slotting struts for alignment - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

s145tam · 03-08-2007, 02:20 AM

Im running kyb agx struts custom coil over w/ cusco camber plates. I have the plates set to maximum positive but when i took my car to an alignment shop and they said i have about -3 degrees camber all around. they want to charge me like 500 bucks to slot the struts.

I'd rather do it myself. Anybody know how to go about doing this? I suppose i would need a special drill bit... any suggestions would be apreciated

thanks!

johngriff · 03-08-2007, 02:31 AM

Just measure a reasonable amount of space forward of the top hole, and match the measurement on all sides. Mark it with a sharpie. Use a dremel and a Carbide porting bit (about $25 for a good one from a tool shop, try mcmastercarr). Make sure you use cutting oil, and keep an eye on the temp of the strut body, that way it is not too hot, they are gas filled. BTW you only need to hit the top bolt.

projectRDM · 03-08-2007, 07:52 AM

^ What he said. Take your time, the strut body is thick as hell and doesn't cut easily.

cdlong · 03-08-2007, 11:31 AM

is your car fucked up or something? that's crazy high even for stock parts, with camber plates you should be able to make it positive if you really wanted. there are usually several sets of holes in the top of the camber plates, are you using the right ones?

!Zar! · 03-08-2007, 11:36 AM

Sounds like you installed them wrong.

Either that or your subframe is fubar.

Or you could buy eccentric bolts.

drew935 · 03-08-2007, 02:19 PM

/\

How low is your car? Wheel gap is how much?

s145tam · 03-08-2007, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the suggestions!

yeah, i dunno, my car is pretty crazy...

i installed the camber plates and i think they only go on one way so i dunno how i could mess that up. My car is set low but its still pretty reasonable (2 finger gap btwn wheel/fender and about 2.75" ground clearance maybe?). I have 17s all around. I assume that if my frame was f'ed up that the guy at the frame/alignment shop would tell me...

do the make eccentric bolts for 240's that adjust 3 degrees? the highest ive seen was .75... where can i get those?

drew935 · 03-08-2007, 05:55 PM

ok, I'm running s14se wheels, 2.25 finger gap at -1.3/-1.4 camber in the front
2.5 to 2.75 finger gap in the rear with -1.5 to -1.8 camber.

I have cusco zero2 coilovers and know that you should have enough camber adjustment in the front with even a one finger gap.

Oops, also I forgot to add that I have eccentric bolts in the front since they come with the coilovers. I think that they are set at the 3rd marking on it. So maybe that's what you might need on the fronts. My rucas are stock and maxed out on the setting.

cdlong · 03-08-2007, 07:22 PM

Not 240sx parts, just an example.

see in the narrow slots (two on each plate) how there are several unused holes? depending on what holes the set screws are in determines the range of camber adjustment you have. you can change the range by changing the holes the set screws are in. check which holes you are using and get back to us.

Nuisance Crew · 03-08-2007, 08:18 PM

If you use eccentric bolts in both the top and bottom hole you can double the degree of adjustability.

s145tam · 03-09-2007, 02:28 AM

there are five holes arranged 0X0X0 where X are the bolts. It is adjusted to the max though because the center pilloball bearing is slid all the way positive and cant go any further. i guess it would be cheapest to just slot the strut and get it over with...

jmauld · 03-09-2007, 05:25 AM

Can you get a picture of your camber plates installed?

drew935 · 03-09-2007, 10:19 AM

/\ ++ on the pictures. It'll help us help you out better

btw, those look like suby plates. hehe

s145tam · 03-09-2007, 08:32 PM

sorry for the crappy photo skills...
i also just ordered some OBX eccentric bolts off of ebay for 20 bucks... i heard they kinda suck but i dont plan on racing them so i think it should be okay. right?

jmauld · 03-09-2007, 08:41 PM

Well, you have a little bit more adjustment in the camber plates if you move the two small bolts in one space. However, with the placement of those plates, you really shouldn't have -3 degrees??? Are you running S14 control arms on a S13?

