JCW JCW suspension alignment specs
#1
JCW suspension alignment specs
*** After doing a bunch of research it appears that the alignment of the new JCW suspension introduced a noticeable amount of negative camber. If you have the JCW suspension installed can you chime in here to let me know how noticeable this is on your car or not.
What is the difference in camber from a stock JCW, the JCW with the sport supension and the full JCW suspension?
I had the JCW suspension installed on my 09 JCW a few weeks ago. I was just taking a good look at the rear of the car and it appears that the tires are not totally straight up and down. In other words it appears that the top of the tire is pulled in more than the bottom and the bottom of the tires sticks out more than the top.
Are the alignment specs for caster, camber, toe in and toe out different for the JCW suspension over the stock and sport suspensions?
Do I have anything to worry about? Should I contact the dealer and have them check it out?
What is the difference in camber from a stock JCW, the JCW with the sport supension and the full JCW suspension?
I had the JCW suspension installed on my 09 JCW a few weeks ago. I was just taking a good look at the rear of the car and it appears that the tires are not totally straight up and down. In other words it appears that the top of the tire is pulled in more than the bottom and the bottom of the tires sticks out more than the top.
Are the alignment specs for caster, camber, toe in and toe out different for the JCW suspension over the stock and sport suspensions?
Do I have anything to worry about? Should I contact the dealer and have them check it out?
Last edited by onefish2; 02-08-2009 at 07:06 PM.
#2
After doing some research and talking with the SA manager at Morristown MINI, it appears that this is a normal setup with the JCW suspension.
It would have been nice if they would have told me that the rear wheels would look like this / \ after they put on the new suspension.
Also see this thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-kick-out.html
And this wikipedia entry camber angle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camber_angle
It would have been nice if they would have told me that the rear wheels would look like this / \ after they put on the new suspension.
Also see this thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-kick-out.html
And this wikipedia entry camber angle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camber_angle
#5
2 degrees camber in the rear is what it shows on that PDF.
can you confirm if the dealer aligned your car after installing the new suspension? they are supposed to in order to make sure that everything is back to spec.
btw- your car came stock with negative camber so it's not as though negative camber is brand new to your car, you just never noticed it and/or it is more pronounced now by 1/2 to 1 degree.
can you confirm if the dealer aligned your car after installing the new suspension? they are supposed to in order to make sure that everything is back to spec.
btw- your car came stock with negative camber so it's not as though negative camber is brand new to your car, you just never noticed it and/or it is more pronounced now by 1/2 to 1 degree.
#6
#7
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#9
Has nothing to do with how it drives or looks. The point of this post was that after the JCW suspension was installed, I looked at the rear of the car and the tires looked like this / \. All other cars look like this from the rear | |. I thought something was wrong after the alignment was done. The dealer should have mentioned that it would look like this after the JCW suspension was installed and the car was aligned. They could have said the the install of the JCW suspension introduces noticeable negative camber in the rear of the car. And that is the correct look of the rear.
Now anyone that does a search will find this useful information.
Now anyone that does a search will find this useful information.
#12
#13
Thanks. It's interesting: some swear it's a night-and-day difference with the kit, others feel little or no difference. But the same was true when I was researching the dealer-installed JCW engine kit. And I found it to be a totally different car with the engine kit, especially on the highway. I'm sure I will be going back and forth on this decision up to the last minute.
#14
I live in the greater NYC area. The roads here suck big time. The ride is stiffer with the JCW suspension then with the sport suspension that I had in the car to begin with. Over time its softened up a bit. But its still a rough ride. I am going to swap out the run flats for regular tires in the next few moths. That should help out a bit or maybe my next car will be a Buick
#16
Yes. It does feel more "planted" in turns. However it still has a tendency to "hop" over bumps/imperfections in the road in hard cornering. So from that perspective its not more "planted." Definitely less body roll.
I used to take the same turns much more aggressively and faster in my 06 330XI. I have not figured out why the MINI drives/handles the way it does. Could it be due to the fact that its much lighter?
I used to take the same turns much more aggressively and faster in my 06 330XI. I have not figured out why the MINI drives/handles the way it does. Could it be due to the fact that its much lighter?
#17
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Yes. It does feel more "planted" in turns. However it still has a tendency to "hop" over bumps/imperfections in the road in hard cornering. So from that perspective its not more "planted." Definitely less body roll.
I used to take the same turns much more aggressively and faster in my 06 330XI. I have not figured out why the MINI drives/handles the way it does. Could it be due to the fact that its much lighter?
I used to take the same turns much more aggressively and faster in my 06 330XI. I have not figured out why the MINI drives/handles the way it does. Could it be due to the fact that its much lighter?
