alignment after lowering - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

mjf12080 · 04-24-2017, 05:01 PM

Just put Hotchkis 1inch drop springs in my 2014 lfx. Brought it in for an alignment and printed off Pedders street alignment specs. Long story short shop called and said I would need a caster kit as they are unable to adjust the caster as it is. Just wanted to make sure this was indeed accurate and not a "bend over" charge. Order and installed its adding $100 bucks to my alignment...sound right or smell fishy?

SSEssence · 04-24-2017, 05:02 PM

When I installed my BMR 1.25" springs, alignment tech had no issues aligning it to spec.

mjf12080 · 04-24-2017, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSEssence

When I installed my BMR 1.25" springs, alignment tech had no issues aligning it to spec.

Was this to OE specs or Pedders alignment specs. OE Caster calls for 5.9 while pedders calls for 8.0

shibbs · 04-24-2017, 05:16 PM

I believe you'd have to oblong some bolt holes to get the extra caster.

mjf12080 · 04-24-2017, 05:22 PM

So would that require the use of eccentric bolts?

BlazeNGlory · 04-24-2017, 05:28 PM

Had a shop install Hotchkis 1" drop springs and performed alignment without any issues.

mjf12080 · 04-24-2017, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlazeNGlory

Had a shop install Hotchkis 1" drop springs and performed alignment without any issues.

Do you know if they used OE specs or custom? I guess a better question would be does anyone know how to adjust caster and how many degrees can you adjust with factory hardware?

Maiden69 · 04-24-2017, 05:40 PM

Pete frowns upon the use of those bolts... enlarging the holes on the struts is the more common way to do it, that's what we did back in the day before the eccentric bolts came out. I wouldn't use them anyways, if you put them side by side with the OEM, they are way skinnier as well, not taking into consideration the offset section.

mjf12080 · 04-24-2017, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maiden69

Pete frowns upon the use of those bolts... enlarging the holes on the struts is the more common way to do it, that's what we did back in the day before the eccentric bolts came out. I wouldn't use them anyways, if you put them side by side with the OEM, they are way skinnier as well, not taking into consideration the offset section.

Really? Unless Im mistaken Pete sells eccentric bolts

BlazeNGlory · 04-24-2017, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjf12080

Do you know if they used OE specs or custom? I guess a better question would be does anyone know how to adjust caster and how many degrees can you adjust with factory hardware?

Great question. I wasn't specific on the alignment so they may have gone back to OE. There's a lot of good info at this link regarding alignment specs from Hotchkis (as well as others):

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71994

1Coopgt · 04-24-2017, 05:54 PM

I'm just asking this to learn. You're only lowered an inch. Why do you need this custom alignment when there are thousand out there that are lowered 1.25 to 1.5 that are running just fine on the stock alignment .

mjf12080 · 04-24-2017, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Coopgt

I'm just asking this to learn. You're only lowered an inch. Why do you need this custom alignment when there are thousand out there that are lowered 1.25 to 1.5 that are running just fine on the stock alignment .

For the same reason people change brands of tires. The stock tires work fine but there are better options. The stock alignment drives straight and provides decent tire wear, however there are improvements that can be made.

Justice Pete
Pfadt
Pedders
Hotchkis

all have alignment specs that are different from stock. to Quote Pedders

"We determined our recommended alignment settings through street and track testing using the stock Pirelli tires. These settings are a great place to start, offering acceptable tire wear and grip in a variety of performance driving conditions. Driving styles, track condition, tire selection, tire pressure and most importantly tire temperatures across the face of the tire are the determining factors of final alignment settings."

KillboyPowerhead · 04-24-2017, 07:21 PM

Caster is not adjustable from the factory because the holes for the radius rod bolts (where caster is adjusted) are circular rather than elongated, meaning the bolts will just spin rather than move side to side. The tech is right in saying that he can't adjust caster. To adjust caster you need to drill/grind out the hole and make it elongated (there are actually guides/walls around the hole which would imply that the hole was supposed to be elongated, but never happened. Weird. With that said, you can simply elongate the hole yourself and extend it to the front-most guide/wall to gain more caster).

UBB · 04-25-2017, 08:03 AM

installed the Eibach kit and then took it to a shop to get the alignment done. Here are the numbers they gave me

04-24-2017, 05:01 PM	#1
mjf12080 Drives: 2014 V6 white Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: United States Posts: 183	alignment after lowering Just put Hotchkis 1inch drop springs in my 2014 lfx. Brought it in for an alignment and printed off Pedders street alignment specs. Long story short shop called and said I would need a caster kit as they are unable to adjust the caster as it is. Just wanted to make sure this was indeed accurate and not a "bend over" charge. Order and installed its adding $100 bucks to my alignment...sound right or smell fishy? __________________ 2014 LFX M6. Engine Mods: 80mm throttle body, Jac Fab Intake Spacer and Ported Manifold, Injen CAI, Apex cathc can, Dyno Tune by Performance Dyno NH. Driveline: 1LE Diff, MGW Short Throw Shifter. Suspension: 1LE front and rear sways. Pedders adjustabale endlinks, 1LE front and rear struts with Hotchkis Sport springs. Appearance: Painted engine cover & fuse box cover, Satin Black SS 20's, full IOM interior, ZL1 spoiler, Matte Black Stripes Sound: Alpine 12in type R, sealed box, 1200 watt mono amp.

