AWD Alignment Settings

[xEJ20x]

Note #1: All these cars use a MacPherson Strut as the front suspension.
However, Evos and DSMs use a multi-link rear setup while the WRX/STi uses a MacPherson.


Camber Settings - measured in negative degrees

Aggressive Street
Evo/DSM/WRX/STi Front: 2 deg
Evo/DSM Rear: 1 deg
WRX/STi Rear: 1 - 1.15 deg

Weekend Warrior
Evo/DSM/WRX/STi Front: 2 - 2.25 deg
Evo/DSM Rear: 1 - 1.5 deg
WRX/STi Rear: 1.5 - 2 deg

Serious Autocrosser
Evo/DSM/WRX/STi Front: 3 - 4.5 deg
Evo/DSM Rear: 1.5 - 2 deg
WRX/STi Rear: 1.5 - 2 deg


Camber Effects
Just Right:
- Reduced tread lift and wheel tilt
- Increased camber thrust
- Reduced braking traction
Too Much:
- Reduced braking traction
- Reduced accelerating traction
- Increased tramlining and crown sensitivity
- Excessive inside tire wear

[xEJ20x]

Toe Settings - measured in inches

Aggressive Street
Evo/DSM/WRX/STi Front: 0
Evo/DSM/WRX/STi Rear: 0

Weekend Warrior
Evo/DSM/WRX/STi Front: 0 - 1/8 out
Evo/DSM/WRX/STi Rear: 0

Serious Autocrosser
Evo/DSM/WRX/STi Front: 1/8 - 1/4 out
Evo/DSM/WRX/STi Rear: 0


Camber Effects
Front Toe-Out
Just Right:
- Reduced understeer on turn-in
- Increased steering input response
- Reduced toe-in under throttle tendency
Too Much:
- Braking twitchiness
- Straight line instability, especially over single wheel bumps or split-traction surfaces
- Refusal to turn, unrecoverable understeer

Front Toe-In
Just Right:
- Increased stability
Too Much:
- Wandering during braking
- Refusal to turn-in, or quick turn-in and immediate understeer

Rear Toe-Out (rare for AWD)
Just Right:
- Improved mid-turn rotation, preventing understeer-induced front tire overload
Too Much:
- Violent oversteer on throttle (some drifters do this on purpose)
- Violent rotation on throttle lift or during trail braking into a turn

Rear Toe-In
Just Right:
- Ability to apply throttle sooner and harder, more manageable oversteer
Too Much:
- Sluggish responsiveness and mid-turn understeer tendency
- Rocking, wandering feeling on turn-in; unstable and awkward

[xEJ20x]

Caster Settings - measured in degrees positive caster

Evo/DSM/WRX/STi: 4-6



Caster Effects
Just Right:
- Improved straight-line stability
- Sharpened turn-in
- Improved traction throughout turn

Too Much:
- Increased steering effort
- Increased understeer from mid-turn onward
- Increased torque steer

[CHAOS]

where r u getting this info?


for the record...


im running -2 degrees of camber all the way around

[xEJ20x]

Originally Posted by CHAOS

where r u getting this info?


for the record...


im running -2 degrees of camber all the way around

November issue of Turbo Magazine.
AWD Alignment guide by Mike Kojima and SPC Performance.

[TURNinCONCEPTS]

For autoX I've done the -1.5 camber in the rear. In my opinion it's too much. To get the car to rotate you'd have to really throw it into the corners and you end up losing quite a bit of controllability.

I would go -1.0 rear if you have a bar (24mm or higher solid), and -0.8 rear if you have a smaller bar.

for the front I've done all the way up to almost -5.0* camber and while it was great for the corners the braking and strightline grip suffered. This would be fine for a tight course, but for a mix of hard 3rd gear straights with sweepers and tight turns I would back it off to just under -4 at the most.

[xEJ20x]

Originally Posted by TURNinCONCEPTS

For autoX I've done the -1.5 camber in the rear. In my opinion it's too much. To get the car to rotate you'd have to really throw it into the corners and you end up losing quite a bit of controllability.

I would go -1.0 rear if you have a bar (24mm or higher solid), and -0.8 rear if you have a smaller bar.

for the front I've done all the way up to almost -5.0* camber and while it was great for the corners the braking and strightline grip suffered. This would be fine for a tight course, but for a mix of hard 3rd gear straights with sweepers and tight turns I would back it off to just under -4 at the most.

Thanks for the added input.

[CHAOS]

wanted to add, the reason alot of guys run more static negative camber on sti's is because of the suspension design... they run a big front sway bar and a good amount of front camber to get a bigger contact patch... due to the dynamic camber curve i think lolz

[peteyturbo]

Who did your alignment lol??
Can your car stop in the rain?

Originally Posted by CHAOS

where r u getting this info?


for the record...


im running -2 degrees of camber all the way around

[Wiisass]

It's so hard to put together something like this without a lot more information. Weight of the car, spring rates, sway bars, ride height, tires, intent of the vehicle and several other factors are really going to determine what alignment settings you want. So these numbers may be a starting point, but they aren't the definitive answer to what alignment you should run.

[CHAOS]

Originally Posted by peteyturbo

Who did your alignment lol??
Can your car stop in the rain?

local shop, ive known the owner for many years... and yes i can... when i had the re01r's it was fantastic.

[CHAOS]

Originally Posted by Wiisass

It's so hard to put together something like this without a lot more information. Weight of the car, spring rates, sway bars, ride height, tires, intent of the vehicle and several other factors are really going to determine what alignment settings you want. So these numbers may be a starting point, but they aren't the definitive answer to what alignment you should run.

agreed.

[evomike]

This is a good point to start but everyone drives different and everyone will setup their car differently

[xEJ20x]

bump for the addition of Toe and Camber settings....

[speifer]

Nice guide to general settings. I'd make it a sticky.