I have a 4" drop on my Foci and I tell everyone that you HAVE to adjust the allignment.

 

Originally posted by jinstall:
I have a 4" drop on my Foci and I tell everyone that you HAVE to adjust the allignment.

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Good God Man!!

 

<shrug> I ran with the Eibach springs and no alignment, didn't have a problem.

It's not the camber that is the problem, it's the toe-in. I haven't adjusted camber at all. After a year of driving like that, I got the toe-in adjusted just for fun. I'm still running all that camber.

 

yep--P51 is right; its a combination of camber plus toe-in. I have over 4000 miles--35mm BAT springs-- on some cheap V rated tires, and they look swell. btw, The Hakkas go on this week, me thinks

4" drop!!! The tires must be rubbing the inside of the hood!!!

[ 11-10-2002, 07:35 AM: Message edited by: Auto-X-ZTS ]

 

i've had mine dropped 4 inches before, then it landed back on the asphalt....

 

Running H&R 1.5 springs which settle to closer to 2. Only had an alignment done, and tires look good as new after about 12k miles.

 

I've gone thru two sets of tires now with even wear (well actually the middle was a little overly worn due to over inflation on the last set of KDWs). No alignment (was going to but when you have even wear there is no point) nor camber kit. H&R ST4 coilovers and Cougar wheels.

I tell people that they should get matching dampers to their new lower/stiffer springs, but otherwise an alignment should be all thats required. I haven't seen any overwhelming evidence that contradicts this.

Inside wear can be caused by more than just extreme negative camber.

 

If you look at a stock focus' rear wheels. There is negative camber from the factory, any amount of lowering will exagerate this.

I have SVT springs on my S2 which ended up with just under an inch of drop. After 6 months there is noticably more wear on the insides of all 4 tires. I'll take the improved handling over the slight reduction in tire life myself.

If you find the amount of negative camber to be excessive for your needs the only way to change it is with aftermarket camber plates. From the factory there is no way to adjust it.

I still haven't gotten an alignment after putting my springs in and everything's running great. No cupping or feathering or anything else to indicate uneven wear, just wearing faster on the inside edges.

I do agree with your overall point about advice on the internet. There are a lot of oversimplified answers to be found, but ultimatly it is your responsability to do the homework before redesigning a major component of a car.

[ 11-10-2002, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: Cameroon ]

 

How much is an alignment from an average Ford dealer?

 

Cameroon, sounds like it's time for you to hit some twisties... even out that tire wear.

 

Originally posted by The ArchAngel:
How much is an alignment from an average Ford dealer?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">4 wheel, is about $80-$85.

I paid it, but I won't do anything that extensive/expensive again until I can get camber-plates for MORE negative camber in the front.

 

Anytime you play with the height of your car via suspension you should at the very least see what your alignment is set at. If you take it somewhere ask for the printout that way you know what it is...that is if they don't forge it.

 

I don't think anyone on this forum is trying to tell anyone anything mythical or misleading, most only share their experiences and for the most part what they've shared is that they haven't experienced any difficulties in drops not exceeding 2". I have two focus' and both have a 2" drop, both have had an alignment and only the toe-in was adjusted. One now has 26k on it and the other 17k, neither has had any issues related to tire wear, handling, ride, worn dampers, etc. Maybe your issues are the exception to the rule and not the majority as most folks here will attest. So before you go accusing the fine folkes here on this forum of misleading others, you should count the many posts relating to the successes and not your one and only "bad experience". I'm not trying to start a war here, but one person's bad experience doesn't make everyone else out to be a liar .... and I'm offended.

 

Originally posted by dan-d:
.... and I'm offended.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Well laddi frickin da!
..the post was not made to offend anyone...and how is that offensive anyways...whatever

 

Get a life Red Se 00, we are talking about tires here. If it's worth being a bitch to people that help others out all the time on this site because of your tire wear(which is probably your own damn fault) then don't freakin come one here. I have had 4 sets of tires, i have had a 1.8 to a 2.75 inch drop and i have worn out 2 sets in two months and i have also had the same set for a year now and there is no wear at all. See if you drive hard it wears hard, GOT IT! SO SHUT UP!

