Corner weighting/alignment

[glenspeed]

anyone know of a good shop in TO that actually knows what they are doing for a corner weighting and alignment? preferably one that does BMW's?

[Jersey]

ask bluesky, i thought it was him that posted his corner balance chart

[glenspeed]

did a search and didn't come up with anything...

[db323]

Look At The Sponsor Below............. ;)

[M333ee]

I haven't found a good shop that does proper corner weighting yet. Some shops do Honda's and other imports but BMW's :Idunno:

Where did these threads come from? I missed them all....

[Jersey]

hey ian...i dont think cross ave actually does that type of stuff....they dont even have an alignment machine

[Canuck328i]

I have access to a set of scales (re the speedway). They are designed for racing applications - they give individual wheel weight, cross and side percentages. Doing the setup would be up to you though.

Mark

[BlueSky]

ask bluesky, i thought it was him that posted his corner balance chart

it wasn't me... i would like to know too... ;)

[Jersey]

hmmm, i searched for it....not on .ca

maybe it was fanatics

[STALKER]

Mantis Racing in Oakville does corner balancing, They charge $550 for the corner balancing and the alignment. When I get my GC stuff in, Im going to have them put it in and do a corner balance with the car.

[glenspeed]

Canuck328i...I know about what alignment does (somewhat) but am not expert on actually how to get it done. Are you offering a DIY get together to get my car corner balanced?

[STALKER]

I think Billy at Eingeered can do it too.

[glenspeed]

Mantis Racing in Oakville does corner balancing, They charge $550 for the corner balancing and the alignment. When I get my GC stuff in, Im going to have them put it in and do a corner balance with the car.


I just put the H&R coilovers in 2 days ago..Raven did the work. Only cost $400. They are a BMW only race shop so they should know what they are doing...but the car was way too low...I told them not to "slam" it and it's like on the ground now....not to mention it handles really weird now...giving throttle on a left curve feels like the car is twisting and it is really twitchy between on throttle and off throttle. I measured the ride heights and one of the rears was about 0.25" lower than the other side. Don't know if this will cause the problem I am experiencing but I would think so. Checked the alignment specs and they are all within spec so I have to think this is part of the problem.

[M333ee]

Did they adjust the heights and balance with you sitting in the drivers seat? That is one key point a lot of people forget.

[glenspeed]

I wasn't there when they did it...they are a race shop so I would assume they wouldn't **** it up...I am going back tomorrow to reset the heights and I will be there this time...

I am wondering about the handling though...since the alignment specs were all within the ranges...I have to think it is the one wheel height that is off. I mean they don't corner balance from the factory and I don't think the OEM is exactly spot on either in terms of ride height at all four corners...

[Canuck328i]

I just put the H&R coilovers in 2 days ago..Raven did the work. Only cost $400. They are a BMW only race shop so they should know what they are doing...but the car was way too low...I told them not to "slam" it and it's like on the ground now....not to mention it handles really weird now...giving throttle on a left curve feels like the car is twisting and it is really twitchy between on throttle and off throttle. I measured the ride heights and one of the rears was about 0.25" lower than the other side. Don't know if this will cause the problem I am experiencing but I would think so. Checked the alignment specs and they are all within spec so I have to think this is part of the problem.

This sounds a lot like the corner weights are all buggered. Example - on a race car (Late Model) which has load bolts on the corners, you want to get the left weight as high as possible without going outside the mandated maximum. This done with a percentage weight left to right. Plus cross weight percentage is important as well.

However, on a street car you need it as balanced as possible. My guess is those coilovers are like load bolts in the LMs - if you turn down on one corner it will increase the weight load on that corner. That will also raise that corner slightly.

I've weighed my stock 328ia - it's pretty balanced right from the factory. If those corner weights are messed up on your coilover kit, it could/would be worse than stock.

As for a weighing DIY, it is very doable but since the season is winding down I'll have to see if I can borrow the scale set or if it would have to be done at the track (where they are located). Let me make some inquiries - will know after this weekend. The track is better because we have a weighing area with insets in the concrete to get the car on the scales - otherwise we would need to jack-and-drop or build small ramps. (They are only 1.5" thick.)

What is the interest here? Maybe before the Barrie cruise on Oct 2?

Mark

[Canuck328i]

...I am going back tomorrow to reset the heights...

Don't know how they could do that accurately without scales though. You say this is a race shop? :Idunno:

Mark

[glenspeed]

Yah...Raven Performance/Bavarian Motors up on Woodbine/Esna Park

[glenspeed]

I'll see about the corner balancing after tomorrow...I guess I can always go to Mantis and pay the $550... :mad:

[STALKER]

Glen, let it settle a bit, the shocks have to work in for a few days, but the height thing couild be the problem. Its most likely to low. I have had a lot of work done at Mantis so I can say they are good shop. Good luck bros.

[glenspeed]

oh it's definately too low...getting at least the ride height adjusted today and let it settle for a couple of weeks and then see. I think the total drop was like 2.5" from stock! very pimp :blaaaa: but not what I want!

[STALKER]

damn,you must have looked like B1x that came to our last cruise.

[BMW3]

anyone know where i can get an alignment on lowered cars? i try to get it done at the dealer but the dealer said my car is too low and the front acs filppers will block the laser the machine use to do the alignment

[BlueSky]

AUDIOPHILIA recently got an alignment done, it was recommended by Cross???

