My Alignment Settings Info

[upsidedown]

I’ve had my car for 12 months and as many have said and I agree the rear of the car gets jittery when going over choppy road.

A couple of months ago I had the rear left wheel sideswiped which was realigned by the repairer’s tyre fitting workshop. After this the car was worse than ever with the jittery rear but it also coincided with when the LSD binding noise raised its head. After getting the oil changed in the diff as per the service alert the car was somewhat better but still worse than when new. Thinking that it couldn’t be the alignment as it had been “corrected” I was convinced that there was still something wrong with the diff.

After some diff testing I wasn’t overly convinced that it was the diff so to at least eliminate the alignment as the problem I booked it in to Selby’s (a well known Australian suspension franchise) to have the alignment checked. I supplied them with the specs and after a talk I decided to let him set it up based on his experience and a road test to feel the problem with a view to keeping it in spec where possible.

What a difference a realignment made as I wouldn’t have believed that it could have that much effect. Not only is the car way better than when I took it in but I’m sure that the jittery rear is also better than when new and the car just feels more stable at the back than ever.

I still feel a slight nervousness every now and then if the road gets really choppy but on an average it’s better but I still think that an upgrade to the Eibach sway would just compliment it and make it better again

This is based on an average driver obeying the speed limit so nothing other than normal use.

The specs for a RWD that he set it to:

Front Toe / 0.2 degrees (factory spec is 0.1 +- 0.1)

Rear Toe / 0.4 degrees (factory spec is 0.2 +- 0.1) he said that my setting could be made less but in conjunction with the camber setting it would be better for tyre wear

Rear Camber / -0.75 degrees (factory spec is -1.2 +- 0.5 for a 19” wheel)

Hopefully this info will benefit some fellow forum members

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Now do the F & R sway bars as you state & all will be sorted. The run last Sunday on some very twisty & steep roads just reinforced that I made the right decision have these fitted, fantastic to drive at sedate & spirited conditions.

 

[upsidedown]

Yes was thinking of doing the rear sway at least or do you think that they both should be done. You might find that if your alignment is changed it may be better still

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Yes was thinking of doing the rear sway at least or do you think that they both should be done. You might find that if your alignment is changed it may be better still

Well I’m all about balance, so both is a must in my opinion & I have them set on the “softest” settings. One end of the car stiffer than the other can potentially put abnormal torsional flexing through the chassis, so balance is better.
I may consider the alignment setting changes when it comes time to replace its Continental shoes.

 

[upsidedown]

Yes a sound way to look at it. I'll have to have a think which way to go but in no hurry just yet

 

[Waynerm002]

Since KIA offers accessories for the car in Korea, they should also do a suspension setup or at least have something through the dealer for the car. At a reasonable price, of course.

 

[DaJackson]

What am I missing? All the specs you listed are within factory range other than rear toe which is out by .1 degree.

 

[upsidedown]

What am I missing? All the specs you listed are within factory range other than rear toe which is out by .1 degree.

You are not missing anything

My car had the initial rear camber way up at the high end of the "spec" and it is now at the low end. The initial toe was out of spec

So even though it may be "in spec" doesn't mean it makes for a happy driving experience. Just showing that the car can be, in my opinion, made more stable at the rear by using different settings

Whether that is something other owners want to try is up to them