My geometry - rear camber fixable with shims?

[MrCube182]

Got my geo setup at KwikFit yesterday and noticed something strange with the rear camber - the left is -0° 30 and the right is -2°02. Doing some reading it seems like the rear beams are not very square from factory, so this might be normal(ish)!

I was thinking of fixing the rear camber with a -1° shim on the left and 0.5° shim on the right (-0.5 flipped upside down..) to bring values back into spec.

Is this worth fixing or could I just leave it?

 

[Landyman]

I wouldn’t trust ThickTwit to do your geometry, but hopefully they are OK at your local depot.
Not sure how the rear camber is adjusted but mine was set up at a specialist and it does show rear camber “before” and “after” so there must be a way to do it.

 

[MrCube182]

The only way to do it is with shims...I just want to know whether it's worth doing and has a handling impact

My local KwikFit are good actually - ultimately they've got a good alignment machine like in any good garage

 

[Usr117063]

Go and look at the wheels in person, that should be quite obvious if it really is that out. My rear toe is 0.37 and 0.20 and I can see the difference. Personally if it really is i would get another beam but someone else might say other wise

 

[MrCube182]

I know that they're out ...the question I'm asking is is it worth it to fix?

 

[Usr117063]

Would you set the toe back as well? I personally wouldn’t it seems to far out. @STEVE.M

 

[STEVE.M]

Got my geo setup at KwikFit yesterday and noticed something strange with the rear camber - the left is -0° 30 and the right is -2°02. Doing some reading it seems like the rear beams are not very square from factory, so this might be normal(ish)!

I was thinking of fixing the rear camber with a -1° shim on the left and 0.5° shim on the right (-0.5 flipped upside down..) to bring values back into spec.

Is this worth fixing or could I just leave it?

As it`s the camber that`s out, double check the rear beam bushes and wheel bearings before attempting correction with shims.

 

[MrCube182]

As it`s the camber that`s out, double check the rear beam bushes and wheel bearings before attempting correction with shims.

Thank you, the wheel bearings have been recently changed with the brakes but I'll check the bushes

 

[MrCube182]

Would you set the toe back as well? I personally wouldn’t it seems to far out. @STEVE.M

Rear toe specification for a 182 is 0° 20 (+/- 0° 30) so I'm OK there

 

[Usr117063]

Would the stub axles be bent?

 

[MrCube182]

Would the stub axles be bent?

Having a look into rear beam bushes I'm sure mine haven't been changed in 130k miles...I'll be putting powerflex black bushes on first to see what effect that has

 

[Usr117063]

Looked at the pms bearing conversion for them?

 

[MrCube182]

No I haven't, not considering that route because I haven't got coilovers so there's still a lot of slack to remove first!

 

[STEVE.M]

Would the stub axles be bent?

Could be, and that`s the way I`d leave it.

Just correct what there is with a shim(s).

Identifying and swapping stub axles and taking it back for alignment perhaps several times is too much hassle.

I`d put 1 degree 30 minutes on the LHR & run both on -2.00 degrees.

 

[MrCube182]

Could be, and that`s the way I`d leave it.

Just correct what there is with a shim(s).

Identifying and swapping stub axles and taking it back for alignment perhaps several times is too much hassle.

I`d put 1 degree 30 minutes on the LHR & run both on -2.00 degrees.

That's quite a lot of rear camber though, too much for road use?

 

[STEVE.M]

That's quite a lot of rear camber though, too much for road use?

I`ve been running -2.5 for 4+ years.

Rear tyres last for ever if that`s what you are worried about, even Rainsport`s.

 

[MrCube182]

I`ve been running -2.5 for 4+ years.

Rear tyres last for ever if that`s what you are worried about, even Rainsport`s.

Interesting, I guess it would save buying two shims lol

 

[Usr117063]

I`ve been running -2.5 for 4+ years.

Rear tyres last for ever if that`s what you are worried about, even Rainsport`s.

Whats your fronts at? I have 2.6 fronts and think its great on the road, plenty responsive from cold, I was thinking of going -2 on the rears but will wait till arb to judge

 

[STEVE.M]

Whats your fronts at? I have 2.6 fronts and think its great on the road, plenty responsive from cold, I was thinking of going -2 on the rears but will wait till arb to judge

-2.0 on the front.
Looking at it again, it`s closer to -3.0 on the LHR.
I might adjust it one day, but it can wait till the next time I have to disturb something.

 

[Usr117063]

Thought about more caster up front? Mine is very stable, a little heavy but its really smooth on the roads.

Would like to do a video soon with the new quick rack, road driving really is effortless even with the firm asts

 

[STEVE.M]

Thought about more caster up front? Mine is very stable, a little heavy but its really smooth on the roads.

Would like to do a video soon with the new quick rack, road driving really is effortless even with the firm asts

More caster would mean solid mounts, either BC, Grams or AST?

Which would you recommend?

A quick rack & bump steer/ride height correction kit & PMS ARB would also be desirable, but at the same time I feel would illustrate the law of diminishing

returns on a car that I already enjoy driving.

 

[Usr117063]

@STEVE.M

I have the asts as they came with the coil overs, I think the bcs are basically the same and half the price. Its nice to have the adjust-ability and especially as the chassis might not be perfect but Ill never change it to more camber, I can get -3 as the bolt holes are slotted and with extra camber from the wishbone bushes.

Im terrible with this sort of thing because I always want more, Ive made sure 95% of what Ive done to the car is returnable or has its place as a lot of it is personal so if I sell its less diminishing. Id say that the brembo calipers and uprated (strengthened) wishbones werent required to make the car more fun, the brakes are good with decent pads and wishbones pretty solid anyway, Its not stopping me fitting a pedal box and the brembos again because its all just a bit of fun really, its nice to see/feel the gains you get when you do something and see how far you can push the performance.

 

[MrCube182]

An update on my rear camber issue - I jacked up the car to look at the rear and the rear beam bushings are completely disintegrated, chunks peeling away when poking it with a finger. Wheel bearings are fine, so will replace bushes with powerflex black and see what difference it makes (I assume it'll sort it!).

 

[mermade]

recommend here for powerflex bushes, they do the track ones and free delivery on them https://powerflexstore.co.uk/renault/clio-ii-inc-172-182-1998-2012/