Spike,

Since you seem to be a suspension specialist I need to know if these specs look right for a 2001 Lightning front end alignment. I need to have mine aligned today and I'm hoping that you can help me decide on what specs to use.

My truck is lowered 2" in the front and 3" in the rear. I have Herb's washers and the cam bolt kits to install too.

I found these specs on NLOC and would like to know if they're correct. They were listed under a thread about a *2000 L*, mine's a 2001.

SVT Spec:

L.H. Caster: 6.9 +/- 1.0 Deg.
R.H. Caster: 7.4 +/- 1.0 Deg.
L.H. Camber: -0.5 +/- 0.7 Deg.
R.H. Camber: -0.5 +/- 0,7 Deg.
L.H. Toe: -0.05 +/- 0.15
R.H. Toe: -0.05 +/- 0.15

Thanks,

Tim PS. I'm looking for a normal everyday street alignment.

 

I'm having my Hotchkis springs put on today and will be getting an alignment.

The specs you have are for any L.

I also have some specs that have been called "preferred." I thought I would give them a try. If I don't like it I will go back to stock.

LH Caster 6.9
RH Caster 7.2
LH Camber -0.5
RH Camber -0.5
LH Toe -0.05
RH Toe -0.05

 

Thanks NeedFourSpeed, anybody else use these "prefered" specs?

 

I screwed up! My appointment is next Monday. I was really looking forward to getting them on today.

Chickenears - The post where I got those specs also listed specs for autocross. The preferred specs seemed to be somewhere in between the two.

I'm guessing they are a comprimise between better handling and tire wear issues.

 

Nope! You can rest asurred that when I finally get around to getting a hotchkis setup, I will use the perferred and let you know what I think!

 

The camber may be a little low. -.75 may be better.

Andy

 

Andy -

Interesting, the Auto - X spec I have shows -0.7.

 

The reason I say that is my L wore out the outside of one front tire faster than the other one. The one that wore well was at -.75 deg

Andy

 

How soon after installing drop kit should you do alignment? I was told to drive for a bit first which is not to informative. I did notice the suspension settled.Installed BELLTECH 3/4 kit Friday and drove a couple hundred miles tops. Mostly puttin'! I really don't want to wear out the fronts as quick as the back! lmao Thanks!

 

Since you've lowered it, the alignment specs by SVT don't actually apply anymore, but they're close enough. I've adjusted the spec several times but unlike Ruslow, I don't have my own alignment gizmatron so it can get expensive. I've have run with -1.0 deg camber at the track and since my street tires only had about 2000 to 3000 miles wear left, I didn't change it back. Consequently, the tires didn't even last 1000 miles. Grip was better on the corners but I'm unsure how much it affected braking. With better brakes, I think that much negative camber would hurt traction/braking. The best thing to do is have it aligned and see how it feels.

Spike

 

Spike,

Thanks a bunch. I guess I'll use the SVT specs, since I'm more concerned with tire wear than anything else, but I'll talk to my alignment guy about it first to see what he thinks.

I just wanted to know if I was in the ballpark. Thanks again

Tim