track alignment for '01 Cobra?

YELOSNK

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Anyone on here have recommendations on alignment settings for an '01 Cobra on track? This would be for a 200tw 275/35r18 square setup.

For extra detail: I have MM CC plates, FTBR rear cam bolts, bumpsteer kit, and MM rear adj. For suspension I'm using MMs sport series Bilsteins with H&R race springs, with poly bushings in front and stock bushings in the rear.
 

Eddie_Drift

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Anyone on here have recommendations on alignment settings for an '01 Cobra on track? This would be for a 200tw 275/35r18 square setup.

For extra detail: I have MM CC plates, FTBR rear cam bolts, bumpsteer kit, and MM rear adj. For suspension I'm using MMs sport series Bilsteins with H&R race springs, with poly bushings in front and stock bushings in the rear.

Front Camber: -2.5 to -2.8
Front Caster: 6 to 6.5 degrees
Front Toe: 1/32 inch "toe out" each side, if you want more aggressive do 1/16th inch "toe out" each side. This will help with turn in.

Rear Camber: -1.5 to max(-1.6/-1.7)
Rear Toe: 1/16th inch "toe in" each side, if you want more aggressive do 1/8th inch "toe in" each side.

Alot of this is driver preference and driving style as well as track layout and surface, pay attention to tire wear and make sure you have set your air pressures accordingly as well. These alignment settings work great on most if not all courses with 200tw tires or stickier. I run more aggressive settings on my 01 cobra that has squared 315's with R compounds but these settings Ive been using on my IRS equipped 3v swapped 99 GT that has squared 275's 200tw tires.



 
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YELOSNK

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Front Camber: -2.5 to -2.8
Front Caster: 6 to 6.5 degrees
Front Toe: 1/32 inch "toe out" each side, if you want more aggressive do 1/16th inch "toe out" each side. This will help with turn in.

Rear Camber: -1.5 to max(-1.6/-1.7)
Rear Toe: 1/16th inch "toe in" each side, if you want more aggressive do 1/8th inch "toe in" each side.

Alot of this is driver preference and driving style as well as track layout and surface, pay attention to tire wear and make sure you have set your air pressures accordingly as well. These alignment settings work great on most if not all courses with 200tw tires or stickier. I run more aggressive settings on my 01 cobra that has squared 315's with R compounds but these settings Ive been using on my IRS equipped 3v swapped 99 GT that has squared 275's 200tw tires.

thanks man, I really appreciate it! That's actually very close to where I am at, although the alignment shop did 1/16th total toe IN on the front instead of OUT, because apparently they didn't bother to read the word OUT in all caps (oops). I'll have to get that fixed when I do a new alignment in the spring.

On a related note: what would you recommend to target for hot tire pressure, as measured straight off the track?
 

13COBRA

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thanks man, I really appreciate it! That's actually very close to where I am at, although the alignment shop did 1/16th total toe IN on the front instead of OUT, because apparently they didn't bother to read the word OUT in all caps (oops). I'll have to get that fixed when I do a new alignment in the spring.

On a related note: what would you recommend to target for hot tire pressure, as measured straight off the track?

That'll depend on the tires you run.
 

Eddie_Drift

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thanks man, I really appreciate it! That's actually very close to where I am at, although the alignment shop did 1/16th total toe IN on the front instead of OUT, because apparently they didn't bother to read the word OUT in all caps (oops). I'll have to get that fixed when I do a new alignment in the spring.

On a related note: what would you recommend to target for hot tire pressure, as measured straight off the track?
Its varies on the tires really, certain brands and tw like different stuff. I was running Bridgestone RE-71's at 28-30 hot depending how the track and car feels. There is a lot of variables including track temps as well.
 

YELOSNK

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Its varies on the tires really, certain brands and tw like different stuff. I was running Bridgestone RE-71's at 28-30 hot depending how the track and car feels. There is a lot of variables including track temps as well.

Thanks. I'll probably shoot for 30 to start. Do you run same front and back?
 

13COBRA

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Thanks. I'll probably shoot for 30 to start. Do you run same front and back?