[glenspeed]

damn,you must have looked like B1x that came to our last cruise.

just about....I was getting alot of approving glances from the ricers these last few days....

just got it back and the height is about where I want it now...much better. Have to drive it some more and let it settle again to check the handling as well.

commented to the shop about corner weighting and they also do it, but he was pretty frank that they have not found the need to do it unless a customer really requests it.
he had a good point in that are we sure we actually want the 4 corners to be balanced or more biased towards one end or another? anyone done it on a stock suspension to get a baseline?

[STALKER]

I dont think you can really do it on a stock suspension considering the lack of adjustment on the stock pieces. I will get it done when I throw on the new pieces in Dec, and we can see how the results are.

[glenspeed]

wasn't looking to see if you could adjust the corner weights on the stock suspension, wanted to know what the baseline was from the factory for reference. you would assume factory is close to even all four corners right? but I would like to know for sure or how off if it was.

[STALKER]

Glen, good Q. Try posting that at our other forum, Im sure somebody there would know.

[glenspeed]

it would be very interesting to know...

[glenspeed]

anyone else do corner balancing? $550 is pretty steep...

[Canuck328i]

wasn't looking to see if you could adjust the corner weights on the stock suspension, wanted to know what the baseline was from the factory for reference. you would assume factory is close to even all four corners right? but I would like to know for sure or how off if it was.

Are you still wanting to weigh your car? If you want, you could come out to practice tomorrow evening at the track and roll it on. We could even weigh mine to get the baseline you are after. Mine is pure stock - sport suspension.

As for adjusting the springs, do you have the tools to do it if necessary?

Mark

[glenspeed]

Are you still wanting to weigh your car? If you want, you could come out to practice tomorrow evening at the track and roll it on. We could even weigh mine to get the baseline you are after. Mine is pure stock - sport suspension.

As for adjusting the springs, do you have the tools to do it if necessary?

Mark

which track? what time? who has the scales?

I am missing the H&R wrenches to adjust the front coils, so I couldn't adjust them, the back you don't need them, but I would love to know what the corner % are now to support my feeling that they are off. That would be the only thing that is making the car handle strangely. It's definately not the alignment since that is within specs and the car is perfect otherwise.

[Canuck328i]

which track? what time? who has the scales?

I am missing the H&R wrenches to adjust the front coils, so I couldn't adjust them, the back you don't need them, but I would love to know what the corner % are now to support my feeling that they are off. That would be the only thing that is making the car handle strangely. It's definately not the alignment since that is within specs and the car is perfect otherwise.

Sorry, I guess I didn't elaborate on it! I am the webmaster/photographer for Sunset Speedway (http://www.sunsetspeedway.ca) and we have a full scale set there with the proper pad setup and everything - just roll the car on. It is a proper Longacre scale set, which can read corner weights, percentages, everything needed to set up a stock car. It was recently calibrated too.

This would be either this or next Wednesday (last two days of practice). The track is located just south of Stroud (about 20 minutes north of Bradford) and practice goes from around 6 till 8pm. I talked to the owner to make sure everything is there (the season ended this past weekend), and it is. There's no charge to get in or use them - just sign the waiver at the pit gate and you're in.

Let me know if/when you'd be coming and I can make sure I'm there. If anyone else is interested too, just let me know. As I mentioned though, if you plan on making any changes that is up to you. I don't mind helping (actually I'd like to see this setup), but we wouldn't have any wrenches for something like that. If you can borrow the tools needed then we're golden.

Mark

[glenspeed]

very cool and extremely nice of you to offer.

does that mean we can only use the scales from 6-8? are they outdoors or in? thinking that sundown is now 7:18 there won't be enough light if outside...

I'm no expert on cross weight adjustments, I know the concept but as in most things it's one thing knowing, it's another doing.

would be very curious to know what the weights were and maybe experiment.

If I can get the wrenches by next Wednesday then I think I would be game to at least give it a shot.

any chance to go up there earlier like say 4?

[Canuck328i]

4:45pm would probably be the earliest, but I'd have to check to make sure the boss is there. He will be this week, next week I'm not sure.

The scales are outside the tech shed in a covered area. There is lighting but don't know how late people will be around after 8. The track is basically closed now, but the owner likes to allow a few extra weeks for our drivers who want to hit the invitationals at other tracks over the next few weeks.

My guess is the cross weights should be pretty equal. It is way more critical on a car that only turns left, but on a road course car (or a street car in this case) you want it to be pretty neutral left to right. Getting front to back and left to right balanced would be key. As I say, my stock 328 can be used to get the percentages then you can adjust from there.

Only thing I was worried about was other drivers wanting to use the scales at the same time, but apparently they would normally not be set up anyway after the season ends (no need to tech anymore) so they would be to some degree ours to use.

I take it tonight is out then? That's cool, next week might be better anyway. If you do want to do it, drop me a PM just in case this thread drops too low and I miss it.

Take care...
Mark

[glenspeed]

crazy thought, what about weekends?

[Canuck328i]

crazy thought, what about weekends?


Actually if it was during the season it may have been possible. But right now it would depend on if there was someone there to open the place up, and this weekend we are racing the track car at an invitational at another track as well as the next 2 weekends.

Mark

[glenspeed]

ok, we'll shoot for next wednesday...weeknights are tough for me as I never know exactly what time I can get out of work...it could be 4 if I try, but stuff sometimes comes up...

PM me your phone number so I can let you know