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Author Topic: Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!  (Read 7946 times)

Offline Kregiel

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Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!
« on: May 05, 2012, 11:13:32 pm »
Hi Guys,

Got my car wheels laser aligned and pretty happy with the result. However had a chat with the guys at the garage and they set up all measures per manufacturer's guidelines. However he mentioned that some peeps with performance cars bring their own figures. Was wondering if we have here perhaps tried and tested set of measures I could bring to my garage?

I know increasing camber will give better traction and cornering but if overdone on a road car will cause tires to be worn unevenly. So what's optimal on a road car?

What are your setting for road/track? We have plenty of track experience here

Cheers
Paul
Red 2008 GTI, H&R ARB, b12 suspension, walk, milltek non-res full exhaust, forge IC, tarox 10 pot big brake kit, RS4 valve, Forge SSK, Autotech HPFP, Xenons, K04 Turbo, Quaife LSD, South Bend stage 3 Daily with SMF clutch, XB and UB Unibraces

Offline Sammy

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Re: Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2012, 02:06:46 am »
Interesting  :popcornsoda:
GTI MK5 with all the gooodies

K04 power going on soon!

Offline gazon69

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Re: Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2012, 09:02:07 am »
I asked this question a few weeks back which no one could come up with an answer so would be very interested in this.Gonna get mine done next week so would be very interesting.

Offline rich83

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Re: Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2012, 09:29:50 am »
I suppose its all a personal choice. Some will like it setup one way and others a different set of values.

Offline fab5freddy

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Re: Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2012, 10:25:39 am »
I suppose its all a personal choice. Some will like it setup one way and others a different set of values.

As Rich says. Some like 5 mins toe in, some will go for 5 mins toe out. Your front camber isn't adjustable unless you have the TT lower arms with the adjustable ball joints. Camber won't ruin your tyres if your toe is set correctly. I've had - 2 mins 35 degrees camber for 20k now and no abnormal tyre wear  :happy2: there's no fixed generic settings on a modded car I feel, people have different suspension, so will require different settings

I think it's really a case of finding the right set up for you. Get set up drive it, see how it feels, if it doesn't feel right, get it back in. I was in four times to get the right set up for me. Yes it costs a few quid, but you'll have a better understanding of how to set your car up and any time you get a new suspension mod you now what settings you want when back up for alignment.

A good set up makes such a difference to the handling of your car and recommend people take care of it.  :innocent:

Offline Kregiel

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Re: Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2012, 11:09:49 am »
Would it be beneficial for everybody if all could post wheel alignment charts with some commentary similar that we have for power charts? Handling is the most important thing even above power I would argue as even with standard gti and proper suspension set up the driving experience is much more rewarding then 350 bhp with poor handling set up.

I will post mine later on today with my impressions

What do you all think?

Also which parametres could be adjusted on standard gti? Which could be adjusted with some mods? I don't mean on dumpers as we all know rebound etc with aftermarket but on wheel alignment front itself
Here is what i gathered based on everybodys input so far and we if divide each parametre like that - parametre name, is it adjustable on stndard gti? what mod would enable that? explanation of what for example caster is and how it affects handling?

1. CAMBER STANDARD GTI camber no? MOD TO ENABLE THAT TT arms installed yes, WHAT CAMBER DOES DEFINITION??
2. TOE STANDARD GTI toe yes, WHAT TOE DOES AND HOW AFFECT HANDLING? DEFINITION/EXPLANATION
3. CASTER ??

Does anybody can explain or maybe post a link to some technical www site which explains all parametres with pics etc??

What do you all think?

Paul
Red 2008 GTI, H&R ARB, b12 suspension, walk, milltek non-res full exhaust, forge IC, tarox 10 pot big brake kit, RS4 valve, Forge SSK, Autotech HPFP, Xenons, K04 Turbo, Quaife LSD, South Bend stage 3 Daily with SMF clutch, XB and UB Unibraces

Offline Tfsi_Mike

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Re: Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2012, 11:30:32 am »

Alex @ AKS is very good at geometry on these Chassis.

Mine handles fantastic after his recent setup (I have KW coilover, Neuspeed f&r ARBs, superPro console inserts like the WALK, Whiteline bumpsteer kit, TTs lower arms, vibratechnics dogbone bush, think that's it lol)

Alex too me and Sy out in his Octavia estate and the turn in and grip were outstanding!  :driver:  (He has adjustable top mounts on top of my spec)  How something that big can be so agile & grip so well is awesome!


Offline gazon69

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Re: Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2012, 01:17:40 pm »

Alex @ AKS is very good at geometry on these Chassis.

Mine handles fantastic after his recent setup (I have KW coilover, Neuspeed f&r ARBs, superPro console inserts like the WALK, Whiteline bumpsteer kit, TTs lower arms, vibratechnics dogbone bush, think that's it lol)

Alex too me and Sy out in his Octavia estate and the turn in and grip were outstanding!  :driver:  (He has adjustable top mounts on top of my spec)  How something that big can be so agile & grip so well is awesome!


Where's he based Mike, i'm im Sheffield. If anyone can suggest anywhere near enough it would be appreciated.

Offline Tfsi_Mike

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Re: Ideal wheel alignment setting for GTI!
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2012, 07:11:10 pm »

Bedford Jct 14 M1.  Im Nottingham (Doncaster @ weekends) but I make the trip down for Alex to look after my car  :happy2: