944 Spec alignment

[ronaldtrotter]

Front
Toe = 0
Camber = -3.5
Caster = Equal side to side (not a big deal)

Rear
Toe = 2/16 to 3/16 in, Critical
Camber = -2.5

I took these numbers off the 944 Forum. Before I get our car aligned do these seem right.

[Steve Grosekemper]

Caster should be set even and as high as possible to increase the front tire patch under braking.
All the other stuff is good for TT, but a little front toe out is nice for a tight AX track. WSIR takes a different set up (more left negitive camber) but all the rest of the tracks we run work well enough with this set-up.

[ronaldtrotter]

Thanks Steve, but how much is a little front toe.

[elcap00]

The setup that I have been using on my 944S is this:

Front:
Camber: -3
Toe: zero
Castor: full

Rear:
Camber: -3
Toe: 1/16 (in)

I feel that this has been working well for me but, I would be interested in seeing how other ppl have been setting up their cars.

[ChuckS]

Ron:
It seems that every car "likes" a slightly different set up, but most of the SPEC cars start close to what you listed. Also, the drivers style can affect what settings work best. Our car is -3.5 Front Camber and -2.5 rear. After two years of driving it, I now would like another -.1 both front and rear, but no more for my driving only. For Debby, I would leave it as is. Also, we eased off of the rear toe in a little (but I can't remember how much right now). My guess is around 1/16 tow in. Also, for some reason that no one seems to understand, I need to back off from full caster a little, but not much. Front toe is as Steve G. suggests - are you going to AX (+1/16 - +1/8)it more at first or big track (0) it.
Hope this helps!

[Steve Grosekemper]

Thanks Steve, but how much is a little front toe.

Chuck's numbers are good, but it is really driver dependent.
I like a lot of front end toe out so I can pitch the car and control it with the gas... some don't like the ultra quick twitchy steering especially on uneven fast tracks.

But Hey!... You've seen me drive!

[ronaldtrotter]

Yeah Steve I have and it's fast. On the toe for the rear is that 2/16th to 3/16ths over all or each side. I don't know enough to ask this question but my son who has done alignment asked an I couldn't tell him.

Chuck we are just going to AX until we get the cage put in. As of now we have the front suspension done. Rear shocks are also in and we are waiting on the bushings for the rear sway bar. We have the torsion bars (30mm) but they will not go in for another two or three weeks. I'm thinking of running it this Sat. with the front on full soft, just for some strange seat time and so I can feel the difference the T-bars and sway make.

[Dan Chambers]

Ron:

My old 944 set-up was:

Front:
-3.0 camber
Advanced and equal caster as Steve mentioned
1.0 to 1.5mm of toe-out

rear:
-2.5 camber
Caster unknown but set-up to work with the front set-up
1.5 to 2.0mm toe-in for stability

The car was very responsive at turn-in for a front-engine (944) car, and like Steve, I liked managing the oversteer with throttle work. The street ride was a tad twitchy in the front, and with the rear toe-in it was predictably stable/managable in regard to 'tracking' surface cracks. Like any car set-up for quick steering response at the track, you had to keep two hands on the wheel and drive heads-up when on the street.

I've setup the 911SC similarly, but have more oversteer due to old front struts (looking to remedy that real soon).

That was my set-up, but I haven't ridden with you to see how you like to drive. Each driver seems to have their own set-up based on driving styles.

[Steve Grosekemper]

Yeah Steve I have and it's fast. On the toe for the rear is that 2/16th to 3/16ths over all or each side. I don't know enough to ask this question but my son who has done alignment asked an I couldn't tell him

Well fast to get it sideways... maybe.
That's total, but if you are running stock rear T-bars you may want a bit more... but it doesn't matter until yo get the 30mm T-bars in.
Just get it in the ball park and have some fun.

[thunderbox]

We are just looking for starting points. The rear is not too important at the moment as the torsion bars will change very soon. The numbers that everyone here has posted look like a good starting point. Thank you.

[ttweed]

rear:
Caster unknown but set-up to work with the front set-up

So that was your secret weapon, Dan? You had 4-wheel steering on your 944? No wonder you could get thru the slaloms so fast!

TT

[Dan Chambers]

rear:
Caster unknown but set-up to work with the front set-up

So that was your secret weapon, Dan? You had 4-wheel steering on your 944? No wonder you could get thru the slaloms so fast!

TT

Shows you what I know about suspensions.

[Autobahn]

Last year I tried -4.5 camber in the rear... I can tell you for sure it does not work for most situations.