Another thing you can try to do is rotate the plate clockwise 120 degrees, and slide the adjuster to the other side. That will get you a buttload more caster and might allow you take out a little more camber.

Do your coilovers have camber built into them? Look at the hub mount and see if the holes are aligned parallel to the shock body or if they are at an angle.

I've never had much luck with the crash bolts. They always slip with me, and if try to tighten them tighter than spec, they break.

s145tam · 03-10-2007, 06:44 AM

i have an s14. im using kyb agx shocks and ground control coilovers w/ cusco plates. i think the plates only fit one way... Im gonna take off my wheels when i get back into town to check the if the hub.

jmauld · 03-10-2007, 06:49 AM

Those three holes are equally space. You can spin that plate to fit in either of the three positions.

projectRDM · 03-10-2007, 08:31 AM

I would seriously slot the strut before using eccentric bolts. The ones I've dealt with in the past can easily slip when tightened or when under load, and they're not the best grade steel. Three different times I tried removing one from a local's car and broke them in half, he finally sucked it up and let me slot them.

johngriff · 03-10-2007, 05:14 PM

Do not use the eccentric bolts, they are more headache, and very UNSAFE. NOT RECOMMENDED!!!!!

03-08-2007, 02:20 AM	#1
s145tam Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 5 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	slotting struts for alignment Im running kyb agx struts custom coil over w/ cusco camber plates. I have the plates set to maximum positive but when i took my car to an alignment shop and they said i have about -3 degrees camber all around. they want to charge me like 500 bucks to slot the struts. I'd rather do it myself. Anybody know how to go about doing this? I suppose i would need a special drill bit... any suggestions would be apreciated thanks!

03-08-2007, 02:31 AM	#2
johngriff Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 4,103 Trader Rating: (4) Rides Gallery: johngriff Feedback Score: 4 reviews	Just measure a reasonable amount of space forward of the top hole, and match the measurement on all sides. Mark it with a sharpie. Use a dremel and a Carbide porting bit (about $25 for a good one from a tool shop, try mcmastercarr). Make sure you use cutting oil, and keep an eye on the temp of the strut body, that way it is not too hot, they are gas filled. BTW you only need to hit the top bolt. __________________ [email protected]

03-08-2007, 11:36 AM	#5
!Zar! Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North Korea Posts: 14,579 Trader Rating: (27) Feedback Score: 27 reviews	Sounds like you installed them wrong. Either that or your subframe is fubar. Or you could buy eccentric bolts. __________________

03-08-2007, 02:19 PM	#6
drew935 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Silver Creek - San Jose Posts: 996 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	/\ How low is your car? Wheel gap is how much? __________________ I'm driving fast -drew

03-08-2007, 05:55 PM	#8
drew935 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Silver Creek - San Jose Posts: 996 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ok, I'm running s14se wheels, 2.25 finger gap at -1.3/-1.4 camber in the front 2.5 to 2.75 finger gap in the rear with -1.5 to -1.8 camber. I have cusco zero2 coilovers and know that you should have enough camber adjustment in the front with even a one finger gap. Oops, also I forgot to add that I have eccentric bolts in the front since they come with the coilovers. I think that they are set at the 3rd marking on it. So maybe that's what you might need on the fronts. My rucas are stock and maxed out on the setting. __________________ I'm driving fast -drew

03-08-2007, 07:52 AM	#3
projectRDM Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Age: 51 Posts: 13,812 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	^ What he said. Take your time, the strut body is thick as hell and doesn't cut easily.

03-08-2007, 11:31 AM	#4
cdlong Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Age: 44 Posts: 1,865 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: cdlong Feedback Score: 0 reviews	is your car fucked up or something? that's crazy high even for stock parts, with camber plates you should be able to make it positive if you really wanted. there are usually several sets of holes in the top of the camber plates, are you using the right ones?

