Camber

Jaybobsdad · Mar 17, 2014

Does anybody know what degree of camber would suit a road only 2.7 Lux
I have had to strip and rebuild the front struts after a previous owner botched a Spax adjustable insert install.
Last time I went into my local Tyre shop, they had a state of the art 4 wheel alignment system, but that went wrong and now they have a basic kit which only does tracking. They suggested i do the camber with a spirit level, and then return for a tracking session. Hmmmm. I think not.
This evening I have made a bolt on bracket to mount, don't laugh, A galaxy note 10.1 with an inclinometer app. I have tested it out on other stuff to check it ,and appears extremely accurate. I see no reason why this wouldn't work as it's only a degree measurement. I would be comparing the front angle with the rears for on car accuracy, as I will need to remove the front wheel. I will lower the front suspension onto a wooden block to re compress the spring to a loaded state. Whilst not ideal, I think I could get it either very close or bang on with this method. Am I missing something obvious???. I love this type of problem solving task and will travel to a more professional tyre shop if I can't get the result I want so I have nothing to lose in trying. Sensible suggestions welcomed

GlennS · Mar 18, 2014

Do you have the Porsche workshop manual for the 944? If you don't, they can be downloaded here

http://www.2010.cannell.co.uk/manuals/manuals_porsche.html

The factory alignment figures are given in the "Chassis" volume and will make a good starting point for a road car.

zcacogp · Mar 18, 2014

I can't see any problem with that method. Bearing in mind that this sort of thing is readily available:

... and seems to work, a digital spirit level would be a step up. Of course you'd need to have the car on a completely level surface, but most concrete garage floors are fairly level so that's no biggie. One of the things I'd be wondering is how you have held the 'phone accurately against the wheel/brake disk, as if the 'phone has a slightly curved side then it won't give a reproducible reading. I'd also wonder how accurate the level sensor and associated software in the 'phone is, but that wouldn't be hard to find out with a bit of googling.

Do you have a photo of the bracket you've made?

Oli.

edh · Mar 18, 2014

-1 is a reasonable starting point. Bear in mind that changes in camber will also change toe, and to my mind that is a much more critical setting.

Jaybobsdad · Mar 18, 2014

One of the things I'd be wondering is how you have held the 'phone accurately against the wheel/brake disk, as if the 'phone has a slightly curved side then it won't give a reproducible reading. I'd also wonder how accurate the level sensor and associated software in the 'phone is, but that wouldn't be hard to find out with a bit of googling.

I will do an in action photo when I do it if it works ok. I think a digital image would be less hit and miss than a bubbble in a tube. Having said that, The magnetic gadget looks just the job though.. My bracket clamps to the disc and just holds the tablet. It has 9" long flat sides plus the corner radius making it 10.1. You could probably just hold it against the disc to be honest but I want both hands free to do the adjusting.............. just been and held my tablet against the leading edge of the wheels, Rear are both at 0, front offside is at 0 and nearside is at -2.5. ooerr. I'll go for -1 and have it tracked. Bound to improve things though.

Hilux · Mar 18, 2014

I will lower the front suspension onto a wooden block to re compress the spring to a loaded state

Make sure the hub centre is the same height as with the wheel on.

I use an adjustable (in height) ramp with one of the below gauges and having done it twice and having then it checked twice professionally it is accurate but you must let the bubble settle for a minute or so.

Bear in mind that changes in camber will also change toe, and to my mind that is a much more critical setting

Agree wholeheartedly.

Jaybobsdad · Mar 18, 2014

The toe is the tracking yes???. This is well out at the moment and did get the car on the ramp with the tracking kit attached, at this point they told me they couldn't do camber and that altering the camber would alter the toe, hence why I didn't have it done at that point. What toe setting do I want. I don't trust them to set it right after the other day.

edh · Mar 18, 2014

Just find somewhere that can do both - it's really simple on the front of a 944. Any tyre place should be able to do it. (Many won't touch the rears)

zcacogp · Mar 18, 2014

Assuming you are determined to DIY-it and not take EDH's suggestion (and I can understand the appeal of DIY) ...

... if your device mounts to the disk then ensure that the disk is snugly up against the hub when you do the measurement. And that will involve putting the wheel nuts back on and doing them up, probably with some kind of thing to take the place of the wheel as the studs will be too long otherwise. Without the wheel nuts then the only thing holding the disk on is the single M6(?) countersunk screw, and that doesn't hold the disk at all firmly.

If you look at the photo I posted above then the wheel bolts have been re-inserted, presumably for just this reason.

Oli.

Jaybobsdad · Mar 19, 2014

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, Very helpful.
The closest place to me for a good alignment is 20 miles away, but a friend used them and they mucked it right up. He reckons that the lad that did it looked like he was on day release from school and that was only last week.
I want it done ready for the Rutland run but am having the old Gentlemans operation this morning (snip snip) and don't fancy messing around with it afterwards[

], so I'll be out at 8am getting it done so I can have the toe set up later on.

Jaybobsdad · Mar 20, 2014

All done. Tablet with app worked fine, kinda. Not a practical way of doing it as I found that it needed to be recalibrated every time you knocked it slightly or if the tablet went to sleep. Quite annoying actually. Got them both to - 0.8 and -0.9, close enough for me. Had it tracked today and drives nicely. Will get the whole thing done properly after the respray. Thanks again for all the tips received. By the way, bolting the disc down made a big difference, not something I'd have thought of.