Charlie944

I just got the 944 back from getting a 4-wheel alignment, at a respectable and recommended alignment facility (usually does 911's). Tech. said front went well and had plenty of adjustemnt and was accordingly adjusted. BUT rear (been lowered using ecentric bolts to full lowered position to balance out the Welts 200# up front) camber ran out of adjustment, and was still NOT in spec. I have not examined the car myself. Is there anything I can do/purchase to correct this neg. camber problem. I was contemplating raisig the rear back up to give more pos. camber, but I hate the thought of riding down hill, but I also would hate to eat up my new Bridgestone Potenza's. Also this car is street driven approx. 18k a year.

TIA, any advice would be most appreciated!

P.S. Hello All, this is my first post and I would have to say this is the finest web board I have had the pleasure of being a part of/reading. You are all "Top Notch", the info here is invaluable!
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Doug Donsbach

Your shop is missing something. Especially a lowered 944 shouldn't have any trouble at all getting -2.5 to -3.5 degrees of camber in the rear.

Charlie944

Thanks for responding Doug, the problem I have is NOT enough negative camber, BUT too much negative camber. My tech said that he could not adjust enough positive camber back into to the rear to be within spec. Is there a larger (more adjustment) ecentric bolt I can install, or will I need to raise the rear end back up to dial more positive camber in so I will not wear out the inside of my tires in a few thousand miles? I am going to measure the cars ride height now. I will post results.

IPC

get a 2nd shop to look at the car <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

Doug Donsbach

If you only lowered the car with the eccentrics, you should be able to get the car within reasonable street camber settings.

What was the most positive he was able to get the camber?

Charlie944

Yes I am thinking a second opinion is in order here, as far as the how much positive could he get it; I don't know, he was at lunch when I picked it up. I asked if there was a print out and the person I dealt with looked and did not see any, nor was there a print out in the car. I will stop down there tomorrow and have a chat with tech who aligned my car. I measured the car just a few min. ago and the results are as follows:

From grnd. to bottom of door sills:

Drvr Frnt: 5 30/32
Pass Frnt: 6 6/32
Drvr Rear: 5 30/32
Pass Rear: 6 6/32

From center of wheel (cookie cutter with 215/60-15):

Drvr Frnt: 13 4/32
Pass Frnt: 13 3/32
Drvr Rear: 13 3/32
Pass Rear: 13 6/32

From grnd to bottom of rear inside control arm bolt in front:

Drvr Frnt: 5 7/32
Pass Frnt: 5 2/32

From grnd to bottom of torsion bar tube in rear:

Drvr Rear: 8 31/32
Pass Rear: 9 4/32

Thank You all for replying I will post what is discovered/hopefully agreed upon tomorrow. I have to go to work now.
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Charlie944

The section where the measurements are shown for the wheels are from the center of the hub to the bottom of the fender lip. Sorry about the left out information.

belz

Doug ...
I race a 951 in a "team" with 5 other 951's and we can't get anywhere near -3 to -3.5 camber in the rear!
The shop that does our alignments is owned by the crew chief for Alex Job Racing so it's not the shop ...
What's your secret? Seriously ... I need more rear neg. camber ...
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*Michael.*

Welcome to the board


You should really get a second look. I have the 250lb welts, the fender lips are about 1/2" above the tops of the tires. It almost looks like 0 gap between the tires and fenders. My mechanic had no trouble getting the rear wheels set to -1.5degrees. I have the front adjusted to -2.5 that alignment made a hunge difference...


Hey 500th post!! Woohoo I would like to thank all the little people <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Charlie944

I talked to the tech who worked on the 944, and he does not have a clue on the rear. He thought that the eccentric bolts to adjust the swing arms was also the camber adj. I asked him what the rear caster was set at, and he told me it is not adjustable, so I corrected him again. At least he was not a dick about it. They told me I could bring it back for free and they could play around with it. I am thinking NO! Hell I would probaly have to buy the caster tool from the dealer just so they could work on it. I am going to inquire with the dealer about an alignement, and also I was thinking about Midwest Eurosport, European Auto Ltd, and perhaps Becker Service in Naperville. I have heard good things about all 3 while searching the archives for a good mech. in Chicago.

Thank you all for responding!
Take care!!

Skip

The only available adjustments to the rear suspension are camber, toe, and ride height. No caster (wheels don't turn). Even with the eccentrics lowered, you should be able to get -.5 degrees camber. Most street applications are running -.8 to -1.5. It's not hard to adjust the rear suspension on the 944, especially if they are familiar with 911's (which confuses the situation, since they are nearly the same?). Be sure they adjust the toe also, which requires a special tool (P221 - they should also have this if they do 911's).

Good Luck!

Charlie944

Thanks Skip!!
I will ask them if they have the P221 tool. Also thank you for the range of neg camber for street cars. Yeah I was confused as well why they were having difficulty with the 944, seeings how they have done 911's .

Again thanks to all who have responded.