03-08-2007, 05:03 PM	#7
s145tam Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 5 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Thanks for the suggestions! yeah, i dunno, my car is pretty crazy... i installed the camber plates and i think they only go on one way so i dunno how i could mess that up. My car is set low but its still pretty reasonable (2 finger gap btwn wheel/fender and about 2.75" ground clearance maybe?). I have 17s all around. I assume that if my frame was f'ed up that the guy at the frame/alignment shop would tell me... do the make eccentric bolts for 240's that adjust 3 degrees? the highest ive seen was .75... where can i get those?

03-08-2007, 07:22 PM	#9
cdlong Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Age: 44 Posts: 1,865 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: cdlong Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Not 240sx parts, just an example. see in the narrow slots (two on each plate) how there are several unused holes? depending on what holes the set screws are in determines the range of camber adjustment you have. you can change the range by changing the holes the set screws are in. check which holes you are using and get back to us.

03-08-2007, 08:18 PM	#10
Nuisance Crew Leaky Injector Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 61 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If you use eccentric bolts in both the top and bottom hole you can double the degree of adjustability.

03-09-2007, 02:28 AM	#11
s145tam Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 5 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	there are five holes arranged 0X0X0 where X are the bolts. It is adjusted to the max though because the center pilloball bearing is slid all the way positive and cant go any further. i guess it would be cheapest to just slot the strut and get it over with...

03-09-2007, 05:25 AM	#12
jmauld Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cary, NC Age: 49 Posts: 362 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Can you get a picture of your camber plates installed? __________________ Jason '95 240sx SE

03-09-2007, 10:19 AM	#13
drew935 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Silver Creek - San Jose Posts: 996 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	/\ ++ on the pictures. It'll help us help you out better btw, those look like suby plates. hehe __________________ I'm driving fast -drew

03-09-2007, 08:32 PM	#14
s145tam Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 5 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	sorry for the crappy photo skills... i also just ordered some OBX eccentric bolts off of ebay for 20 bucks... i heard they kinda suck but i dont plan on racing them so i think it should be okay. right?

03-09-2007, 08:41 PM	#15
jmauld Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cary, NC Age: 49 Posts: 362 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Well, you have a little bit more adjustment in the camber plates if you move the two small bolts in one space. However, with the placement of those plates, you really shouldn't have -3 degrees??? Are you running S14 control arms on a S13? Another thing you can try to do is rotate the plate clockwise 120 degrees, and slide the adjuster to the other side. That will get you a buttload more caster and might allow you take out a little more camber. Do your coilovers have camber built into them? Look at the hub mount and see if the holes are aligned parallel to the shock body or if they are at an angle. I've never had much luck with the crash bolts. They always slip with me, and if try to tighten them tighter than spec, they break. __________________ Jason '95 240sx SE

03-10-2007, 06:44 AM	#16
s145tam Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 5 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i have an s14. im using kyb agx shocks and ground control coilovers w/ cusco plates. i think the plates only fit one way... Im gonna take off my wheels when i get back into town to check the if the hub.

03-10-2007, 06:49 AM	#17
jmauld Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cary, NC Age: 49 Posts: 362 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Those three holes are equally space. You can spin that plate to fit in either of the three positions. __________________ Jason '95 240sx SE

03-10-2007, 08:31 AM	#18
projectRDM Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Age: 51 Posts: 13,812 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	I would seriously slot the strut before using eccentric bolts. The ones I've dealt with in the past can easily slip when tightened or when under load, and they're not the best grade steel. Three different times I tried removing one from a local's car and broke them in half, he finally sucked it up and let me slot them.

03-10-2007, 05:14 PM	#19
johngriff Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 4,103 Trader Rating: (4) Rides Gallery: johngriff Feedback Score: 4 reviews	Do not use the eccentric bolts, they are more headache, and very UNSAFE. NOT RECOMMENDED!!!!! __________________ [email protected]