Camber questions...

S

sparki

I <3 bass
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
281
Reaction score
10
Points
16
As I know nothing about this in the slightest whats involved in adjusting it? Is it an easy job? special equipment needed? parts? tools? How does this effect handling and tyre wear? can you adjust camber on the fronts as well as the rears and again how does this affect handling?

Thanks
 
  • Like
Reactions: quattro81
Camber isn't adjustable as the strut slides into the hub, there isn't any camber bolts which you get on older cars.
All you can do is buy some coilovers which you then buy adjustable top mounts for the camber but then the amount if camber adjustment is tiny :/
 
  • Like
Reactions: sparki
I think you've answered your own question if you don't know anything about steering/suspension then don't touch it.

Camber is the the measurement of the vertical angle of your wheels to the road. Basically if you look at the car head on if your wheels appear to lean in at the top then that is negative camber, if the tops appear to be further out than the bottom then that is positive camber. Needs to be adjusted by an experienced person but can be done without too specialised equipment. It is often done after lowering a car as the c of g of the car will go down and the loading on the wheels will be altered putting extra load to the inside edges of your tyres, so you may want to adjust in a bit of positive camber to correct the wear on the tyres. Alternatively if you want a track animal to go round corners faster you may want to have a bit more negative camber so as to give more grip on the outside tyres at speed in a corner. At least that's my understanding of it better informed members on here may be able to explain it better.

HTH

Alan
 
  • Like
Reactions: sparki
Alan your spot on, extra camber is amazing on the bends but it's hard to keep the car in a straight line when flat out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sparki
Front camber is not adjustable on a standard A3 rear is adjustable.
OEM A3 run -0,5° of camber at the front and -1,5° at the rear.

If you want to improve handling you have to run more front négative camber.
In my opinion it's the best mod' ever. The car will be more over steering/neutral biased insteed of understeering biased, you will get much more grip at the front while cornering.

If you only drive on open road, you should run between -1,7°/-2,2° at the front and -1,5° at the rear.

If you drive on open road and on track, you should run between -2°/-2,5° at the front and -1,7°/-2° at the rear.

If you drive mainly on track, you should run between -2,5°/-3° at the front and -2°/-2,5° at the rear.

You can adjuste front camber thanks to longer front wishbones like Morego's or TT's, or/and adjustable top mounts.

If you change camber you have to make your car aligned by a spécialist as changing camber affect toe as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NCRAW and sparki
Thanks for all the comments guys I'm a bit more in the know now. I was never going to attempt to do this my self I just wanted to understand the process and what was actually involved.

The reason I ask is I may keep my BBS so I know there a little wide so coilies and a bit of negative camber will be necessary to get them in the arches. The car doesn't do a lot of miles anymore just 3 miles to work, the occasional trip back home to the midlands every couple of months (100miles) but that's it. It's not a performance thing, It's just a styling thing however if it does come with performance benefits then that's a bonus.

So basically I'm looking for Coilies and adjustable top mounts to do the job...? I was looking at KW bit pricey but I know you get what you pay for.
 
They are pricey lol, I've got some KW V1's on order, I also priced up some adjustable top mounts at £400+ like you say, very pricey!
 
I'm running -2 camber out back, it is adjustable, I had it done when I had my alignment done in March, I'll get it checked out again when I put the new hoops on, may go to -1.5, I've not noticed any tyre wear, but then I haven't done that many miles so its hard to say
 
N8 said:
I'm running -2 camber out back, it is adjustable, I had it done when I had my alignment done in March, I'll get it checked out again when I put the new hoops on, may go to -1.5, I've not noticed any tyre wear, but then I haven't done that many miles so its hard to say
Click to expand...

You have adjustable top mounts N8 or theres something that allows you to adjust as it is?
 
basssound said:
They are pricey lol, I've got some KW V1's on order, I also priced up some adjustable top mounts at £400+ like you say, very pricey!
Click to expand...

yeah that is pricey think I'll just hope someone buys the wheels and concentrate on saving instead
 
Well i've not bought any adjustable ones yet, gonna see what the tyre wear is like first.
I'm only gonna go about 40mm lower than the standard Sline suspension so the camber angle difference should be negligible.
 
Hi Guys,

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have just bought an A3 2.0TFSI (2006) which has been previously lowered (only H&R lowering springs though :(). I have the original S-line springs with it. I also have a set of 19s (very hard ride!) on it and noticing a severe amount of wear on the inside edges of the front wheels. The back ones are not bad at all. Im pretty sure this is down to the negative camber caused by the lowering of the car excessivly (not excessively enough as im sure a few folk would say in here! :laugh: N8 im looking at you).

Im guessing its around 35-40mm lower than the original S-line springs... (pure guess by looking at it, pics can be seen here:- http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/welcome-section/121123-new-owner-a3.html).

I was hoping that there would be some amount of adjustment in the front susp linkage for the camber but looking at this thread its bad news. And therefore going for a 4 wheel alignment would be of no benefit as they would not be able to adjust the camber? (the rears are wearing fine, probably been adjusted to suit already)

Is the only answer Coilovers with adjustable top mounts? Im guessing the adjustable top mount simply move the top of the strut either in or out? S3 hubs or susp have any adjustment etc?

Thanks
 
You can use TT lower arms. They are adjustable and they are cheaper than coilovers. I've just installed such arms on my car and these days I have to get the wheels alined. I'm planning a -2 camber on the front and -1 on the rear. Also I'll have the TOE adjusted. Some TOE out on the front and TOE in on the rear (not sure yet on how much).
 
Johnny Bravo said:
You can use TT lower arms. They are adjustable and they are cheaper than coilovers. I've just installed such arms on my car and these days I have to get the wheels alined. I'm planning a -2 camber on the front and -1 on the rear. Also I'll have the TOE adjusted. Some TOE out on the front and TOE in on the rear (not sure yet on how much).
Click to expand...

Have you got a part number for these arms or a eBay link? Cheers
 
I have never seen them un e-bay. I had to buy them from the store.
I'll take a look and come back with the part numbers.
 
Took a picture of the one for the right hand side. Not sure if the code in the image is for the arm or the pivot.
In the first pic you can see the bush which is full, compared to the standard ones on the A3 which have holes. The aluminium support won't match on the holes and you'll have to keep your current ones.
 

Attachments

  • uploadfromtaptalk1362338117346.jpg
    uploadfromtaptalk1362338117346.jpg
    97.8 KB · Views: 520
  • uploadfromtaptalk1362338137268.jpg
    uploadfromtaptalk1362338137268.jpg
    92.4 KB · Views: 469
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Phatboyruss1
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Moxy89
Negative camber
Replies
10
Views
876
Moxy89
Moxy89
Smithe95
Rear camber
Replies
4
Views
1K
Smithe95
Smithe95
2
Rear camber
Replies
0
Views
510
20pricey11
2
R
Rear camber
Replies
9
Views
924
Ryan94
R
maddrick92
Camber kit?
Replies
1
Views
789
S38P
S38P
Top
Back