I just put on H&R springs today and had the car aligned. The shop said they could not adjust the rear camber all the way back to stock specs...which I already knew was going to be the case. They said the best they could do was to get it to -3 degrees. What can I expect for tire wear? Are my tires going to be gone in a month? From the back of the car the negative camber is noticeable, but I have seen a lot worse. The front was no problem. It looks really really good and drives really really good. Just wondering if I should be worried about the -3 degrees I am sitting on. Thanks!

 

I would want to be back around -1
-3 is quite a bit and you will see good tire wear

 

Camber of -3 is too much. Stock camber is -1.4 to -1.8.

I think the shop you went to does not know how to adjust the camber on a mini.

 

Thanks for the replies!

The shop has done a lot of mini's around my area. They are aware of the slight amount of adjustment that the factory gives in comparison to the no adjustment of the r53 cars.

Anyone else have the H&R springs and were able to get the factory rear camber specs back with the little bit of adjustment the factory gives?

 

Get adjustable rear control arms that will get you were you want to be.

 

I agree with slinger.

If they can only get it down to -3, then either something is wrong with your car or they don't know what they are doing.

I don't think you'd be able to get to stock rear camber but a minimum of -3 implies something is wrong IMO. I would recommend adjustable rear control arms either way.

- Andrew

 

At Speed Motorsports in Hanover, MD wasn't able to get my rear camber back to factory specs without the adjustable control arms.

 

Totally incorrect if the OEM adjusters and arms are in place as they only give about 0.5 to 0.7 of adjustment, so there would be no way to get it back close to stock.

Now the H-Sport or Alta and some other control arms can give upwards of 3-4 degrees of adjustment and should bring the car right back to where it should be.

 

I don't doubt they could not get it back to stock, but if they can only get it to -3 then I'd have some questions for them. -3 is a heck of a lot.

How much do these springs lower the car?

- Andrew

 

I think it might depend on what kind of adjustment is already on those bolts. Not saying that it was ever changed, but if for some reason it wasn't exactly like it should have been from the factory, then when they went to adjust it there might not have been the full range to adjust from the get go. It lowered it quite a bit and that may be the other problem. Maybe with a 1" drop the amount of negative camber could be corrected with the small amount available with the stock arms, but at 1.4" or so, maybe that is just too much to compensate for. When I look from the back of the car it does look like negative camber, but not drastic...and it does handle VERY well. I will watch the tire wear and put on some hsports if it looks bad.

 

I do think you should get the rear control arms because you will see some uneven wear at -3. Plus, you will get even better handling if you take out some rear negative camber. Also do the free camber mod up front while you're at it.

- Andrew

 

I wish you would read the statement from Andy before you go overboard. All that was said was -3 is too much and nothing was mentioned about being able to get back to stock.

Btw, I think Andy is very logical and experienced on NAM wrt to suspensions.

 

Get some Hsport rear camber links and you'll be able to dial it in fine.

 

What is this free camber mod up front?

 

Also, if your toe is set correctly I don't think that -3 degrees will hurt it for now. I ran on about -3 for a solid year and a half just fine. Now I am running -6. Gotta do what you gotta do! A 16x9 +13 isn't exactly the easiest thing to fit in the rear fenders on a Mini.

 

+100 for my friends Porthos and Way. Duh!!!!!!!!