Alignment settings

[SVTinAR]

Due to the pretty severe tramlining, I rough-checked my alignment settings in the garage with a tram and caster/camber gage this morning. It has 1/32" toe out. Driver side camber was neg 1-3/8 deg and Pass side was neg 1 deg. However, as an after-thought I laid my big straightedge on the floor across the front of the car and it showed the floor is a bit high on the driver side. On a flat floor the Driver side camber would decrease and the Pass side would increase - so just roughly they are probably about equal at a hair over 1 deg negative.

Not to concerned about the camber but the toe-out does seem like an issue on the street. On the old cars I've garage lined the specs were always for 1/16 to 1/8 inch toe in. And any toe out was always considered an issue with wandering and poor directionability - although on a race course it can help with turn in and cornering response.

So what do you think - dial in a bit of toe-in??

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[JAJ]

Ford spec is 0 toe, so adjust it. Adjust toe-in by half a flat on both sides and it'll be pretty much where you want it. Move both sides the same amount or the steering wheel won't sit straight.

 

[SVTinAR]

Ford spec is 0 toe, so adjust it. Adjust toe-in by half a flat on both sides and it'll be pretty much where you want it. Move both sides the same amount or the steering wheel won't sit straight.

Half a flat - thanks for that. It may be a few days before I get to it, but I'll report back if it helps any.

 

[fpa1974]

Ford Performance settings actually prescribe toe out (0.10) for the regular GT350.

I attached the official FP settings sheet. I now run a modified version of the GT350R settings (-2.5 camber, 0.06 toe in FRONT, -1.5 camber, 0.30 toe in REAR).

 

[DocWalt]

Note, that spec is for road course use and not for street use. I'd run a smidgen of toe in up front to minimize the tramlining. FWIW When I switched from the stock PSS tires to RE-71Rs for autocross the tramlining was minimized greatly even with an aggressive alignment.

 

[Epiphany]

It was crazy watching GT4 Mustang teams setup their cars with over 4° of negative camber.

 

[SVTinAR]

Well that is strange - slight toe out for the street car and slight toe in for the R. Just the opposite of what I would have expected. I may try for 0 toe and see if I can tell any difference.

I wonder if anyone else has experimented with adjusting toe just to deal with the tramlining and published their results?

 

[fpa1974]

Note, that spec is for road course use and not for street use. I'd run a smidgen of toe in up front to minimize the tramlining. FWIW When I switched from the stock PSS tires to RE-71Rs for autocross the tramlining was minimized greatly even with an aggressive alignment.

I agree. This is why I also do the same (a bit of toe in). Tramlining got a little better and what got a lot better for me was the on center 'feel' for lack of better words which on the street, for me, is important .

What I noticed is that you can actually dial out tramlining more effectively with the right tire pressures.

 

[SVTinAR]

What I noticed is that you can actually dial out tramlining more effectively with the right tire pressures.

What pressures do you run?

 

[fpa1974]

What pressures do you run?

Anything over 30lbs front (cold) will improve tramlining to a degree. Now, if you go too high I do not like the vagueness in the steering that appears when tires get to temperature but that will reduce tramlining even more. With the above alignment and the FP springs I like 31F/30R or 32F/31R. Going with 2psi delta also works fine for me.

 

[DocWalt]

 

[Wine dude]

If you change the springs to Ford Performance on a GT 350 do u still use the regular factory alignment settings?

 

[fpa1974]

I am now using a setup closer to GT350R settings (-2.5 camber, 0.06 toe in FRONT, -1.5 camber, 0.30 toe in REAR). This will require a way to get that camber up front. For now I am using BMR camber bolts.

 

[Wine dude]

Ok thanks, that shouldn’t be a problem have Vorshlag camber plates up front and will be adding the Steeda rear camber and toe links when I change the springs, in addition to some other Steeda stuff, from there it will go to the alignment shop.

 

[Eritas]

DO NOT set your alignment on a garage floor. As youve seen they are not flat and vary greatly. That's why pro teams use adjustable scales and they spend a lot of time making sure the scales are level.

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