After the initial stage of the suspension tune where the TEIN damper kit was added, the vehicle's ride height was lowered. This was not a conscious choice so much as how aftermarket performance suspensions work. They almost always lower the car below OE specifications. This lowers the center of gravity and thus improves the car's cornering ability. It also increases negative camber and sometimes sets off other settings such as toe and caster. Unfortunately lowering the car below factory settings will also sometimes negatively effect the suspension geometry and make a conflict between how everything was originally engineered to interact.

I took the 240sx to an alignmnt shop to see what the settings were after the installation of the coilovers and some camber adjustments I made myself.

Before:

Front

Camber: -0.4L/-0.9R

Caster: 7.3L/7.2R

Toe: 0.23L/-0.13R



Rear

Camber: -2.1L/-2.5R

Toe: 0.13L/0.39R


Not so great, it would naturally pull to the right and the front/rear camber balance made for excessive understeering, especially under power. I had the alignment shop tune it to my personal specifications.

Front

Camber: -2.0L/-2.0R

Caster: 6.4L/6.4R

Toe: 0.05L/0.05R



Rear

Camber: -1.8L/-1.8R

Toe: 0.14L/0.12R

With these new setting the car corners better and is closer to nuetral handling. The rear loses traction more predictably and power oversteer drifting is much easier. The car is more fun to drive and no longer pulls to one side as noticably. I believe it now to be more the tilt of the road surface than my alignment

By: Ben C.

STATEMENT OF NON-LIABILITY

The author of this website does not encourage reckless driving on public roadways. The driving techniques and vehicle modifications shown in this webpage are intended for off-road use only and some of the modifications may make your car illegal for public road use. If you want to learn about drifting: more power to you but keep it safe and off of the streets; there are many on-track events for drifting, search for one in your area.

This website is about improving the performance and technique of the car and driver, mainly in respect to vehice handling. It deals with exploring the maximum ranges of tire traction, and in the case of drifting, pushing beyond that limit for extended periods of time. The closer a car comes to the limit of traction and the further it moves beyond the limit of traction the greater the chances of crashes when an error in judgement occurs.

If, while attempting to apply any of the ideas, procedures, or advice contained in this website, you should encounter any unfortunate or undesired circumstance, you will have done so through your own conscious descision. I disclaim responsibility for your actions, AND for your accident.