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GF210s + SPC, scary drive home

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Old 06-07-2010, 12:06 AM
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bodayguy
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Default GF210s + SPC, scary drive home

I just got home and need to get the alignment done, but would that explain the car being a scary mess on the freeway?

We installed the springs and SPC stuff today and I had to make a 40-mile drive home. Maybe the rear springs weren't settled enough, but at one point the car hit a bump and I ended up half in the next lane.

It's kinda skittery over bumps. No freeway safe, for sure!
Old 06-07-2010, 04:40 AM
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NismoZ123
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You need an alignment... tires won't last long under those conditions..
Old 06-07-2010, 06:44 AM
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That does not sound like just alignment issue. If your camber or toe is even moderately off, it's not going to cause frightening bump steer. I say moderately because GF210s are not extreme lowering springs so OP should not be out of spec by much. My guess would be that if the dampener is tired, it'll allow the spring to recoil with more force than it should thus producing this type of behavior. What's the dampener and how old is it?
Old 06-07-2010, 06:46 AM
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what SPC parts did you install? new arms and or toe bolts could put you far from spec
Old 06-07-2010, 07:57 AM
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^ +1, same thing i was thinking.

Springs have nothing to do with it, except maybe a little more camber/toe, its the arms/bolts that will put you far out of spec.

If installing arms, you should get an inital alignment right afterwards imho, pref before driving. Then get another once the springs settle.

Last edited by GeauxLadyZ; 06-07-2010 at 07:59 AM.
Old 06-07-2010, 07:59 AM
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Z1 Performance
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Originally Posted by GeauxLadyZ
^ +1, same thing i was thinking.

Springs have nothing to do with it, except maybe a little more camber/toe, its the arms/bolts that will put you far out of spec.

If installing arms, you should get an inital alignment right afterwards, pref before driving. Then get another once the springs settle.
springs affect both camber and toe, since you cannot change one without changing the other
Old 06-07-2010, 08:08 AM
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bodayguy
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Yeah it has the spc camber arm on the rear. It's just a little wild back there at highway speed. Car actually was riding great at less speed. I'm hoping it's just the toe bolts and arm needing the alignment.
Old 06-07-2010, 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Z1 Performance
springs affect both camber and toe, since you cannot change one without changing the other
^ Thats what i said...?

Originally Posted by GeauxLadyZ
Springs have nothing to do with it, except maybe a little more camber/toe, its the arms/bolts that will put you far out of spec.

The point was that installed/undialed arms/bolts would be more of a reason why he might be way out of spec... he wont get too much - camber ( and therefore toe also) from GF210's.

Last edited by GeauxLadyZ; 06-07-2010 at 08:13 AM.
Old 06-07-2010, 08:17 AM
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o2sys
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You definately threw the specs out of whack, when i installed my camber arms and my trip to the alignment shop was scary, any bump the tail of the car would wiggle...at the shop my toe was 42 degrees one the left and 1.03 degree on the right.

I actually didn't install the toe bolt, i tried to, couldn't fit the dremel in there so gave up.

With Tokico Springs and Ichiba Camber arms, i was able to achieve 10 degree toe with 1.8 degree of camber...the rear still wiggles slightly on bumps though...
Old 06-07-2010, 08:19 AM
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bodayguy
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Thanks. That's exactly what I felt. Scared the s&@t out of me for a bit.
Old 06-07-2010, 09:46 AM
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bodayguy
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We got it dremeled alright (that's a weird back hole to get) and the SPC toe bolt in there but obviously had no idea how much to tighten it. I'm hoping that's the issue.
Old 06-07-2010, 11:36 AM
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o2sys
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The recommended setting by NISSAN is .08 degrees, i got .10 and I am still getting a slit "wiggle" when i go over bumps...its Toe this sensitive?
Old 06-07-2010, 06:09 PM
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OP, come back and post your alignment specs before and after and let us know if alignment was indeed the issue.
Old 06-07-2010, 07:06 PM
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bodayguy
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Will do, Ziggy, although I don't want to come across as the "enthusiast who reads the internet too much" guy at the shop, haha
Old 06-08-2010, 01:45 AM
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Originally Posted by bodayguy
Will do, Ziggy, although I don't want to come across as the "enthusiast who reads the internet too much" guy at the shop, haha
That's OK. You secret will be safe with us. We won't tell
Old 06-08-2010, 07:47 PM
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bodayguy
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I'll see if I can scan in the settings sheet they gave me, but long story short, one of the rear camber arms had the bolts a little loose and the camber/toe was WAYYY off. Like two or three degrees.

Runs perfect now!
Old 06-09-2010, 11:09 PM
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bodayguy
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Here's the alignment sheet. Obviously, no front camber arms, so that's out of spec.



I'm definitely curious if the SPC rear toe bolts come loose easily. Just in daily driving, we'll see.
Old 06-10-2010, 06:35 AM
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o2sys
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a moderator in this forum had reported that they do come out of spec over time....the only way to fix this is to lock them im with square washers and get true coils with toe arms...
Old 06-11-2010, 10:25 AM
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ROM350Z
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my car did the same thing after lowering it on sportlines (similar drop) and the spc rear camber kit. turns out when i went in for an alignment my toe was waay off in the rear and my rear sway bar was loose. Tightened the brackets on the rear sway bar and did the alignment and the car was perfect once again.
Old 06-11-2010, 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by bodayguy
Here's the alignment sheet. Obviously, no front camber arms, so that's out of spec.



I'm definitely curious if the SPC rear toe bolts come loose easily. Just in daily driving, we'll see.
Over time, yes. You need lockout washers broheem.
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