The purpose of making adjustments is to make the car go faster around the track, or to make it more controllable, or both if possible. A car
that's easier to drive should produce lower, more consistent lap times. It will also inspire more confidence in the driver, which is always
good when nerves start getting the best of you.
Before you start thinking about changing your car's setup, consider these two things: First, is the car in perfect working order? Be sure
that all of the suspension components operate freely without excessive play, and that the car isn't tweaked. Binding and worn out parts
will result in poor performance and inconsistent handling. Second, always consider tires before making other adjustments. Time spent
trying to get the vehicle to work with the wrong tires mounted will be wasted time. Without the right tires, even a great setup won’t be a
winning setup.
Bumpsteer
MORE
bump out
bump out
LESS
Ackermann
Effect
MORE
(front)
LESS
DR
OO
P M
EA
SU
RE
M
EN
T
AD
JU
ST
H
ER
E
Droop
Ride height is the distance from the bottom of the chassis to the running surface. Ride height
should only be checked and adjusted when your vehicle is ready to run (i.e. with fuel tank
full/body on). Ride height is the first adjustment to be made and should be set with a ride
height measurement tool. Measurements should be taken from the flat parts of the chassis,
front and rear. Be sure to measure the front ride height at a point before the kick up in the
chassis starts. To measure ride height, first make sure the suspension is completely free, then
simultaneously compress the front and rear all the way down and let the vehicle settle. Take
your measurement from that position. Use the shock spring adjustment collars to raise or lower
the ride height to your desired setting. 24mm front and 26mm rear is a good starting point.
Think of bump steer as active toe when the
suspension compresses or rebounds. To adjust
bump steer you have to change the angle of the
steering link. This is accomplished by adding or
removing washers under the ball stud on the
steering spindles. Anytime you change camber
link locations, front arm pills, front arm spacers,
or Ackermann you will need to check and
possibly adjust your bumpsteer. It's best to start
with zero bumpsteer or slight bump out.
Think of Ackermann as active toe
when the steering moves from
left to right. More ackermann
effect makes more toe out at full
turn and produces more steering
off-power. Less ackermann
effect makes less toe out at full
turn and produces more steering
on-power. A good starting point
is the forward hole on the plate.
Ride Height
MEASUREMENT
Camber
CAM
BE
R
Static camber affects the car’s side to side traction. More negative camber front and rear quick-
ens rotation in corners. Less negative camber will make the vehicle easier to drive but you may
give up some responsiveness (i.e. steering). To set your static camber have your vehicle at ride
height (see above) and adjust the camber links until desired angle is achieved. Please note that a
large adjustment of front camber will affect front toe and you may have to readjust the toe and
then re-check front camber again. A good starting measurement for camber is 1-2 degrees in
the front and 1.5-2.5 degrees in the rear.
Droop is the measured amount of down travel in the suspension. It is measured from the shock mounting
points while the vehicle is up on a stand allowing the arms to hang freely and is adjusted by turning the
droop screw located in the suspension arms front/rear. This screw limits the suspension travel by
providing a stopping point against the chassis. Left and right sides should always be equal, however the
front and rear of the vehicle can have different values. Droop affects all aspects of chassis
performance, including braking, acceleration, jumping, traction, and bump handling. A good
starting droop measurement is 117mm front, and 122mm rear.
Front toe is used to describe the angle in which the front wheels point when looking down at
them from the top of a vehicle. You will always use some amount of toe out. Toe-out will
affect how your vehicle enters and exits corners. More toe out will result in more off-power
steering and less on-power steering and less toe out will have the opposite results. To set your
front toe, have your vehicle at ride height (see above) and adjust the steering links until desired
angle is achieved. Please note that a large adjustment of front toe will affect front camber and
you may have to readjust the camber and then re-check front toe again. A good starting point
is approximately 0.5-1 degree of toe out per side.
Front Toe
OUT____IN
IN____OUT
(rear)
28
Setup Information