 

Originally posted by FriscoFocus:
Get a life Red Se 00, we are talking about tires here. If it's worth being a bitch to people that help others out all the time on this site because of your tire wear(which is probably your own damn fault) then don't freakin come one here. I have had 4 sets of tires, i have had a 1.8 to a 2.75 inch drop and i have worn out 2 sets in two months and i have also had the same set for a year now and there is no wear at all. See if you drive hard it wears hard, GOT IT! SO SHUT UP!

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Damn man....chill.
I just wanted to know how that is offensive.
...I really dont drive hard....just drove alot back then so I know the factors....
so blah blah blah blah blah...wutchya gunna do?

BTW...I have been around here a hell of a lot longer than you kiddo and its gunna take A TON to get me to go away

...your post was very

 

I have had my progress springs for over 2 years now and have yet to have any alignment problems. I always say that it should be fine but have it checked.

 

[/QUOTE]Well laddi frickin da!
..the post was not made to offend anyone...and how is that offensive anyways...whatever

[/QB][/QUOTE]

hey, you don't have to be an ass about this. All I was saying is that people like me and many others post our experiences as they occur, then you come along and start a post with:

Stop Telling People Mythical Suspension CRAP!!

That tells me you calling my experiences and post's "CRAP" which is the same as calling me a liar. And that my friend is offensive.

 

Originally posted by dan-d:

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Well laddi frickin da!
..the post was not made to offend anyone...and how is that offensive anyways...whatever

[/QUOTE]

hey, you don't have to be an ass about this. All I was saying is that people like me and many others post our experiences as they occur, then you come along and start a post with:

Stop Telling People Mythical Suspension CRAP!!

That tells me you calling my experiences and post's "CRAP" which is the same as calling me a liar. And that my friend is offensive.[/QB][/QUOTE]

No...I was just stating that when someone new gets in here and wants to drop their car...people tell them that they should be fine with just an alignment if they dont go over 1.5"....I never once called you a liar and if you think that then that is not my fault.
...think what you wanna think...not everyone is gonna be fine with an alignment and 1.5" of lowering

BTW...I dont think your experiences are crap...but that is just what they are....EXPERIENCES...mine was different...as is everybody else's!!

OK......OooooooooooooooooooooK!!

 

yeah, this was good. but now it's off topic and gettin outta hand. time for me to shut it down.

wait, nevermind, i only wish i was a focaljet moderator..

 

Your bad experience doesn't make the rest of ours "Mythical Suspension CRAP!!". I'm sorry you've had a bad experience but for the majority of us it's been good, and a simple alignment has worked out fine. As far as newbee's go they should come to the same conclusions. And yes, every now and then someone won't be so lucky. But that doesn't make our information to them "CRAP" and we don't intend for it to be 100% all the time, but for the most it worked out just fine. I didn't mean to piss you off, but you should be a bit cautious when making a blanket statement like that, so chill out doode.

 

ok.. my opinion is....
if u've taken the struts/shocks out and installed them back, you should go and have an alignment done!!! because no one can put them back into the exactly correct position! so that the alignment will off.... only a matter of more or less

if you adjusted the ride height without taking out the struts/shocks (i.e. u have coilovers), then you should go and CHECK if the alignment is off (but usually it will only off a little bit)

i dunno if i am correct, but that's my experience and what ppl told me!

 

Quote from Above:
".people tell them that they should be fine with just an alignment if they dont go over 1.5"...."

OK man, from YOUR experience....What else are you suggesting that they MIGHT possibly need?
I'm a little confused over what is being considered misinformation...
Please clarify.
Are you saying that additional parts are necessary?

 

Originally posted by MichaelXi:
4 wheel, is about $80-$85.

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Woah! I paid about $35 Canadian ($22 US) for my 4-wheel alignment last year. I didn't realize how good of a deal I got!

 

Corey,
was that at the DEALER???!!!!
If so, I need to talk to somebody about a few favors to make up the difference!!!....