Ride height and alignment specs
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Ride height and alignment specs
After 2 1/2 year she’s finally back on her feet. I do have questions and would appreciate opinions on ride height and alignment specs.
Some information
Weight jacks front and rear using 1000lb springs front 200lb springs rear
1/2 taller QA1 ball joints
17x9.5 wheels with 275/40/17’s
sway bars 36mm front 19mm rear
Adjustable panhard rod lowered at the axle side
Car is not a track only car, at least not yet, so it’ll be driven on the street more than autoxed.
What would be a good ride height to shoot for? Currently the car is sitting at a 27” fender height, would 26.5” or 26” be to low for street driving?
Going off of the alignment specs below what if any would you change using the “Hard street” specs? Car we be driven on the highway what issues would I see with a 1/8” toe out condition?
Some information
Weight jacks front and rear using 1000lb springs front 200lb springs rear
1/2 taller QA1 ball joints
17x9.5 wheels with 275/40/17’s
sway bars 36mm front 19mm rear
Adjustable panhard rod lowered at the axle side
Car is not a track only car, at least not yet, so it’ll be driven on the street more than autoxed.
What would be a good ride height to shoot for? Currently the car is sitting at a 27” fender height, would 26.5” or 26” be to low for street driving?
Going off of the alignment specs below what if any would you change using the “Hard street” specs? Car we be driven on the highway what issues would I see with a 1/8” toe out condition?
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91banditt2 (05-28-2022)
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Re: Ride height and alignment specs
You might find something interesting here.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ats-yours.html
For the record, this is (was) my street/strip Sport Coupe.
Front
Rear
Profile
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ats-yours.html
For the record, this is (was) my street/strip Sport Coupe.
Front
Rear
Profile
Last edited by skinny z; 05-28-2022 at 10:53 AM.
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91banditt2 (05-28-2022)
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Re: Ride height and alignment specs
FYI: Factory alignment will absolutely ruin the front tires as the outside edge is burned off in short order.
YMMV.
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91banditt2 (05-28-2022)
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Car: 1989 IROC vert w/1LE brakes
Engine: 1990 ZR1 LT 5
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.7 Borg Warner
Re: Ride height and alignment specs
I currently have my ride height set at 26" in the front and 26 1/2" for the rear. -4.9 degrees of castor, camber is at -.5 degrees and my toe in is -1/16". My car drives awesome with these settings. I do know going toe out will cause your car to wonder more on the road. Any lower on ride height I have clearance issues with my aftermarket exhaust.
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91banditt2 (05-28-2022)
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91banditt2 (05-28-2022)
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#8
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Ride height and alignment specs
Paid $300 for these wheels
The car originally came with the base model spoiler, earlier in the year I bought a damaged 91-92 Aero spoiler for $120, I’ve got a buddy whose a body man repairing it for me, he’ll also be going the body work and paint on the car in the near future.
The car originally came with the base model spoiler, earlier in the year I bought a damaged 91-92 Aero spoiler for $120, I’ve got a buddy whose a body man repairing it for me, he’ll also be going the body work and paint on the car in the near future.
#9
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Ride height and alignment specs
I currently have my ride height set at 26" in the front and 26 1/2" for the rear. -4.9 degrees of castor, camber is at -.5 degrees and my toe in is -1/16". My car drives awesome with these settings. I do know going toe out will cause your car to wonder more on the road. Any lower on ride height I have clearance issues with my aftermarket exhaust.
The -4.9 degrees of caster seems pretty specific was there a reason for that number?
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91banditt2 (05-28-2022)
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Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: Ride height and alignment specs
Rear of my car is at 27". Any lower than that and it spends too much time on the snubbers and tires spin hard. Frankly these cars perform worse and worse the lower they go if you don't correct suspension geometry.
1/8" toe out is too much for the street. It will help the car go around tight corners in parking lot cone racing but will destroy your tires in the real world. My car likes just a smidge toe out or no toe. Car will not wander as some try to prophesy (lots of caster prevents that).
Toe in is horrible with my car and gets all bucking bronco when turning corners. I have very sticky tires so any kind of lateral slip is more noticeable than somebody on normal street tires. I just drive and tinker for fun, not a racer, but use very aggressive tires on the street (because it's fun ).
1/8" toe out is too much for the street. It will help the car go around tight corners in parking lot cone racing but will destroy your tires in the real world. My car likes just a smidge toe out or no toe. Car will not wander as some try to prophesy (lots of caster prevents that).
Toe in is horrible with my car and gets all bucking bronco when turning corners. I have very sticky tires so any kind of lateral slip is more noticeable than somebody on normal street tires. I just drive and tinker for fun, not a racer, but use very aggressive tires on the street (because it's fun ).
Last edited by QwkTrip; 05-28-2022 at 06:06 PM.
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skinny z (06-04-2022)
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Ride height and alignment specs
Rear of my car is at 27". Any lower than that and it spends too much time on the snubbers and tires spin hard. Frankly these cars perform worse and worse the lower they go if you don't correct suspension geometry.
Such as bump steer correction, adjustable panhard rod, LCARB’s?
1/8" toe out is too much for the street. It will help the car go around tight corners in parking lot cone racing but will destroy your tires in the real world. My car likes just a smidge toe out or no toe. Car will not wander as some try to prophesy (lots of caster prevents that).
I’m thinking 0 Toe maybe the way to go
Toe in is horrible with my car and gets all bucking bronco when turning corners. I have very sticky tires so any kind of lateral slip is more noticeable than somebody on normal street tires. I just drive and tinker for fun, not a racer, but use very aggressive tires on the street (because it's fun ).
Such as bump steer correction, adjustable panhard rod, LCARB’s?
1/8" toe out is too much for the street. It will help the car go around tight corners in parking lot cone racing but will destroy your tires in the real world. My car likes just a smidge toe out or no toe. Car will not wander as some try to prophesy (lots of caster prevents that).
I’m thinking 0 Toe maybe the way to go
Toe in is horrible with my car and gets all bucking bronco when turning corners. I have very sticky tires so any kind of lateral slip is more noticeable than somebody on normal street tires. I just drive and tinker for fun, not a racer, but use very aggressive tires on the street (because it's fun ).
#16
Re: Ride height and alignment specs
I wouldn't go below 26.5 in ground to fender in a street car with factory bump stops.
--
For race oriented 3rd gens, ride height is dependant on your spring rates and what geometry you run on your a-arms and LCA.
Lower isn't better if your geometry gets fug'd up.
--
My Alignment recommendations.
Street: +5 castor, -0.5 degree camber, 0.1 degree toe in.(shops do toe in degrees now)
If you have new steering parts, you can run Zero toe. That will save tires and will track fine with a fresh steering system.
--
--
For race oriented 3rd gens, ride height is dependant on your spring rates and what geometry you run on your a-arms and LCA.
Lower isn't better if your geometry gets fug'd up.
--
My Alignment recommendations.
Street: +5 castor, -0.5 degree camber, 0.1 degree toe in.(shops do toe in degrees now)
If you have new steering parts, you can run Zero toe. That will save tires and will track fine with a fresh steering system.
--
#17
Re: Ride height and alignment specs
I ran my Autocross car at around 24in ride height and it was actually slower at that ride height due to the LCA angles going to sh"it.
The tires in this pic are 25in tall, so pretty short compared to stock and other common sizes.
The tires in this pic are 25in tall, so pretty short compared to stock and other common sizes.
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