Irksome

Can anyone recommend a resource to learn about suspension and alignment settings? I have a very limited grasp of the basics, but I would like to understand the options and the implications. I'm not looking for any specific recommendations for my car at this time, I'm looking to educate myself.

Eventually, I plan to ask questions about what I should do, but if I ask right now I'll feel like I brought a knife to a gun fight...

fork_included

http://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Your-...6699617&sr=8-5

http://www.amazon.com/Race-Car-Vehic...6699617&sr=8-7

http://www.amazon.com/Competition-Ca...6699617&sr=8-8

and so on and so forth.

unfortunetly alignment is partr of a bigger problem, and until you can understand how it all playes through i would stick to OEM specs.

for one thing tires are designed for specific alignment settings, TOYO for instance recomends 3-5 degrees of static camber for best results, driving on the streets with 5 degrees camber is dangerous (esp in the rain)

also dynamic camber changes, is your car a race car that is nearly flat 100% of the time due to heavy aero and touring suspension? in which case your dynamic wheel movement is not as great, therefore you would plan less for what would happen if your wheel moves up and down 4"

as well as suspension systems, understanding how a particular suspension design works will help you figure out what sort of alignment settings could be made.

GUMBALL

These Carroll Smith books are simple to read, and offer very good explanations:

http://www.motorbooks.com/Store/ProductDetails_7105.ncm
http://www.motorbooks.com/Store/ProductDetails_6394.ncm
http://www.motorbooks.com/Store/ProductDetails_6394.ncm
http://www.motorbooks.com/Store/ProductDetails_6394.ncm

Jim M.

There are lots of resources on the internet, just do a Google search or a search on the 928 forum. A lot of the 928 owners do their own alignments and with just as much accuracy as a shop. The group in LA just had a tech session on alignment and we here in DFW just did one this last Saturday. We did six cars in a span of about 5 hours. We use a laser level for toe adjustments and a "Longacre" camber/caster gauge for that. In our case (all street cars) we stick to Porsche specs, but if someone knew what they wanted that was different than spec. it would be very easy to accomplish. The most important aspect is to ensure the turnplates are level so the car is level.

951_for_John

"How to make your car handle" by Fred Puhn covers everything from basics to advanced.
Published by HP Books,