Turbodan

I bought my car with cup car suspension and rear swaybar delete. I just had the car aligned and the rear feels a little loose. Is there anything different in the alignment setup that should be done.
at the same time my power steering was fixed so that also changes the feel, but I don`t think that is what is causing the feeling I am getting from the rear.
The shop that did the alignment is not familiar with swaybar delete.
any input is much appreciated.

lart951

rear swaybar delete?, this is a first for me, I have never heard of that, maybe it's a rear torsion bar delete?

Turbodan

yes sorry it is torsion bar delete. any special alignment. car has escort coil over suspension.

lart951

I dont think the escorts were designed for torsion bar delete, I know I did that in mine and they were bilsteins firehawk 650 front and 550 rear

Van

If you're in Toronto, look up Ernie at Mantis Racing. He should be able to help you.

333pg333

Never heard of either from the Factory?

Oddjob

No special/different alignment needed. But what are your current alignment specs?

Front/Rear spring rates?

Track car?

Can you better describe the how the car is handling and under what conditions?

odb812

Yeah, we're going to need more info to give you a good answer. Personally I like to use my alignment to maximize my contact patch and my springs/swaybars/tire pressures to balance the grip front to rear to my liking. You may want to try disconnecting a drop link on your rear sway bar and see if the car responds more the way you like. If so, look into a larger adjustable front sway bar and maybe an adjustable rear bar of similar size.

Turbodan

Ernie at Mantis did arrange the alignment...after repairing my frame damage from an off at Watkins Glen after hitting some oil and then armco.
the car is mostly track use. I have had it for 3 years and it always felt great. I don;t think the power steering ever worked...until now and the rear just doesn't feel as well planted as in the past (have only driven on street so far after recent work).
It probably is just the lighter steering that is giving me the lighter rear end feel. Thanks for the input guys. I will be testing it next weekend at Mosport.

Van

Your toe-out in the rear may be the problem... Ask Ernie to do a little toe-in in the rear, and a little tow out in the front.

You might also be able to put little spacers on the rear, if you have long studs. A slightly wider track will make it more stable.

Oddjob

+0.03" is about 0.07 deg, right? Positive toe should be toe-in, not out, correct? For sure, never run toe-out in the rear.

0.07 deg per side for rear toe-in is ok. I try to run more toe-in than that (0.10 to 0.15 deg) to help w/ heavy high speed braking stability, but you shouldn't notice any cornering balance problem due to that, especially on the street.

Turbodan

thanks for the input guys. I think I will test it again on the street in the next few days , but my guess is it is just a different feeling with the power steering working.

Duke

I agree, too little rear toe in.