AU Camber Kits... need info...

[InfernoSR]

I have been told i need a camber kit in order to get the car sitting right... what sort of $$ am i looking at? I found a set for $69 off ebay, but thats only for 1 side... :

[JoesAu]

the best one is the Kmac camber castor and toe kit. will set you back 400 installed, is alot quiker to align the wheels, saves time. The one your looking at will be a shim type one which is a bit off mucking around, the kmac one one adjusts at a turn of bolt with a socket

[InfernoSR]

Originally Posted by JoesAu

the best one is the Kmac camber castor and toe kit. will set you back 400 installed, is alot quiker to align the wheels, saves time. The one your looking at will be a shim type one which is a bit off mucking around, the kmac one one adjusts at a turn of bolt with a socket

Way to much $$ for me...

[Sox]

Wheel alignment guys love to sell 'camber kits', as there's bugger all money in just throwing a few shims in what you already have.

All you need is a handful of shims ($10), and the right guy, and he will set your front end up in minutes. A 'camber kit' is rarely needed, unless you want the advantage of poly bushes to tighten the front end.

BTW, I strongly disagree with "JoesAu", I would stay away from the overpriced ratchet style kits, as they are an engineering joke. They overcomplicate a very simple job, and they are renowned for going out of adjustment.

Rick.

[InfernoSR]

My guy said that one side is out over half an inch due to ride height... i really dont know what he's talking about HAHA!!

[Sox]

Originally Posted by BLUEPRINT

My guy said that one side is out over half an inch due to ride height... i really dont know what he's talking about HAHA!!

It means that you have too much negative camber due to the stub angle changing naturally as the suspension is compressed.
All what is need is a stack of shims thrown behind the upper control arm bushes to move the upper edge of the tyre outwards.
This is basic stuff, and any decent aligner will know what to do.
It's a good idea to put more shims behind the front bush, as that will give you more positive castor, which is a good thing.

Rick.

[RG]

Sox is right, mine is pretty low and I don't have a camber kit and the front tyres wear evenly. I do have a good aligner.

[InfernoSR]

I knew what he was talking about, i just used my car as the joke :P

He also said that its shimmed out to the max at the moment on the front one out of the pair...

[nitroman]

You need a camber kit if you can't get enough shims behind your upper control arm mounts to correct the caster/camber. I reccomend the shim type, the ratchet type can move easily when the car hits hard bumps and potholes etc. The Au's are usually pretty adjustable standard with lots of thread on the upper mounts. Find an aligner that wants to have a go, not just set your toe.

[InfernoSR]

He said the camber is out over 2 degrees and cant bring it back to the quater of a degree he wants with the stock Chamber Kit and the lowe suspension... i gotta raise it up to hopefully get it back to around half a degree.

[JC]

I've had 4 lowered AUs and 3 of them needed a camber kit for the same reason (not enough thread left on the bolt to add another shim). The kits off ebay are what I have on my EL - $70 odd per side is pretty reasonable, and fitting, especially on the AU, is pretty easy. Just chuck a few shims in and the wheel aligners will throw in the rest as needed (or remove some). The shims they use they get for next to nothing, so it should all be included in a standard wheel alignment price - or you could offer to supply them with the shims that come in the kit if they try to charge you extra for them.

[blackers10]

I also have the superpro(fulcrum) shim type camber kits
they come with a handful of shims but most alignment shops have a bucket of them already so you should be sweet

and $60 a side sounds right
good luck!

[BLACKAUXR8]

Mines just as low if not lower then yours BLUEPRINT and i've just put 20's on and i had to install a camber castor kit to make sure i dont !@#$ the tyres to fast. It was alright with the 18's i liked the handling but i cant afford the tyres every 2 months now.

PS:- By the look of it when your down there ask him to roll your gaurds all round. It looks like in the picture your bending the front gaurd with your tyres like i did. Only cost me around 20 bucks a gaurd and now the big wheels dont even scrub

[Sox]

Originally Posted by BLUEPRINT

I knew what he was talking about, i just used my car as the joke :P

He also said that its shimmed out to the max at the moment on the front one out of the pair...

In a pinch, you still don't need a camber kit as such, you can R&R the bolts with longer ones. This will achieve the same result as the aftermarket kit, less the poly bushes of course.

Rick.

[InfernoSR]

The pic was taken before i got the hammer out to knock back the damage from previous owners... the P/S was fine, just the D/S needed beating back.

[BLACKAUXR8]

mine bent both sides most of the way across the gaurd.

[GK]

Originally Posted by Sox

Wheel alignment guys love to sell 'camber kits', as there's bugger all money in just throwing a few shims in what you already have.

All you need is a handful of shims ($10), and the right guy, and he will set your front end up in minutes. A 'camber kit' is rarely needed, unless you want the advantage of poly bushes to tighten the front end.

BTW, I strongly disagree with "JoesAu", I would stay away from the overpriced ratchet style kits, as they are an engineering joke. They overcomplicate a very simple job, and they are renowned for going out of adjustment.

Rick.

I agree with Rick. The shim type is certainly the cheapest and will stay in adjustment. I have also heard from that the ratchet type do go out of adjustment a lot.

All the best with it.

GK

[Falcon87]

Pedders arnt too bad for a camber kit for the front! I forgot what i paid for mine.

[JoesAu]

Originally Posted by Sox

Wheel alignment guys love to sell 'camber kits', as there's bugger all money in just throwing a few shims in what you already have.

All you need is a handful of shims ($10), and the right guy, and he will set your front end up in minutes. A 'camber kit' is rarely needed, unless you want the advantage of poly bushes to tighten the front end.

BTW, I strongly disagree with "JoesAu", I would stay away from the overpriced ratchet style kits, as they are an engineering joke. They overcomplicate a very simple job, and they are renowned for going out of adjustment.

Rick.

mmm mines never gone out of adjustment its been neaarly 2 years now, not saying i paid 400 either that was everybody elses price

[Sox]

Originally Posted by JoesAu

mmm mines never gone out of adjustment its been neaarly 2 years now, not saying i paid 400 either that was everybody elses price

I'm sure there are plenty which haven't ever moved, however they can and do move in many other instances when under pressure. Shims never move.
Ask anyone who races any E-series and A/B-series Falcons and see who uses the ratchet system. The answer is of course none.

The main beef I have with the ratchet system is that it is simply not necessary. The standard method of using shims is excellent, easy to R&R, easy to work out which thicknesses to use for certain amounts of castor/camber, they never move, and they're cheap.
Why come up with a different method, which is inferior and more expensive, when the original method works so well?

Rick.

[InfernoSR]

I, like alot of others, do not have smooth enough roads to allow for parts that cannot handle really rough terrain... i'll stick with the shimes and just get a set with longer bolts.