If it were me, when I'm learning a new tire I'll start them cold about 4psi lower than where I think I want to end up hot, make each tire the same. I'll run a session and have someone meet me in the hot pits with a tire gauge and tire pyrometer (or temp gauge). Then I'll have them note the pressures all the way around, and the temperature based on inside/middle/outside on each tire. The goal is to have the tires all have the same temperature across the board.

You'll have to adjust pressures and alignment based off of the numbers you pull. Obviously its more difficult to adjust the alignment at the track, so I would start with adjust pressures. The second run out you should adjust the tire pressures (front/back, or front/back/left/right) to get closer to the hot number you want to be at all the way around. The goal is for the end of the second session to be within 1psi or so all the way around. Now, you have a pretty solid baseline for the tire pressure.

Next would be to keep tracking the temperature of the tires, as with more/less pressure they'll change some. You'll need this noted down in order to make alignment changes. If the center is hotter than the rest, too much psi. If both inner and outer are hotter than the middle, not enough psi. If the outer is hotter than the inside you need more negative camber, and vice versa if the inner is hotter than the outer.


Just my $0.02.
 

Eddie_Drift

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Thanks. I'll probably shoot for 30 to start. Do you run same front and back?
I try to keep them all the same but I have ran different front from rear depending how the car was feeling and acting that day. Pay attention to the tire wear and rotate tires at the track if needed. This tire was on a on the front of a clockwise road course setup. I wanna say the pressures were at 28 hot. But you can see it didn't roll over on to the side wall, and the car was working fantastic that day. I ended up putting this tire in the rear after 3 sessions to get thru the 4th and last session before this one started to show cord
 

Eddie_Drift

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If it were me, when I'm learning a new tire I'll start them cold about 4psi lower than where I think I want to end up hot, make each tire the same. I'll run a session and have someone meet me in the hot pits with a tire gauge and tire pyrometer (or temp gauge). Then I'll have them note the pressures all the way around, and the temperature based on inside/middle/outside on each tire. The goal is to have the tires all have the same temperature across the board.

You'll have to adjust pressures and alignment based off of the numbers you pull. Obviously its more difficult to adjust the alignment at the track, so I would start with adjust pressures. The second run out you should adjust the tire pressures (front/back, or front/back/left/right) to get closer to the hot number you want to be at all the way around. The goal is for the end of the second session to be within 1psi or so all the way around. Now, you have a pretty solid baseline for the tire pressure.

Next would be to keep tracking the temperature of the tires, as with more/less pressure they'll change some. You'll need this noted down in order to make alignment changes. If the center is hotter than the rest, too much psi. If both inner and outer are hotter than the middle, not enough psi. If the outer is hotter than the inside you need more negative camber, and vice versa if the inner is hotter than the outer.


Just my $0.02.
This right here
 

13COBRA

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Tha

Thank you both for taking the time to provide your thorough advice, I do really appreciate it. I will try to put it to good use next week when I go back to Waterford Hills.

A notepad will be your best friend.
 

YELOSNK

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Posted a best of 1:22.69, which I'm definitely happy with, though also still plenty of room to improve. I think I could break into the 1:20s. Wont be too hard on myself as it was just my 4th time on track, 2nd with this car, and 1st with 200tw tires. Thanks again for the advice!

Best lap starts at 6:55
 

Blkkbgt

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Front Camber: -2.5 to -2.8
Front Caster: 6 to 6.5 degrees
Front Toe: 1/32 inch "toe out" each side, if you want more aggressive do 1/16th inch "toe out" each side. This will help with turn in.

Rear Camber: -1.5 to max(-1.6/-1.7)
Rear Toe: 1/16th inch "toe in" each side, if you want more aggressive do 1/8th inch "toe in" each side.

Alot of this is driver preference and driving style as well as track layout and surface, pay attention to tire wear and make sure you have set your air pressures accordingly as well. These alignment settings work great on most if not all courses with 200tw tires or stickier. I run more aggressive settings on my 01 cobra that has squared 315's with R compounds but these settings Ive been using on my IRS equipped 3v swapped 99 GT that has squared 275's 200tw tires.



What are the wheel specs on your black car?
 

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