Track Alignment / Camber Arms

[krisk]

I’ve read threads in several forums regarding track alignments for the S550 and S650, but I still am looking for some input for my situation. I am hoping some people with much more experience than me can help me out.

Here's some background. I have a 24 GT PP with MagneRide, and I've added several Steeda suspension components including progressive lowering springs, adjustable sway bars and front camber plates. I am new to tracking my car, and I have only taken my car to The FIRM in Starke, Florida. That is where I plan to track my car 90% of the time. Jamie with Steeda in Valdosta, GA did my alignment a couple months back after my first track day, a copy of which I have attached. He did say he didn't set the specs too aggressive since I would also be driving my car on the street. I don't daily drive my car, but I do put a few thousand miles a year on it just driving around, so I don't want to run an aggressive track alignment on the street. I have since purchased the Longacre digital caster camber gauge kit to enable me to adjust the alignment from track to street use, so I don’t have to worry about being conservative on the track alignment just so it’s ok for the street.

My question concerns what the ideal alignment for my setup would be for running at The FIRM. The front camber is no big deal to adjust since I have the camber plates, but I don't have any camber arm installed in the rear. I know camber in the rear can be adjusted from the factory, but I understand it is a real pain to do and is limited to round -2.0. The second part of my question is whether I should add rear camber arms, and if so, what are people's recommendations for brands? I've looked at Steeda (which seems to be the most expensive), MMR and AAD. I like the AAD design because it looks like it would be easiest to switch between track and street specs once I got everything dialed in.

I appreciate any input those with track experience can provide.

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[JAL]

I’ve read threads in several forums regarding track alignments for the S550 and S650, but I still am looking for some input for my situation. I am hoping some people with much more experience than me can help me out.

Here's some background. I have a 24 GT PP with MagneRide, and I've added several Steeda suspension components including progressive lowering springs, adjustable sway bars and front camber plates. I am new to tracking my car, and I have only taken my car to The FIRM in Starke, Florida. That is where I plan to track my car 90% of the time. Jamie with Steeda in Valdosta, GA did my alignment a couple months back after my first track day, a copy of which I have attached. He did say he didn't set the specs too aggressive since I would also be driving my car on the street. I don't daily drive my car, but I do put a few thousand miles a year on it just driving around, so I don't want to run an aggressive track alignment on the street. I have since purchased the Longacre digital caster camber gauge kit to enable me to adjust the alignment from track to street use, so I don’t have to worry about being conservative on the track alignment just so it’s ok for the street.

My question concerns what the ideal alignment for my setup would be for running at The FIRM. The front camber is no big deal to adjust since I have the camber plates, but I don't have any camber arm installed in the rear. I know camber in the rear can be adjusted from the factory, but I understand it is a real pain to do and is limited to round -2.0. The second part of my question is whether I should add rear camber arms, and if so, what are people's recommendations for brands? I've looked at Steeda (which seems to be the most expensive), MMR and AAD. I like the AAD design because it looks like it would be easiest to switch between track and street specs once I got everything dialed in.

I appreciate any input those with track experience can provide.

This looks pretty ideal to me with street tires (up to, say, 200TW compounds)
I use the same specs, except I have zero toe out in the front and 2 degrees of camber in the back (with stock camber arms).
I drive to and from the track with this alignment and have been doing this for years with no uneven wear.
Of you go to trackmustangsonline.com you will find that this setup is the consensus for our cars.
What is desirable is more front camber, especially as you become better on the track. 3.5 degrees and I see 4 degrees camber up front, + max caster, zero or very slight toe out (wears tires fast but improves driveability/stability).
Your rear looks good to me.
The way to get more camber up front (beyond what camber plates alone will give you) is with SPL adjustable control arms, or by enlarging the hole in the strut tower or both.
I assume you have maxed out the tire width on the car with 305 wide tires all around? It's possible to get wider but this width is the typical go to solution for track Mustangs, unless competing in series that have tire restrictions.

 

[krisk]

This looks pretty ideal to me with street tires (up to, say, 200TW compounds)
I use the same specs, except I have zero toe out in the front and 2 degrees of camber in the back (with stock camber arms).
I drive to and from the track with this alignment and have been doing this for years with no uneven wear.
Of you go to trackmustangsonline.com you will find that this setup is the consensus for our cars.
What is desirable is more front camber, especially as you become better on the track. 3.5 degrees and I see 4 degrees camber up front, + max caster, zero or very slight toe out (wears tires fast but improves driveability/stability).
Your rear looks good to me.
The way to get more camber up front (beyond what camber plates alone will give you) is with SPL adjustable control arms, or by enlarging the hole in the strut tower or both.
I assume you have maxed out the tire width on the car with 305 wide tires all around? It's possible to get wider but this width is the typical go to solution for track Mustangs, unless competing in series that have tire restrictions.

Thank you for the reply and information. What you have said lines up with what I seem to be finding in my research in that these settings are fine, but nearer the lower side of negative camber front and rear.

I think I can probably get the front to around a -3.0 camber, but what I wasn’t sure about if it would be a good idea to increase the negative camber in the front if I didn’t also in the back. From what I’ve been reading it sounds like keeping the rear within 1-1.5 degrees is usually what is done.

I’m running the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 with 295/35r19 rear on 19x11 and 275/35r19 front on 19x10. When I bought the wheels I wasn’t thinking about using them on the track, so I may buy another set of 19x11 for the front and run them with a spacer. I would like to run a square setup just for the ability to rotate the tires. I went with 295/35 because the 305/35 are limited in selection and from reading it sounds as though using the widest possible wheel for the tire improves handling on the track.

Again, thanks for the input and I welcome any other suggestions. I’m still unsure of whether I should look to increase the front and rear negative camber at this point or just stick with these settings until I have some more experience.

Also, I just signed up for a track day at Atlanta Motorsports Park for next month, so it will be a new track experience for me.

 

[JAL]

Yes, if you track the car a lot, 4 identical wheels with the same offset and a slide on spacer up front, GT4 studs to enable sufficient thread engagement (OP Mustang has them) and you're good to go. I wouldn't change the alignment before your first track day.
For part of my first season I used bolt-on spacers, but the track folks convinced me to get the proper studs and a slide on spacer for safety reasons.

 

[krisk]

Yes, if you track the car a lot, 4 identical wheels with the same offset and a slide on spacer up front, GT4 studs to enable sufficient thread engagement (OP Mustang has them) and you're good to go. I wouldn't change the alignment before your first track day.
For part of my first season I used bolt-on spacers, but the track folks convinced me to get the proper studs and a slide on spacer for safety reasons.

Thank you!

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