rickw51

I've searched for threads on corner balancing, but have not had the time or the gumption to find the answer to these questions (from me, the neophyte):

What exactly is corner balancing?
Should this routinely be done with alignment for a car which is primarily driven on the street?

My thoughts are on this as I am getting ready to upgrade the car with new springs/shocks.

Thanks in advance for your insights.

Rick

chris walrod

In a nutshell, it involves adjusting dampers or shocks to displace an even amount of weight side to side, in a road cars case. Since the 993 has roughly a 40/60% weight split front to back, its typical to have a majority, or 60% of the vehicles weight on the rear tires. Corner balancing, in effect, is balancing axle weight, side to side..

Arrwin

Do you have to be sitting in the driver's seat during the corner balancing process as to get an accurate alignment?

911

Kim is correct... But, if there aren't any weights around, bring a book because you'll be sitting there for a while!!

Note: Cool, I just noticed that this is my 911th post. I may have to just view here for a while!

chris walrod

There are two schools of thought with this very question. For best results, one should have driver weight in the car. The other aspect is if you typically have a instructor with you, methinks its best to corner balance without driver weight in the car.. Call me stupid.....wait, dont do that

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Chris raises a good point and we always ask the customer how they drive their cars with a passenger and when they are alone.

Most (not all) folks do not push the car real hard with someone else on-board so we usually cornerweight & align the car with the driver's weight in the seat.

TomF

Interesting thread. I had not ever thought of balancing the car for two occupants. As Steve suggested, I rarely push my car hard when I am with a passenger. Now, for DEs, with an instructor, balancing the car empty makes perfect sense.

Paul902

Does corner balancing result in a height variation from side to side? The reason I ask is because my car currently has the FL fender to ground measurement about 15mm higher than the FL. It is currently on stock suspension, and I'm changing this over to Bilstein HD + RoW M030 in the coming weeks, but I am curious (and perhaps worried) about the current height difference. Could it be the result of the PO doing a corner balance, or maybe it is just set up all wrong?

ScottMellor

The corner balance COULD cause a fender height variation. In order to get the car to corner balance, it might not be exactly even.

Some high powered TTs can flex their chassis due to all the torque, I have been told.

911XTC

Paul, you shouldn't worry too much about fender height measurements. There is a fair amount of build tolerance in the body assembly. Even after you car is corner balanced fender lip to ground measurements can be off by a considerable amount. Ride height measurements should be taken from the datum points on the chassis.

Greg Fishman

Exactly.

Paul902

Greg/911XTC - thanks. I know the datum points you speak of. So, the process would be to install the susp with height according to the datum points, and then corner balance afterwards which could change these heights some amount?

911XTC

Rick, I notice you are in Portland, Or. If you are considering the Bilstien HD/RoW M030 set up this is what I have on my ’96. If you want to try to get together sometime I’ll let you check it out.

rickw51

Thanks for the input. 911XTC ... thanks for the offer. Let me know how to get in touch with you.

Rick

Arrwin

So is the recommendation to corner balance everytime an alignment is done?

I decided to drive into work today and probably shouldn't of. Hit a HUGE (new) pothole on the front driver's side wheel. I thought for sure the Kinesis rim was bent, but luckily it looked ok. Does this call for an alignment?? The car still seems to track ok.

How does one know when an alignment is needed? Any quick test I can perform to check [before the uneven tire wear]?