Lapping Setup Suggestions

[soloecho2]

I am looking at Changing the set up on my 2004 3dr ECHO HB Currently the car is used primarily used for comutting 185 km each day. The car weighs 1800 lbs. Tires are 195/50/15 Falken 912s and I am happy with them. Camber LF is -0.75 RF is -0.83. Castor LF is 1.4 RF is 1.41. Toe in 0.01. Any input is appreciated. Tires alternates in 195/50/15 or 195/55/15 ? Maybe change the caster to -1.3 if it won't cause excessive tire wear. Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks Again. :burnrubber:

[Tamago]

i'm pretty sure you cannot change your caster measurement.. did you mean camber? if so, -1.3 will not affect your tire wear to the point of damage. get that toe to 0 though. i'd recommend looking at the rear alignment, see if you can eke out a little more neutral toe (the stock toe is on the "in" side pretty heavily)

[rob323]

Funnily enough, I have two sets of stock Echo front strut tops at home and one set has noticably more castor offset than the other set. I'll have a look sometime to see if there are part numbers on them.

[soloecho2]

Yes I did mean camber. Your right about the rear. LR is toed in 0.15 RR is toed in 0.10 for a total of .25. Any idea how much would I have to shim the front of the rear hubs to zero out the the toe in ?? Sorry I made a mistake on the front it is toed out 0.01.

[Tamago]

put a couple stainless washers (one under each "lower front" axle bolt, the bolt that holds the hub to the axle) you should shoot for a 3/8" washer, should be able to get them pretty cheap. i run one each on the front lower bolts on my xA (same axle) and have achieved a toe-out in the rear. very slight, but made the car rotate much better :)

[bribri]

Hi Solo,I ran two washers on the bottom and had about -2 .00 camber front and back. I had steel 14" wheels w/185-60-14 A/s ultra high performance tires.You whipped my a-s at mosport. I have switched to one washer (botttom front) but had to lower tire presser in the rear because the car felt unstable in 120 km/h turns. I' trying very used falcons 512 195/60-15 on aluminum 15" rims at Cayuga on Sunday. Im thinking you might do better times with sticker tires, more negative camber wiit a smidge of toe out. But most of all we all need more seat time more then anything. Its the driving not the lap times.

[Tamago]

bribri, best thing you could do is never buy 512's again. out of every tire i've had on my car (at least 10 different brands/styles) the 512's were the worst performers. granted they were in a 205 55 15, probably not what you're running..

[bribri]

I found four 15x5.5 wheels for $60. Those tires came on them and the are worn to the markers. I'm going to finish them off at a small local track on sunday. They still grip better than the bridgstone 960 pole a/s that I have on stock 14' steelies.
I'm still a novice driver on the track so it doesn't matter which tire I use. How much flex do you get from a steel wheel compared to an aluminum alloy one?

[Tamago]

none, on either wheel, especially on a street tire