Alignment after replacement

[Kowalske]

This is going to sound like a really stupid question, but I am going to post it anyway. I am very new to the aftermarket suspension conversation. I am looking to replace the suspension on my 01 Civic Coupe. This is a daily driver and right now I am considering either a Tokico HP Kit or possibly Tokico's with Tein Tech S Springs. In any event, I am planning on swapping the suspension myself. Once I am done, do I need to take the car to a shop to have a computerized alignment done? The HP Kit is suppose to lower about 1" and the Teins say about 1.5". Can I make the adjuments myself?

[LVApex]

I have an 01 ex... :P

And Yes you are going to have to get an alignment after loweing the car, The nose will toe in signifigantly... and Toe eats tires 10X faster then just about any amount of camber.


and if you are interested I could offer up some more performance based alignments... the OEM one is really only good for two things. 1, maximizing tire life and 2. makeing you understeer.

[Kowalske]

Thanks for response. Two things. First, would I need an alignment if I just replaced the struts with some Tokico Blues and left the factory springs? Also, can you post the specs you were referring to? Is this information I can give the shop doing the alignment ot help guide their adjustments?? Thanks.

[LVApex]

It would be a good idea to get an alignment after swapping struts, no telling what bolts may have slipped.

for the alignment, you could ask if they will do a Non OEM alignment. Some shops will some wont. some will tell you they will and then give you an OEM alignment any ways (thinking they are saveing your butt)... This is the primary reason I started doing my own alignments.

Any ways, for a good street setup, I'd be looking to run any where between -1 and -1.5 deg camber on the nose, and between -.25 and -.5 on the rear. For toe... go with the OEM settings, as tweaking toe out side of the OEM will drastically cut in to tire longevity. For caster, As much positive caster on the nose as they can manage... its Officially not adjustible, but they may be able to increase it with bolt slop.

[Greenblurr93]

how bad will the neg camber hurt you tires?

[LVApex]

Originally Posted by Greenblurr93

how bad will the neg camber hurt you tires?

Not a whole lot.... The OEM alignment calls for a minimum of 0 Camber and a maximum of .75 on the nose Vs a minimum of .5 and a maximum of -1.5 on the rear.


Toe however, will eat tires 10X faster then just about any amount of negitive camber. and form personal experiance, people often mistake toe wear for camber wear, which is why there is a general concern about camber... when you really should be worried about toe. its not supprising though, given that you can see how much camber you have by just looking at the wheel, where as you cant see toe with out putting it up on a rack.

[Greenblurr93]

cool, well im due for tires and an alignment anyway.. ill let them know to leave a little neg camber.