Spring Settling

[clapton924]

Just wanted to share some info with you folks.

I've been having alignment issues with my car the past year or two...my rear camber has been reaching -2's within 6 months of getting alignments.

I called Ingalls today to talk about their rear camber kit; thinking that it may have been improperly installed by the shop where I had the work done.  

They guy I spoke with told me a few things:

1.  With an ingalls kit your camber should hardly budge...even if you hit big bumps and pot-holes. If your camber is really off something is wrong.

2. My problem with camber wear on my tires was most likely from my springs settling.  Springs will settle up to 1/2" in a months time.  

The past two years I have removed my spring/shock assembly and reinstalled them.  The next day I would take the car to get aligned.  This past year I replaced shocks and I noticed the rear was sitting about a finger gap higher than it used to a few days after. Today I noticed that the extra gap is now gone.

So I think I solved my problem....I was getting my car aligned too soon after installing new suspension pieces....my car continued to settle about 1/2" after the alignment....pushing the rear camber to -2.xx values.

I guess the best thing is to install new suspension parts....align the car a few days after if its really off....but then get it aligned again 4-5 weeks later.

Cheers

[timot_one]

That's a good practice.  It's common for new springs to "settle" after a little bit of time.

[MyNameIsThien]

This is what I usually tell guys to do when springs or coilovers has been installed. After getting the springs or coilovers installed, do a pre-alignment to kind of get everything in place. Wait about 3-5 weeks for the springs to settle in. Go back in for a final alignment. Recheck alignment every 6 months or whenever you feel like something is wrong or hit a severe pot hole or curb.

[Blackhawk]

This is what I usually tell guys to do when springs or coilovers has been installed. After getting the springs or coilovers installed, do a pre-alignment to kind of get everything in place. Wait about 3-5 weeks for the springs to settle in. Go back in for a final alignment. Recheck alignment every 6 months or whenever you feel like something is wrong or hit a severe pot hole or curb.

This is the best advice. I installed my Eibach Sportline springs about 2 weeks ago and they have already settled 1/4". I can only imagine how much more they may settle in the next month.

-JT

[MyNameIsThien]

It is always prudent to align the car twice after new parts are installed.  The first alignment is performed immediately after the equipment is installed, and the second alignment is performed approximately a month after the new equipment is installed.  This will allow the equipment to bed itself in and adjust.

Thats what I said. Haha.

[Skippy]

Post removed, Thien, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to repeat info or seem like I was upstaging you.