Episode three of this series finds us digging into what makes our complete suspension systems so transformative when installed on the classic cars Ridetech supports. A key component is the vehicle alignment. While having upgraded suspension components on your car is always great, performance gains can be negated if you don’t have the proper alignment to take full advantage of what’s just been installed.
When it comes to alignment, street cars have a different mission and purpose than a car set up to for 100% track use. So, in today’s episode Randy and Blane dive into the finer points of setting up an alignment for both purposes, discussing the concepts between camber, caster, and toe.
Generally, whenever suspension components are unbolted to replace or upgrade a wearing or failed part, rechecking vehicle alignment is recommended. Even though you may have it close and the steering wheel is straight post-install, it is likely that tire lifespan and compromised vehicle handling are at risk. When lowering a vehicle with lowering springs, coil-overs, or other related components, vehicle alignment becomes even more imperative.
Depending on the vehicle’s intended purpose, and the alignment values required, sometimes specific components must be installed to allow the alignment to fall back within spec. For instance, a lowered vehicle may reach the limit to which a stock control arm and ball joint will allow appropriate camber or caster settings. In the rear of both live axle and independent rear suspension vehicles, many times upgrades to adjustable suspension arms are required to gain proper alignment settings.
Enjoy and stay tuned for our fourth episode, where we return to the same airport autocross to put the newly #ridetechequipped Randit through its paces to measure both the felt improvement behind the wheel and how much quicker it can make a lap against the clock!
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