a straight answer and directed me to their website. So I used the factory camber bolts for the upper mounting bolt as it was before and used the H&R camber bolts as the lower mounting bolts. Is this setup correct? Should I not have used the H&R bolts? When the camber is adjusted will the upper and lower camber bolts be fighting each other or working together to provide me with more negative camber? Please help me because I want to get the car alighnment done today. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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02-24-2007, 07:02 AM	#2
Arrow Junior STI Driver Car: 05 STi Fav Mod: the whole dang car! Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 65 IWSTI Addict since: Jan 2007 Trader Rating: (5)	You have them installed correctly. The bolts both have cams that shift the steering knuckle relative to the lower strut mount, and in doing so, change the camber. The bottom bolt should be set to it's maximum negative camber position and the top (oem) bolt used to fine tune the camber. Last week I did the same thing you're doing now--RCE springs, group n tops, and camber bolts. When I installed the front springs I tried to set the lower bolts to the max setting, but I must have botched it because the alignment mechanic had to readjust them to get enough negative camber. I'm not very good at sussing out that kind of thing so it wasn't too surprising that I got it wrong.......... Be sure to let the alignment mechanic know that you have the aftermarket bolts, and give them the torque specs for the bolts--they get way less torque than the larger diameter oem bolts. I am stoked by the RCE springs. They snug up the suspension but are easy to live with day to day.

02-24-2007, 08:33 AM	#3
jtrafidlo Silver Member Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: Pro Tune Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 360 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks so much for the quick reply, I feel a lot better. I was stressin!

02-26-2007, 05:37 PM	#4
FleaDog Professional STI Racer Car: 06 CGM/silver STI Fav Mod: DIY modding Location: Philadelphia Posts: 641 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (4)	Where did you guys buy your bolts?

02-27-2007, 05:52 PM	#12
MadMan77 Spec C Club Car: '08 BMW 135i Location: Centerville, Georgia Posts: 1,666 IWSTI Addict since: May 2005 Trader Rating: (13)	BTW, be careful putting any camber bolts in. This is what Subaru of Gwinnett found the other day while doing my 30k service and an alignment: This was done by an un-named Subaru dealer in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Next time I am down that way I will be bringing this by and talking to their service manager.

03-11-2007, 08:26 AM	#13
azndc5er Junior STI Driver Car: 04 STi Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 168 IWSTI Addict since: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Surprise surprise, my H&R camber bolts didn't come with any instructions. Does anyone know the torque specs on these? Also, when using them in the rear struts, I ASSume it goes in the top strut mount hole and that the adjustor side of the bolt faces the back?