#18
Yes. It does feel more "planted" in turns. However it still has a tendency to "hop" over bumps/imperfections in the road in hard cornering. So from that perspective its not more "planted." Definitely less body roll.
I used to take the same turns much more aggressively and faster in my 06 330XI. I have not figured out why the MINI drives/handles the way it does. Could it be due to the fact that its much lighter?
I used to take the same turns much more aggressively and faster in my 06 330XI. I have not figured out why the MINI drives/handles the way it does. Could it be due to the fact that its much lighter?
#19
#20
So that PDF is saying that the suspension in the rear should have + POSITIVE 2 degrees camber? thats huge! that'll make your stance look like \ / ...???
especially when it comes stock with some negative camber in the rear...
i'm trying to find specs to get my alignment done... but am not having much luck..
mine isn't a jcw, but looking at the PDF it lists at the btm of the pdf the jcw, r56 s and non s alignment specs, so i think it should apply for my r56 s too...
especially when it comes stock with some negative camber in the rear...
i'm trying to find specs to get my alignment done... but am not having much luck..
mine isn't a jcw, but looking at the PDF it lists at the btm of the pdf the jcw, r56 s and non s alignment specs, so i think it should apply for my r56 s too...
#21
This Thread is just bad info/ Simple answers
For anyone reading this here is some info based on years of experience and over a year with my JCW Suspension.
The JCW suspension is much better in every way than stock for performance or spirited driving. Almost no loss in ride quality
Perfect alignment specs for daily driver weekend track car.
Front Camber 1.2 (negative) (Pull Pin and this is what you will have)
Front Toe .05 (Toe In)
Rear Camber 1.4 (Negative)
Rear Toe .15 Toe in
Get your thrust angle as close to zero as possible.
3 track days, 10 club canyon Runs, 4 Auto X events.
Daily driver / set your car up with a JCW and the above alignment and you will have a very competent daily driver that works well on many track surfaces.
It really is that simple
The JCW suspension is much better in every way than stock for performance or spirited driving. Almost no loss in ride quality
Perfect alignment specs for daily driver weekend track car.
Front Camber 1.2 (negative) (Pull Pin and this is what you will have)
Front Toe .05 (Toe In)
Rear Camber 1.4 (Negative)
Rear Toe .15 Toe in
Get your thrust angle as close to zero as possible.
3 track days, 10 club canyon Runs, 4 Auto X events.
Daily driver / set your car up with a JCW and the above alignment and you will have a very competent daily driver that works well on many track surfaces.
It really is that simple
#24
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****EDIT****
I found it.....on 07's the pins on the strut towers are metal and need to be unscrewed/unbolted.....on the 08+'s the pins are plastic and just pull straight out. After the pin is out, loosen the three bolts, (ideally the tire needs to be in the air a little, so jack it up) and push the top of the tire all the way towards the engine (good gawd that was way too easy...) and tighten back down. Not that I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express or anything last night night, but looking at the slots, it probably gives a 1/2 degree in or out from center. Repeat on other side and go out and play!!!!
I found it.....on 07's the pins on the strut towers are metal and need to be unscrewed/unbolted.....on the 08+'s the pins are plastic and just pull straight out. After the pin is out, loosen the three bolts, (ideally the tire needs to be in the air a little, so jack it up) and push the top of the tire all the way towards the engine (good gawd that was way too easy...) and tighten back down. Not that I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express or anything last night night, but looking at the slots, it probably gives a 1/2 degree in or out from center. Repeat on other side and go out and play!!!!
Last edited by phlash; 05-19-2009 at 05:25 PM.
#25
****EDIT****
I found it.....on 07's the pin on the strut towers are metal and need to be unscrewed/unbolted.....on the 08+'s the pin is plastic and just pulls straight out. then loosen the three other bolts, (ideally the tire needs to be in the air a little, so jack it up) and push the thing all the way towards the engine (good gawd that was way too easy...) and tighten back down. Not that I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express or anything last night night, but looking at the slots, it probably gives a 1/2 degree in or out from center. Repeat on other side and go out and play!!!!
I found it.....on 07's the pin on the strut towers are metal and need to be unscrewed/unbolted.....on the 08+'s the pin is plastic and just pulls straight out. then loosen the three other bolts, (ideally the tire needs to be in the air a little, so jack it up) and push the thing all the way towards the engine (good gawd that was way too easy...) and tighten back down. Not that I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express or anything last night night, but looking at the slots, it probably gives a 1/2 degree in or out from center. Repeat on other side and go out and play!!!!
loosen the three nuts (after removing the pin) and kick the top of the tire. It'll slide in easily. Tighten nuts.
To pull out to remove camber:
loosen 3 nuts. Jack car so tire off ground. The tower will slide out by itself or with very little nudging. Tighten nuts. Lower jack.