What would be a decent cost for an alignment after installing H-Sport Springs and H-Sport Lower Control Arms? I am clueless on what to expect. With the H-Sport control arms is it something you would trust quality alignment shop to do that has never worked on a MINI before?

Any input would be helpful!!

JBing

 

I paid $100 something for rear camber and toe, and front toe alignment.

 

I paid about $55 for front and rear toe and camber adjustment after I installed my rear four control arms here in the northeast.

 

Usually cars with aftermarket adjustments such as camber correction, etc
are considered as running a performance or 'exotic car' alignment so it cost about $100-125.

For stock cars, usually runs $70-85.

 

those $$'s are about right, I paid $100 for mine.

 

$49.95 for me. Front and rear and they let me sit in the car while they do it.

 

Whether or not the shop has done a MINI before is not as important as whether the alignment tech is caring and competent. My first shop alignment for the MINI didn’t last the trip home. The trailing arm bolts and control arm nuts were loose after 50 miles. The tech kept banging on the wheel attachments to get them set resulting in chipped finishes on all the wheels. This was at a shop that prided itself on MINI work.

Here are some price listings for alignment services: http://www.soulspeed.com/services/prices.asp. I can recommend this shop as being caring and competent.

 

Steves auto clinic charges 150 to do the install and that includes a 4 wheel alignment.

Randy

www.m7tuning.com

 

In my area a four wheel alignment costs about $85 to $100 and takes about 90 to 100 minutes with your setup. I usually go to a Brake and alignment specialty shop and not your average garage or chain brake or tire store. Specialty shops will know how to use the adjustable control arms to set rear camber (doesn't hurt to remind them).

More important is what settings you wish to have for your alignment. While you can choose factory settings, you can choose to tweak them for a bit more performance since you have lower rear control arms. More negative camber in the rear helps with more aggressive cornering so you can ask for the limit of the stock setting for rear camber. You can keep the toe settings to stock values for the smoothest ride/best tire wear or for more performance you can set front toe to 1/16" toe out and rear to zero toe.

To set front camber you'll need front camber plates which cost about $500
see webbmotorsports.com or helix13.com

 

I'm installing H-sport camber plates with stock springs before the auto-x season starts. Right after installation I will be going to a local performance alignment shop to get things dialed in right. I am planning to set it and forget it until the end of the season in the fall. I am not confident in adjusting at the track having no castor adjustment ability or tools to get it right.

Knowing everything is a compromise, can I go full negative camber (-2.0 to -2.2) on the front without loosing daily drivability? I don't mind rotating my tires as I run solo specific tires and wheels and a different street set. What about the rear camber alignment settings? I don't have adjustible rear arms is there adjustment in the stock arms?

Will it get too twitchy on the interstate with 1/16" toe out in front and 0 toe in the rear. I don't mind quick and responsive but my wife occasionally drives the car and I don't want her to be afraid of it.

 

minifinn,
It sounds like you will have H-sport front camber plates, stock springs front and rear and no rear adjustable lower control arms.

Given that set up I would estimate that you would have the following alignment-
Front camber about -2.2 degrees at best (it's possible with the stock springs that the most negative could be only -2.0 degrees). -2 degrees front camber for street use is fine.

Toe- 1/16" out is fine for autocross and stree use- not bad at all. 1/8" toe out would be more aggressive for track/autocross use.

Rear camber- this would be a stock setting due to using only stock springs and no rear adjustable control arms so I'd estimate about -1.0 to -1.6 degrees. When you do your alignment the shop can tell you what you have but they will not be able to change rear camber. If it is -1.0 degrees then it will not be optimal for autocross. If it is closer to -1.6 degrees then leave it there and no lower adjustable rear control arm will be needed for now. If you do buy and install lowering springs then it will change camber settings in both front and rear and you'd likely need to add the rear lower control arms at that time.

Rear toe can be set to any setting you want. Zero toe is fine for street use or at autocross.

You should do alignment about once a year since things get banged up and go out of alignment (Darn potholes!!)

I hope you have an adjustable rear sway bar as well. Try the soft or middle setting for autocross. H-sport comp or Rspeed bar are good.

As for the front camber plates, the H-sport is a good price at $420 but requires drilling holes for the mounting of it. Another good choice for not much more is the Webbmotorsport camber plates for $495.
http://www.webbmotorsports.com/suspension.php


See additional hole drilled for maximum camber.


WMS front camber plates.

 

I'd like to know if the H-Sport plates can be installed withOUT drilling new holes? To extend, which plates out there use only the stock mounting holes?

 

Finally getting ready to get an alignment. I plan on 1/16" toe out in front. Will the alignment shop be able to understand this spec? Does this need to be converted to deg/min/sec or can I just tell them 1/16" toe out and get it right? They are also setting my camber (I'm installalling H-Sport plates the day before I go). The guy I'm going to is at a VW/Audi dealership and is supposed to know set-ups for auto-X.

I'm starting the season with stock springs/shocks and h-sport comp rear bar
1/16" toe out front
0 toe rear
-2.2 camber front

What else do I need to tell him?

 

There should be no problem. Just give'm the numbers and they should do fine.

I asked if I could hang out and they said no problem. It was good to be there and ask questions.

 

You might want to call Randy Webb at Webbmotorsports.com and ask about the alignment settings in your case with stock springs and NO rear adjustable lower control arms???? (needed to adjust rear camber).

Normally those who add front camber plates have lowering springs and they have adjustable lower rear control arms. This allows for adjustment of both front and rear negative camber. Most of the time we try for about -2.0 to -2.2 degrees front camber and about -1.0 less for the rear camber although it is possible to do OK with -1.5 to -1.6 degrees in the rear.

Toe in the front should be 1/16" out (they will be OK if you tell them that) and zero toe in the rear.

Also you can ask him about the H-sport camber plates if you can mount them without drilling any new holes. Not sure on that.

RDR camber plates and Webb plates you can install with stock holes- no drilling needed.