The *before* measurement of the fronts this morning were -2.0* and -0.8* respectively. Which is way off from last year, when they were quite perfectly -1.3* and -1.5*. IDK why that changed. I suppose stuff happens when you drive.

Rears used to be -2.1* and -2.2* respectively. But after adding the rear spring spacers, that shifted to -1.6* and -1.9*... which is about what I expected, raising the rear approximately 0.6".

I'm looking at the car, and the driver's side rear is very clearly tilted into the car. On the upside, the wheel-to-fender fitment is absolutely and amazingly perfect (only on the one side), but that's not my focus here. What I'm going for is a compromise between negative camber and reasonable alignment. As it stands, the driver's side as too much negative camber, and the passenger side doesn't have enough.

Er-r-r-r-r-r.

 

Kinda surprised at the magnitude of change in a year for the fronts. If the roads in Rochester are anything like Cleveland, then I suppose a year of pot holes wrecks havoc on an alignment.

You could ask your alignment guy to put a dab of paint as index points to visually confirm how much deviation you have over time.

 

Ah.. That's bad. =( Not that it's a deal-breaker, but I want to keep boards inside rather then on a rack.
Even if I will lower a car for summer, I'd get it at stock height during winter.
Glad you confirmed about sport package.

 

Yes all the camber kits are the same between sedans, coupes, and 370z. That is quite odd that one side of the rear is so much off of than the other when both sides were raised the equally. But to be honest, I never left the stock camber arms on when I lowered my vehicles so I have no visibility into how they behave when the car height is changed. I think getting the front and rear camber kits are a must from the get go when lowering a vehicle whether it's a mild spring drop or coilovers. I don't think I can count the amount of times I have altered the ride height and changed the alignment on my cars!

The kits should definitely be the answer now that you see such variation with the stock arms. Hopefully you can get them quick and get the alignment into your acceptable range!

 

Thanks, Tony. I PM'd the OP of that FS thread for purchase of the rears.

I think I'm just going to do the rears... less expensive and where the most obvious problems are. And then maybe do the fronts next year, if I get the itch.

I'll probably let the dealership install them, too, since that's where I'm getting the alignment done. $89 seems a fair price for a 4-wheel alignment, much much better than other shops. Plus, the Sr. Tech there and I are on the same page, and he said it would only be a one hour installation. (Don't tell my mechanic, LOL.)

[edit] Just bought the SPC Rear kit.

 

ugh... My dealer (Herb Chambers) charged me $120 (think maybe 129, don't remember exactly) for an alignment this past Sat. I just agreed to pay since I didn't feel like going someplace else and there was air-conditioning at the coffee shop across the street.

Not sure if they did one before I bought it CPO but I only put ~2,300 miles on it since I purchased it. Boston area roads can be rough on cars though.

 

Yikes $120? I am spoiled because I get to go to a friend's shop to use the alignment rack there and do the alignment myself. Maybe that also accounts for why I'm a stickler at having the settings 'just right' since I am the one adjusting them.

Are there no Firestones or NTBs near you that offers Lifetime or multi-year alignments?

 

$120 sure sounds steep. I think that's what I paid for my lifetime alignment at FS. I think I've had it aligned 5 times since then and am going to try and go tomorrow again to get them to retweak my steering wheel.

I guess I should put on my summer tires too...

 

What are your guys opinion on heavy shift ***** causing long term damage? Similar to the concept of resting your hand on the shifter in gear.

 

I was already there and just was lazy. There is an NTB in Cambridge not far from my place that I can go to in the future. Not sure about FS.

With the road near me more potholes than not I would think I can def get my moneys work out of a life time alignment.

 

I'm in a similar boat here in Memphis, the roads didn't seem too,bad in my TrailBlazer but now in the G and lowered it's a whole different story.

 

Rex, i see you have lumen eyez JDM tails.. You got any pics on here of em by chance?

 

This stuff is amazing for our interior. It's on sale today if you've got Amazon Prime.

 

It's better than any similar stuff I've used to-date, I would agree. I started using it... last year, I think.

If anyone wants to pick some up locally, the brick & mortar availability for Aerospace Protectant is at Marine Stores (boats). Not sure why that is, but that's where you'll find it. I happen to have a store like that about two miles from my house that sells Aerospace products.

Looking at the Gold Eagle website, I think they're starting to broaden their market out of the Marina. Makes sense.

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/303-products

 

Thanks for the heads-up but...

I've got Amazon Prime and I just got wait listed. 100% claimed right now.

Sean