4 wheel alignment settings for NB2.5.

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
2

I have booked my car in for 4 wheel alignment on Monday with the Hunter alignment equipment.

They tell me unless I can give them figures of my own they will set it to “within Mazda specs”. This is fine but is an average and is possibly on the safe side by Mazda. It can be bettered!

I have tried searching this forum for “fast road settings” but the dreaded Photobomb has blotted out some of the pics!

Could anyone provide me with factory specs and also some fast road settings? I understand suspension so I would like to know what it is now and what might be needed to perfect it.

I know we are all individuals but I don’t mind going back until it suits me.

 

EDIT: Forgot to add, 30mm Eibach springs, new 15" alloys and new Yoko AD08 tyres.

 

Many thanks!

Brian

3

Brian,

From ‘flyin miata’ (https://www.flyinmiata.com/tech/alignment.php)

 

RECOMMENDED ALIGNMENT NUMBERS 

NA/NB/NC

A good alignment makes a huge difference to car handling. The standard numbers from Mazda are fairly vague and don't necessarily flatter the Miata. A precision alignment can make even a standard Miata more fun to drive. 

These are the numbers that we use at Flyin’ Miata on the NA/NB/NC Miata. They work well for cars fitted with our suspension kits or stock setups. There is no odd tire wear. Racers will want to vary their setup based on their particular needs of course. If you take your car to an alignment shop, ask them to come as close as possible to these settings. For a full discussion of what these numbers mean, you can read Miata Performance Projects.

It’s possible that not all cars will be able to reach these numbers. If this is the case, please call our tech line (1 970 464 5600) and our techs will be able to advise you. 

Front
Caster: 5.0 degrees
Camber: 1.0 degrees negative
Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side)

Rear
Camber: 1.5 degrees negative
Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side)

ND

The ND has a very different suspension design, and combined with the electrically assisted steering, demands different numbers. These are the numbers we use on our cars, and they've shown no unusual wear and have pulled over 1.05g on the skidpad.

Front
Caster: 8.0 degrees (basically, as much as possible)
Camber: 1.8 degrees negative (again, as much as possible)
Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side)

Rear
Camber: 1.8 degrees negative (matching the front)
Toe-in: 1/16", 0.15° or 9 arcminutes total (1/32", 0.075° or 4.5 minutes per side)

4

Magnificent Ian!! 

Many, many thanks for that info. I have just joined that Forum but haven’t posted yet as I’ve just started browsing.

Ironically enough those figures are almost exactly the same as the front end of my rwd Celica! I love how that thing turns in.

It will be interesting to see what I have already and see how far away we are from those specs.

Really chuffed Ian and so pleased I can offer Reidline some figures to work with. 

5

The factory specs are in the Downloads section of this site.

6

[quote=Roadster Robbie]

The factory specs are in the Downloads section of this site.

[/quote)

 

Many thanks Robbie. I am slowly exploring every corner of this Forum! 

 

7

Just in case anyone is remotely interested I measured the camber on all four wheels as the car stands now. I didn’t measure caster as it is harder with wishbones and I didn’t check toe in.

I’ll leave that to Reidline Performance!

My measurements will hopefully be pretty close but it gives me an idea of what I have and what I want.

They say they are happy to try and achieve the figures I give them because it gives them more understanding of the MX5 as and above factory safe settings which they would default to.

CURRENT:

OSF -1.2 negative camber

OSR -0.8 negative camber  (should at least be other way round)

 

NSF -0.5 negative camber

NSR -1.1 negative camber ( at least it is in the right relationship to front)

 

It’s been a long time since I felt like a little kid again! Monday is going to be exciting!

8

But not for ND - allowing that this thread is a question about NB settings.

9

Had the alignment corrected this afternoon and really pleased with the way Reidline Performance carried out the alignment to the specs I had given them. 

They say they just normally go to Mazda specs because it covers them but they were happy to align it to the settings I gave them.

Even as I was driving out of the forecourt I could feel the difference and I was smiling before I got half a mile. By the time I drove the 15 miles back home I was grinning! Money well spent! 

Front Camber :  NSF -1.21  OSF -1.24

Rear Camber  : NSR -1.54  OSR -1.57

Caster           : 5.45 degrees

Total toe front : 0.12

Total toe rear  :0.11

 

Thanks Ian Hindmarsh for the recommendation! Very pleased. 

10

 

Excellent, I didn’t think you would be disappointed 

 

11

It has transformed the car Ian! 

Then again I could see each wheel had different cambers just by walking around it!!

 

I think that’s it for now, oh except I have asked my mate in Yorkshire to order me 2 front ARB drop links which I can fit on Wednesday after my first long trip in the car.