245 Hoosiers in the front?

[larryn]

Originally Posted by MarkR171

That alignment pin is only used for production to help align the parts but is completely unnecessary for the car? Removing it allows more negative camber and a chance to run wider tires?

Yes, and yes.


The 3 strut hat bolts bolt into slots on the strut tower. Removing the alignment pin, loosening the 3 nuts, and sliding the strut hat more inboard gives you ~-.6deg (approx.) for an unlowered car... more if lowered.

The slots only allow about 3/8" travel, but allows you 3/8" more room on the fender side, for rubber.

[bluesunit]

Wider tire, plus increased front grip. On MacPherson cars when the struts are under compression, the wheel will go into a positive camber state, causing you to ride on the outer edge of the tire. This results in a smaller contact patch and less grip.

By adding more negative camber, you will have a larger contact patch under compression and more grip in the turns (which the 1 needs).

Free camber mod is easy:

• Open the hood.
• Loosen, but do not remove, the 3 bolts each on top of the strut towers
• Remove the centering pins. Use big ass pliers . . . you may have to drill them out (the dealer did on mine.)
• Stick a closed ended wrench into the hole on top of the strut tower and gently pry the rubber strut top towards the centerline of the car. You should get about a half inch of movement.
• Retighten the bolts to 34 N*m
• Go get an alignment, as you toe is now likely borked.

A decent alignment shop will do all this for you if you pull the pins.