Alignment/Corner Balancing Shop and Spec Recommendations

[maan1986]

1. Recommendations on local shops to have an alignment and corner Balancing done.

2. Recommended specs for alignment, ride height, rake, etc.

Installed 949 racing xidas (ASTs), 1.125" hollow rb sway front, 14mm rear sway, FM adj end links.

[Davidss]

Texas Track Works

[Steve E]

Ditto on Texas Track Works. Alignment specs tend to depend on model and what your primary use for the car will be.

[jrj512]

What year Miata?

[MoonieGT]

He doesn't do corner balancing, but for anyone who doesn't want/need CB, I just went to Bobby Garrett's this morning for an alignment. I'm pretty happy with his work. He did it all old-school, no "lasers" (<- Dr. Evil quotes).

[trickyrix]

I just went to Bobby Garrett's this morning for an alignment.

+1 for Bobby Garrett for an alignment. He did mine exactly to my specs before Hallett last year - I took him tie rod ends, too. Tiny shop, old school, but he does very solid work at a very reasonable price.

[EricJ]

I took mine to 5th Gear in Lewisville. They're closer to my house than Texas Track Works.
I used the specs on the 949 Racing web site.

[TexasStig]

I took mine to 5th Gear in Lewisville. They're closer to my house than Texas Track Works.
I used the specs on the 949 Racing web site.

About how much do they charge?

[maan1986]

Sorry, should of mentioned that.

It's a NB, 2000 year model.
Stock power, LSD, 225/45/R15 Hankook RS3's for track, 205/50R15 Kumhos for street (although I've been just driving on the RS3's mostly lately)
I drive it on the weekends (not my DD) and autox. Right now it's about 75% street, 25% autox. Plan to get into road courses in the next year or so. I enjoy driving the car around just for kicks.

In terms of alignment, I'm looking for something "sporty" but not so aggressive and track oriented that it kills my tires when I take it out on the weekends.

Regarding ride height, measuring from the pinch welds I'm 4" from the ground in the front, and 4.25" from the ground in the rear.

[maan1986]

I took mine to 5th Gear in Lewisville. They're closer to my house than Texas Track Works.
I used the specs on the 949 Racing web site.

Which set of specs did you use from the 949 site?
What's your ride height set at?

[EricJ]

About how much do they charge?

With the alignment, I think it was $350 or $400, but I can remember for sure. My thought at the time was they were more than Texas Tracks Works, plus no redo's for a year.

http://949racing.com/miata-race-alignment-info.aspx

I think we used the DD alignment. We lowered it to 12"/4.5"

[bnordin]

MER at MSR did mine for $200 prox.

[SirHustlerEsq]

5th Gear or TX Track Works.

Those sway bars links are going to break.

Nice shocks.

[maan1986]

I went ahead and got an appointment at TTW for corner balancing and alignment. They're booked to about 2 weeks out!
I've heard that the racing beat "old style" ones tend to break, but these are the the double ball joint pieces that are supposedly much stronger. We'll see.

[jrj512]

I've heard that the racing beat "old style" ones tend to break, but these are the the double ball joint pieces that are supposedly much stronger. We'll see.

I bought mine in 2009. I have no idea if they are the old style or new style, but they have held up to a lot of abuse. Maybe it's just luck and the clock is still ticking.

[maan1986]

The top is old style, and the bottom is new style. They seemed pretty beefy for their purpose.

Here's what I got off the 949racing site, want to see if anyone has suggestions...

SuperMiata DD Alignment
>=12" front ride height (measured hub center to fender)

>=4.5" front ride height measured at forward most straight section of pinch weld with 205/50/15 or 225/45/15 tires

Front camber: -2° (or as close as you can get to it)
Caster: >4°
Front total toe: 0

Rear camber : -1.8°
Rear total toe: 0

[jrj512]

I have the old style. That's just how I roll.

[bnordin]

I have the old style. That's just how I roll.

+1

[johnwag]

SuperMiata DD Alignment
>=12" front ride height (measured hub center to fender)

>=4.5" front ride height measured at forward most straight section of pinch weld with 205/50/15 or 225/45/15 tires

Front camber: -2° (or as close as you can get to it)
Caster: >4°
Front total toe: 0

Rear camber : -1.8°
Rear total toe: 0

Those settings are a good compromise for the street. Depending on your skill level, you'll likely find that 2* isn't enough for the track, but it's a good starting point.
At 4" front/4.25" rear, you might end up with more camber than you need. It would be a good idea to raise the car and you should still be able to get the 949 settings with no problem.