Just had offset control arm bushings installed....

[etajohn]

I had this done at a well recommended shop and they say it doesn't alter the alighnment. But just looking at it makes me think it has to add toe in and I need it checked. I questioned them on this and they say they do it all the time with no problems. So what gives?
Thanks.

[arsevader]

Re: Just had offset control arm bushings installed....

I had this done at a well recommended shop and they say it doesn't alter the alighnment. But just looking at it makes me think it has to add toe in and I need it checked. I questioned them on this and they say they do it all the time with no problems. So what gives?
Thanks.

Offset bushings just alter caster, they do nothing for toe.

James

[rs4pro3]

some times it can change the alignement and other times no, Does the car still trac straight? I changed my CAB and the alignment was still good.

[alex]

They do alter toe as well. You need to have your toe set. Unless it was out of wack before and the mod brought it back to spec.

[etajohn]

Thank you Alex. I thought so. Yes, it tracks straight ahead but but that isn't the point. Too much toe in isn't going to make it wander or pull to one side. It is going to make the steering stiffer and wear out tires.

[M42Technik]

Do your alignment now.

My toe after the installation was around 1.6... which is retarted large. Should be as close to zero as possible...

[nando]

Should be as close to zero as possible...

that all depends on driver preference and what you are doing with the car. for me, toe out is best.

[alex]

Do your alignment now.

My toe after the installation was around 1.6... which is retarted large. Should be as close to zero as possible...

1.6 what?
Toe is measured in units of distance, for example mm or inches. Factory spec is few mm toe-in. For racing anything between 0 and very slight toe-out is preferred, how much depends on driver preference as Chris said.

[erik325i]

Factory spec is few mm toe-in. For racing anything between 0 and very slight toe-out is preferred, how much depends on driver preference as Chris said.

Can you educate me as to why toe-out is better for racing and why toe-in is better for daily driving?

[ed94r]

Front toe out sharpens corner turn-in response at the expense of tire wear and straight line speed.

0 front toe aids in straight line speed/tire wear at the expense of turn-in sharpness.

Front toe-in just sucks.


Ed

[erik325i]

Front toe out sharpens corner turn-in response at the expense of tire wear and straight line speed.

0 front toe aids in straight line speed/tire wear at the expense of turn-in sharpness.

Front toe-in just sucks.

Ed

So, why would factory spec be a few mm toe-in, as Alex stated?

[arsevader]

Front toe out sharpens corner turn-in response at the expense of tire wear and straight line speed.

0 front toe aids in straight line speed/tire wear at the expense of turn-in sharpness.

Front toe-in just sucks.

Ed

So, why would factory spec be a few mm toe-in, as Alex stated?

Straight line stability at speed.

James

[nando]

Front toe out sharpens corner turn-in response at the expense of tire wear and straight line speed.

0 front toe aids in straight line speed/tire wear at the expense of turn-in sharpness.

Front toe-in just sucks.

Ed

So, why would factory spec be a few mm toe-in, as Alex stated?

Straight line stability at speed.

James

and lower tire wear, but if you have a couple degrees of negative camber/you drive your car hard your tire wear is going to be screwed anyway.. may as well have responsive handling. ;)

[trent]

Re: Just had offset control arm bushings installed....

I had this done at a well recommended shop and they say it doesn't alter the alighnment. But just looking at it makes me think it has to add toe in and I need it checked. I questioned them on this and they say they do it all the time with no problems. So what gives?
Thanks.

Offset bushings just alter caster, they do nothing for toe.

James

As others said, completely wrong.

I have always ran 1/16 toe in front and rear. I only find toe-out helpful for autocross situations.

[arsevader]

Re: Just had offset control arm bushings installed....

I had this done at a well recommended shop and they say it doesn't alter the alighnment. But just looking at it makes me think it has to add toe in and I need it checked. I questioned them on this and they say they do it all the time with no problems. So what gives?
Thanks.

Offset bushings just alter caster, they do nothing for toe.

James

As others said, completely wrong.

I have always ran 1/16 toe in front and rear. I only find toe-out helpful for autocross situations.

I'll take peoples word for it but I still fail to see how offset bushings are going to alter toe. The bushing pushes the bottom of the strut forward thereby increasing caster. Unless you change the length of your tie rods, how does your toe change?

Just want to know.

James