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Old 01-18-2003, 08:34 AM
CCX33911 CCX33911 is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Cobra Make, Engine: Contemporary, 427 EFI; CAV GT40, 427W
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You want the cross weight to be the same so that the car turns equal left and right.

What you want to do is this:

1.) Disconnect the sway bars so they are not loading the system. Hopefully they can be adjusted at the end so that they do not torque the chassis at normal ride height (no load).

2.) adjust all coil over settings to get the proper ride height at all four corners. Now suspension is physically where you want it to ride.

3.) Check and adjust all alignment settings at this ride height. Camber caster and toe in front. Camber and toe in rear.

4.) Re-adjust ride height if #2 caused it to change.

5.) Recheck #2.

6.) Ok car is riding at the height you want with the geometry alignment that you want. Now scale the car. You have little control over the L vs. R weight and F vs. R weight. You can move things arround in car to change this if desired. You DO have control over the cross weight (percent of weight on RF and LF compared to LF and RR). VERY IMPORTANT: If you adjust all four corners each time you make a change you can change the cross weight without changing the ride height.

Example: your RF and LR add up to 48% of the total weight (and thus the LF and RR are 52% of the weight). Then you would screw down on the RF and LR springs a certain amount each and screw up on the LF and RR springs by the same amount. Start with 1/2 turn and go from there. Check your cross after adjustment and make sure your ride heights are not creeping on you.

7.) Adjust and reconnect the sway bars such that there is no load at ride height.

Detailed Geek Description:
The above discussion is not totally correct, but simplified for general use. What actually should happen is each corner is adjusted by the same FORCE (not number of turns, e.g. 1/2 turn). The adjustment by 1/2 turn, etc. will work if the springs have the same spring rate. If the spring rates are drastically different then the adjustments should be scalled appropriately. For example lets say the front springs are twice as stiff as the rear springs. Then in the above example, you would screw down on the RF 1/4 turn, LR 1/2 turn (making same force adjustment in those corners). Then adjust the LF 1/4 turn up and the RR 1/2 turn up (making the same force adjustment in those corners). This will keep the ride height constant while adjusting cross weight.

Hope this helps.
Gary
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Thanks

Gary
CAV GT40 Dealer
www.2gmotorsports.com
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