Who here uses camber plates?

"RyanFrew" (ryanfrew) 05/19/2016 at 10:59 • Filed to: None

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I’m thinking about buying a set for my Mini Cooper. The car is still on stock struts/springs/control arms, but everything else about it is prepped well for Autocross: Aftermarket rear sway bar/end links, aftermarket wheels, Pilot Super sports, poly bushings throughout, etc.

Anyways, I obviously have an understeer problem, still. Anyone have much experience with camber plates? How much of a difference might I feel if I can only go to 2 degrees with my stock springs?

A picture of Dave Montgomery’s local Porsche 914/6 for your time. That’s Tom O’Gorman driving, though...

HammerheadFistpunch > RyanFrew 05/19/2016 at 11:11

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I don’t use plates, but I do use offset bushings which have the same effect. People say it doesn’t make a difference...but it do. Castor is really import for a DD.

AM3R shamefully returns > RyanFrew 05/19/2016 at 11:13

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I recently put Dinan camber plates on my E92 335i, only added like -.7 camber and they use the stock rubber bushings, so the car is still quiet and compliant for daily driving. I feel like they aren't aggressive enough to make a huge different on the track, but they have been great for daily driving and going on local back roads.

Spaze > RyanFrew 05/19/2016 at 11:15

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I do, on just about every one of my Mc-strut cars I had them. Being able to set your car up the way you want it will make a BIG difference. I don’t know much about mini’s but yes Camber is ALWAYS a good thing and ALWAYS helps a car handle better. Even a single degree will transform how a car feels (going from -1* to -2*). From there you can also play with the rear camber and get the car to rotate better.

Sure its a slippery slope, but once you have a good setup you may not need to change it much. I’ve normally shot for the front camber of some number, and 1/2 that number for the rear. Couple that with some toe changes and you’ll have a great little car (that being said driving a car with toe in/out on the highway will eat tires rather quickly).

Nonster > RyanFrew 05/19/2016 at 11:15

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camber plates are great if you need them. I’m not familiar with the Mini, but try to find some pics or get someone to take some of your car when your going through a slalom or a hard turn to see if your front camber is going positive relative to the ground. If it is then a little more camber will help. You also might look into what your other alignment settings are. Caster is your friend and the toe settings can really change the feel and turn-in responsiveness.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > RyanFrew 05/19/2016 at 11:17

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Not familiar with the ins and outs of Mini suspension, but is increasing camber going to help with your understeer?

The best place to look and see if you need extra camber (beyond maxing your stock alignment) is your tires. After a run, is the tire wearing evenly or is the outside shoulder doing all the work? If you have access to an infrared pyrometer, the minute the run is done, jump out and measure the rubber surface temp at the outer edge, the middle and the inner edge. Large temp swings is also a method of seeing if you are asking the outer part of the tire to do more than its fair share. You’ll have to do this a few times to get a ‘trend.’ If the temps are reasonably even, more camber will not help.

If they are worn fairly evenly, your camber adjustment is likely correct. If you have very worn outer shoulders and hardly worn inner shoulders, you surely need more. I’ve seen dozens and dozens of cars with camber plates, but most of them are chumps who are street driving and just wearing their tires to an untimely death (inner shoulder).

In general, to curb understeer (no pun!) you need to ask the rear suspension to do more of the work. A larger rear bar (or an adjustable one) or stiffer rear springs will make the rear suspension work harder and bring the under/over more neutral.

Urambo Tauro > RyanFrew 05/19/2016 at 11:30

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A previous owner had Eibach plates installed on my SN95 Mustang. I’ve never touched them, but the alignment shop has complimented me for having them. The previous owner had also installed lowering springs and S197 wheels, so the plates might have been a necessity. All I know is that the alignment shop is able to dial it in, and it drives great.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > RyanFrew 05/19/2016 at 13:05

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I have them on both my cars. The thing to keep in mind is how your upper strut mounts are designed and if you will need to be running full coilovers to use them. My MR2 is an excellent example for both cases. On the front, the upper mount that would be replaced by a camber plate is a separate part from the upper spring perch, so you can use camber plates without needing coilovers. However, on the rear, the upper mount pulls double duty and also acts as the upper spring perch, so you cannot swap them out for plates and retain stock-style springs.