jeremyfrens

2004 305Z 6-speed manual Touring with 18” wheels

While getting new rear tires on Friday, I had the shop check the alignment on the car. They found that both the front and rears were both toed out at about -.15 and moved them in to factory spec of about .05.

This has drastically changed the handling of the car in a very bad way. I am starting to get a lot of understeer now at both low and high speeds. Corners I used to be able to glide around at 35mph are now tripping the VDC on the inside front tire at 28mph. On the interstate, the front feels real washy, and entrance and exit ramps are downright scary compared to what I was able to do.

I have done research after the fact and discovered that the toe-in is better for tire wear and helps keep the car straight on the highway, while toe-out tends to eat the inside edges of the tire and gives better handling going into the turns, which is exactly what I am looking for. I am really not worried about tire wear, and most of my street driving is to and from work, which is a short trip in mostly 30-45 mph streets.

On June 3, I have a SCCA Performance Driving Event and will be taking the car out to Gateway International Speedway for a day of high speed fun, and do not want to take the care there in its current condition.

I am looking for a set of alignments specs that people have found work well on the track for the 350Z with 18” wheels. I would like to get the car into the turn without losing the front end, and be able to push the car into and through the apex quickly without losing the back end. Before, I really did not have any trouble getting it into the turn, but had to measure how much throttle I gave it as I unspolled the steering wheel to keep the back in place.

If I cannot get answers here, could someone point me to a forum that might have someone able to provide performance alignment specs?

Here is how they changed the alignment:
Front Left:
Camber Before -.90 After -.94
Toe Before -.17 After .04

Front Right:
Camber Before -1.08 After -1.10
Toe Before -.14 After .05

Left Rear:
Camber Before -1.72 After -1.75
Toe Before -.18 After .11

Right Rear:
Camber Before -2.11 After -1.68
Toe Before -.07 After .11

Thanks for any help you can give.

DavesZ#3

iTrader: (26)

I moved your thread to the Autocross/Road forum:
https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-road-305/

You'll have a good chance of finding some threads there that discuss track alignments and a better chance of getting qualified help than you'd get in the regular Wheels/Alignment forum.

tmak26b

Toe out in the rear is very bad news, keep toe in, especially if you are new. I dont know how competitive or how good of a driver you are, but your setup should be fine with the exception of a mild understeer and slower turn in. Unless you are really hardcore, just save your money and enjoy.

jeremyfrens

Now that I am in the right forum, I have found the right post:
https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-road/246963-alignment-setting-for-track-day-recommendation.html

Sounds like I just need to keep the Rear toed in and get the front back to a toe out setting.

z-u-later

iTrader: (43)

Here's my alignment specs and it's a good compromise for my street setup & auto-x:

FRONT: -1.5 Camber, 1/16 Toe Out
REAR: -1.5 Camber, 1/16 Toe In

chishifu

iTrader: (5)

^ is that much camber acheivable on the stock bolts? or did you need camber plates? thank man.

z-u-later

iTrader: (43)

I actually have the SPC rear camber & toe bolt kit installed.

Kolia

iTrader: (2)

Make sure to wear the rear tire clean of the demolding agent before playing around with the alignement.

New (aka waxy/slick) rear tires will get the VDC to kick in early and mess your line down the turn.