What camber gauge do you use? How do you like it?

I've been looking around the forums but only find two references to gauges and they are external links that have since gone bad.

I ran auto x this weekend and now realize the need for camber plates on these cars.

 

I use a generic hardware store brand combo square, a steel rule and a calculator.

something like these:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...3&blockType=G3

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...3&blockType=G3

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&blockType=G22

 

I though about doing it that way but I figured that I'd be more accurate with the correct tool.

How close do you think you can get? Your method may be a little better than the way I was doing it.

I looked at these gauges

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MIATA...Q5fCarQ5fParts


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Fastr...#ht_3191wt_973

 

I broke down and got this one...Smart Camber. It works great.

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...asp?RecID=1206

 

If you have a flat, true rim, and can hold the square within 5 or 10 degrees of vertical,
and can measure the distance between the rim and the square to
an accuracy of +/- 1/2 mm when the bubble in the level is centered, then you're
within 0.1 degree of the true value.

I think most camber gauges don't do much better than that, and if they do,
it's too small to matter much anyway. You also need a calculator with
inverse sine function, multiplication, and division.

If you're measuring off of a small hub rather than a mounted wheel, it might not be
quite as accurate as a dedicated camber gauge that is designed to measure from a hub.

The bigger problem is that often that the surface the car is on is not completely flat,
but on an angle, which adds some camber artifact to one side, and subtracts
the same amount on the opposite side of the car.
If you take a few measurements one way, then flip the car around (back to front)
and take a few measurements the other way, you can figure out the
left to right slope and correct for that as well. If the surface you're parked
on isn't completely flat, this error is there with cheap-o tools to exactly the
same amount as with expensive camber gauges.

 

Very true about the level of the floor you setup on. I always setup in my shop in the same place. Like you say if I measure camber and them flip the car and measure again I can figure the error and I will be able to make those adjustments in future measurements.

I like the look of the gauge mike posted. Has anyone ever used one of the magnetic gauges? I am having a hard time seeing how they would stick on perfectly square. Do they go over the spindle nut?

 

Are you running in a stock class?

If so then there is no meaningful camber adjustment you can make on a stock car.

If you have adjustable plates already just get the car aligned and run around a -2º camber. Been running this for over 4 yrs and love the even tire wear it gives me.

 

I ran D stock last weekend but as it turns out I was classed wrong because of my mods. I'm unsure of exactly which class I should be in.

My plan was to have the gauge to change my camber on days I race. Camber plates are in my near future.

Dad to day driving how bad does the -2 effect your tire wear?

 

For me it simply gets me even wear across my tires. But I don't do a lot of highway miles, just daily driven and many twisties.

 

One of the cool features of the Smart Camber gauge is that if you are on a surface that is not perfectly level, you can calibrate the gauge to that surface before you use it to get a more accurate reading.

 

Looks like you have a reduction pulley. That puts you in SMF, Pax .870.

 

Mike, Does that gauge do caster also? I found a video of this one:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SPS-91000
and it does camber and caster.


Dan thanks for the help on class. I'm looking forward to our next event.

 

Yes, you can use it to do caster as well. There is some math involved IIRC, but it is not too tough. It is nice to be able to do the alignments in your garage rather than have someone take up your time an money doing it every 6 months or so.

Also, I have found no adverse tire wear at -2* camber in the front. I use the car as a DD most of the time.

 

Thanks, that's exactly what I needed to know. I'll place an order the same day I order my camber plates.

 

+1 For the Smart Guage. I got the extra piece to measure castor. I also purchased from Pegasus. Castor is not adjustable on the R53's so it is debateable as to whether you need it other than getting the measurement.

I bought some toe plates from BSR, which are made from honeycomb aluminum. No flex makes for accurat readings. Unfortunately BSR recently went out of business.

Which camber plates are you getting?

 

I've been looking at plates and I'm really leaning towards just ordering some megan coilovers which come with the plates.

I'm still looking around for a great deal though. Nobody local sells them so it's time to surf the internet. Looks like they go from about 850 and up. Some people do sell them with the extensions for the adjusters though.

I just haven't convinced myself to let go of the money for coilovers.

 

I know this topic is a bit old but I wanted to put my 2 cents in. I used a carpenter application on my iPhone. It has a bubble level that's actually very accurate. After installing my adjustable lower rear control arms I placed the phone against the flat part of my rim lip. When I got it aligned at BMW the next weekend they found both sides were within factory specs. They adjusted them .01 on each side.

 

I tried that as well but didn't feel comfortable with the numbers it produced. I took it one step up from there and bought a digital level from sears with accuracy of .1 degree. My plan is to machine an adapter for it like many of the other camber gauges use.

My coilovers should arrive today so it's time to start making the adapter.

 

I have the Fastrax camber gauge and like it. Does what it's supposed to do and I do like that I can adjust the level for slight slopes, as my driveway is not quite level. I use it all the time during autocross season. It has definitely been useful to have a dedicated tool for camber.