Mazda Miata: Wheel Alignment

In article <XGuSb.339880$X%5.194115@pd7tw2no>,
"Socket Baby" <secret> wrote:
 

Annual alignments are a good idea, regardless. The Miata responds very
nicely to a precision alignment. Do it, but you might want to read my
alignment page first (below).

How much do your new wheels weigh? Heavy wheels hurt handling; I
wouldn't use a wheel that weighed over 13 pounds on a Miata, or 15
pounds at the most. OEM '92 alloys weigh about 12 pounds.
 

Dunno if it's safe, but it's a bad idea, since you'll have little
control over the new spring rate. Too soft, and you'll be bottoming
constantly; too hard, and your handling will go away on rough roads.

The stock Miata suspension has barely enough wheel travel to cope with
ordinary driving, about 1.5 inches before bumpstop contact. If you drop
the car an inch, you'll lose 2/3 of that travel, so you'll need much
stiffer springs to stay off the bumpstops. Any time you stiffen springs,
you also need to upgrade the shocks, or you'll bounce all over the road
like riceboys in slammed Civics.

Why do you want to lower your car? Yeah, it looks cool, but it's very
easy to ruin the ride and handling, not to mention scraping on driveways
and speedbumps. Miatas are already very low, especially early models.
Lower than stock is only beneficial for track-only cars with very stiff
suspensions.

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

I recently stumbled across something on the web written by a fellow who
claims to do his own wheel alignment. He went through a detailed and lengthy
description of how he calibrates his garage floor, greases up a couple of
floor tiles to put under the front tires, etc. and claims to do a better job
than the guy you actually pay money to.

Has anyone in this group actually done something similar to this? If so, I
am really curious to hear about your experience and the results. It seems
like one of those things that appears to be very difficult until you do it
once. Once, which success, one would hope.

Ken

I'm a bit picky about alignment. First the average shop will do a "good
enough" alignment, not a perfect one. I notice the difference. Next, a Miata
can be annoying to drive when set to right down the middle of the various
specs.
Long distance driving on a crowned highway for instance. Autocross is
another bag of worms from the alignment standpoint. Finally, if the rear
alignment is not correct, "torque steer" can be very annoying. There are
methods of alignment that rely on a very flat, level floor. They do work
when done correctly. If that isn't bad enough, tires and alignment interact.

"KWS" <com> wrote in message
news:kkRzc.61262$.. 
lengthy 
job 

'torque steer' is a front-wheel-drive affliction.

dookie

"chuckk" <compuserve.com> wrote in message
news:cbae3k$frc$news.aol.com... 
Miata 
interact. 
of 
I 
seems 
it 

interesting topic...
I was about to ask what may be causing my recently acquired '94 to want to
'drift' to the left under hard acceleration, then seem to revert to the
right when letting off... don't notice this effect unless I really jump on
it.
I did notice the other day when cleaning the wheels, that the drivers (left)
side rear wheel appears to be a tad farther forward in the fender opening
than the right rear wheel. I guess it's off to the alignment shop !

Pete Breemhaar
Georgetown, Ontario

"dookie" <dookie@-OBVIOUS-dooksucks.com> wrote in message
news:kB7Cc.65724$southeast.rr.com... 
various 
rear 
are 
who 
better 
so, 
do 

In article <DXLCc.5571$primus.ca>,
"Pete Breemhaar" <net> wrote:
 

That's almost always a rear tire going flat. Sometimes it's caused by
mismatched rear tires--different brand or different diameter.

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

tires are identical and almost new... seller had left me all bills, which
showed tires purchased just 10,000 kms (6000 mi) ago. I keep them at
28psi... they aren't great tires, (really, they're crap) previous owner
went cheap & put on General Tires, which look like they belong on a Toyota
Echo. When I figure out what I want to replace them with, they're gone.
I'm sure the difference in driving the Miata with decent tires will be
amazing.
Any thoughts on the reason for the wheel not appearing to be in the centre
of the fender opening ??? left side is almost 1/2 inch closer to the front
of the fender opening than the right side. No indication what-so-ever that
the car has had any kind of rear-end or side collision.

Pete

"Lanny Chambers" <net> wrote in message
news:news.prodigy.com... 
to 

How about getting your tape out and start measuring? Seems
to me it should be straightforward to compare left versus right
and see what is different. May want to jack it up and put it
on stands first. Check that there is still a visible difference
after you have done that, of course. Otherwise jack it down slowly
and keep track.

Leon

"Pete Breemhaar" <net> wrote:
 

--
Leon van Dommelen Bozo, the White 96 Sebring Miata .)
To reply to me, the word Miata must be in the subject.
EXIT THE INTERSTATES (Jamie Jensen)