Lowering and camber and all that malarkey...

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 1:24 pm

Quick question...

On November 25th my GTi will have her coilovers fitted

On November 26th is the Midlands meet for CP/UK-P, which is going to be, for me, a round trip of up to 150 miles? I intend to be there!

Once the car is lowered then obviously the suspension geometry is goosed and requires re-alignment , especially with regards to the camber as you will have seen from olop_chris' recent posts on the matter. I implicitely trust the guy who is doing the job for me to do his best to fix any camber issues before I collect the car, his previous work on my car has been absolutely tip top so no worries there.

Can I commit to a few hundred miles of driving before having had the camber, tracking and alignment re-adjusted?

I suppose this all depends on how low the car goes...

Cheers

olop_chris · Post by **olop_chris** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:03 pm

How low are you planning on going Si?

I wouldnt commit to driving that far with my tracking out, but as you know I had my tracking done when i lowered my car, but didn't bother sorting my camber out for a couple of months! Untill yesterday, now it drives like it should do!

Your just going to eat your tyres driving that far with the tracking out mate to be honest.

Alex_6n2 · Post by **Alex_6n2** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 2:32 pm

My tracking actually didn't shift when my coilys went on.

Camber changed a bit at the back but that doesn't bother me as it looks cool and enables me to go lower.

mk4 glx 1.6 · Post by **mk4 glx 1.6** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 4:19 pm

As Chris said, your tyes will wear surprisingly quickly if the install alters the angles vastly. Can you not get it corrected the same day, or is there not time?

Out of interest what coilovers have you plumbed for Si? I noted the purchase of new top mounts so thought it was inevitable

way_z · Post by **way_z** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:01 pm

how comes I haven't seen this car before, one hell of a sweet ride.. low'n'lovin it! subtle bad boy bonnet looks good

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:06 pm

Potentially I could arrange for the tracking to be checked on Saturday afternoon after the new suspension is on, I will ring round and check a few places. Would be after 3:00pm most likely.

I was of the understanding from what I have been told that the tracking would be way out after lowering, is this not the case then?

I bought Saj's coilovers off him, that he removed from his GTi. They are FK konigsport silverline X and are roughly 10 months old

I intend to achieve a similar stance to D-Dub's Polo, not sure how low his is but it looks great!

Cheers

Alex_6n2 · Post by **Alex_6n2** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:14 pm

way_z wrote:

how comes I haven't seen this car before, one hell of a sweet ride.. low'n'lovin it! subtle bad boy bonnet looks good

Because it's been a WIP for a long time.

That's actually a photoshop and it wont be exactly like that till my bonnet comes back from the bodyshop and the wheels get sprayed.

/hijack

Sorry Si

olop_chris · Post by **olop_chris** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:48 pm

Si, your tracking will be way out after lowering... Well it should be anyways.

DubGTI · Post by **DubGTI** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:18 pm

Tracking and camber will be out, but it could be a little or it could be alot.

Id assess the situation once they are fitted.

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 8:49 am

For sake of the Midlands meet I may well push the suspension upgrade back to the weekend of the 1st of December then...

EDIT: in fact I have now rescheduled the work for December 2nd, just for you Alex

ticki · Post by **ticki** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:49 pm

Will camber and tracking need to be corrected on all 4 wheels?

Silky V · Post by **Silky V** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:55 pm

When I got my coilovers on I took it down the very next morning to get the tracking done. It was out by quite a bit.

I would suggest getting it done before you make the trip.

ticki · Post by **ticki** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 1:18 pm

Silky V wrote:When I got my coilovers on I took it down the very next morning to get the tracking done. It was out by quite a bit.

I would suggest getting it done before you make the trip.

Would you know if the camber and tracking need to be corrected on all 4 wheels, or just the front 2?

jezmk4 · Post by **jezmk4** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 5:41 pm

ticki wrote:
Silky V wrote:When I got my coilovers on I took it down the very next morning to get the tracking done. It was out by quite a bit.

I would suggest getting it done before you make the trip.
Would you know if the camber and tracking need to be corrected on all 4 wheels, or just the front 2?

there's no adjustment at all on the rear wheels, so no

When you lower it, the tracking will stay centralised, but will either tow in more, or tow out more

150 miles isn't much, unless you set the camber like a retard when you bolt the suspension, when its easy to set them reasonably well by eye

i would however get it set nicely as soon as is convenient

oscar olop gti · Post by **oscar olop gti** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 7:32 pm

I got the camber sorted out 3 days after lowering my car. After it was lowered the spokes of the steering wheel, didn't line up where they did before it was lowered. (if that makes sence).I would recommend you get it sort before travelling that amount of miles.