Alignment setting for launch?

[Blue Angel]

Just wondering if anyone has played around with their alignment settings in order to improve the launching ability of their C5Zs?

How much camber is added by the suspension as the rear of the car loads up, and how much does this affect traction?

As the suspension loads is there a significant toe change as the bushings deflect and the A arms rock forward and upward?

Will stiffer bushings help/hurt traction, add/subtract wheelhop?

Will raising/lowering the car have an effect?

And maybe most importantly, will setting the car up to launch affect its cornering ability? If so, how severely?

Just a few questions... I'm sure I know a few of the answers, I just want to hear what those with experience have to say.

[Blue Angel]

20 views and no comments???

[robls6]

I don't think I would alter the factory set up if I were you. I think they did a pretty good job at the factory of giving us the best all around setup. That's just my unprofessional opinion though.

[MikesZ06]

The biggest key to launching is to keep the weight on the rear end. This is also vital on the first to second shift.

I don't think lowering, new bushings or even changing the camber will have the effect of the tires you run, the amount of tire pressure in those tires and the shocks.

My launches (and more importantly, my 1st to 2nd shifts) improved dramatically after switching out the shocks to HAL QA1's and playing with the settings until I had the best front and rear arrangement.
You are trying to not only keep the rear end 'squatting' initially, but you are also trying to make sure the weight doesn't transfer back to the front end too soon. The adjustable shocks can effect that tremendously.

Mike

(also remember to check rear tire pressure after each pass...the heat will increase the pressure so that if you started your first pass at 13lbs, let's say...you may well be at 15 lbs after your pass)

[Blue Angel]

Thanks for the input. Yes, I realize that tires/pressures are very important, especially when running regular street tires in order to eliminate wheelhop. Running my F1SCs at around 24 psi seemed to work pretty good.

The reason I started this thread is because after I lowered my car it had a serious problem putting power down on the street. Sure, the F1s aren't the world's stickiest tire, but the car spun very easily after being lowered where it wouldn't have spun at all before lowering. I'm talking serious traction loss, to the point that I could no longer use third gear to pass on some roads, the car would just break loose. On a nearly stock car that's a pretty serious problem!

I measured camber before and after lowering and the change was extremely minimal, barely measureable. I did set the toe very close to zero once it was lowered, though, and wondered if this had anything to do with the problem... that's why I was wondering if the car would toe out under acceleration, possibly causing a loss of traction.

Any more ideas?