04-24-2017, 05:02 PM	#2
SSEssence Instagram: Sangstah Drives: 2019 Camaro 1LE Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Buena Park, CA. Posts: 2,806 View My Garage	When I installed my BMR 1.25" springs, alignment tech had no issues aligning it to spec. __________________ 2019 SS 1LE - "CaSSandra" 2014 SS - "AleSSandra - Sold" 94 Z28 - Sold Follow the build https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=612717

04-24-2017, 05:22 PM	#5
mjf12080 Drives: 2014 V6 white Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: United States Posts: 183	So would that require the use of eccentric bolts? __________________ 2014 LFX M6. Engine Mods: 80mm throttle body, Jac Fab Intake Spacer and Ported Manifold, Injen CAI, Apex cathc can, Dyno Tune by Performance Dyno NH. Driveline: 1LE Diff, MGW Short Throw Shifter. Suspension: 1LE front and rear sways. Pedders adjustabale endlinks, 1LE front and rear struts with Hotchkis Sport springs. Appearance: Painted engine cover & fuse box cover, Satin Black SS 20's, full IOM interior, ZL1 spoiler, Matte Black Stripes Sound: Alpine 12in type R, sealed box, 1200 watt mono amp.

04-24-2017, 05:28 PM	#6
BlazeNGlory Drives: 2011 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: So Cal Posts: 216 View My Garage	Had a shop install Hotchkis 1" drop springs and performed alignment without any issues. __________________ Hotchkis Lowering Springs, Pfadt Balance Rear Sway Bar, BMR End Links, Cadillac ATS Front Brembo 4-Piston Brakes, VMAX Ported Throttle Body, VMAX Ice-olator, Volant Cold Air Intake, Magnaflow Resonated X-Pipe, Magnaflow Axle-Back Exhaust, JEGS Exhaust Cutouts, GM Strut Tower Brace, Hurst Comp Shifter, Heritage Front Grill, 3D Carbon Front Air Dam, T-Rex Lower Billet Grill, 3D Carbon Front Vendor Vents, 20x9 OEM Polished RS/SS Wheels Front & Rear

04-24-2017, 05:54 PM	#11
1Coopgt Drives: All Black 2012 1LS Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rochester,NY Posts: 2,042 View My Garage	I'm just asking this to learn. You're only lowered an inch. Why do you need this custom alignment when there are thousand out there that are lowered 1.25 to 1.5 that are running just fine on the stock alignment . __________________ Mods, K&N CAI ,VTC , GM Perf Axleback Exhaust, Elite Eng CC and CSS, GM Strut Tower Brace,Carbon Fiber Anvil Spoiler,ASC T5 Splitter,Gen5diy Foglight kit.

04-24-2017, 05:40 PM	#8
Maiden69 Drives: 2020 Orange Crush 1SS/1LE Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Boerne Posts: 150	Pete frowns upon the use of those bolts... enlarging the holes on the struts is the more common way to do it, that's what we did back in the day before the eccentric bolts came out. I wouldn't use them anyways, if you put them side by side with the OEM, they are way skinnier as well, not taking into consideration the offset section.

04-24-2017, 07:21 PM	#13
KillboyPowerhead Drives: 2015 Z/22 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 932	Caster is not adjustable from the factory because the holes for the radius rod bolts (where caster is adjusted) are circular rather than elongated, meaning the bolts will just spin rather than move side to side. The tech is right in saying that he can't adjust caster. To adjust caster you need to drill/grind out the hole and make it elongated (there are actually guides/walls around the hole which would imply that the hole was supposed to be elongated, but never happened. Weird. With that said, you can simply elongate the hole yourself and extend it to the front-most guide/wall to gain more caster). __________________ Overkill/Self Tuned; Mace Camshafts; K&N Typhoon Cold Air Intake; Ported 80mm Throttle Body/Intake Manifolds/Manifold Spacer; Solo Performance High-Flow Cats, Cat-back Exhaust; Vitesse Motorsports Throttle Controller; Elite Engineering E2 Catch Can; BC Racing BR Coilovers; JPSS Delrin Radius Rod Bushing Inserts, Sway Bars; Pegasus Aluminum Rear Cradle Bushings, Camber/Caster Plates; Z/28 Toe Links, Trailing Arms, Upper Control Arm Bushings, Rear Shock Mounts

04-25-2017, 08:03 AM	#14
UBB Drives: 2018 ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Bismarck Posts: 572 View My Garage	installed the Eibach kit and then took it to a shop to get the alignment done. Here are the numbers they gave me