TTRicks

what happens when you lower the car with the rear camber? And, then if you raise it again? Is there really any reason to lower and raise or does everyone just leave it lowered?

I understand that you need a kit to adjust the rear camber if you lower the car, but wat happens when you change the height again?

MHLTT

Good question? I never thought of it that way. I'd like to know too.

JohnLZ7W

Even beyond that, if you change height you'll probably need a complete alignment

TTschwing

Partially because of this...

Russ Scott

of the rear wheels. Raising the car does just the opposite. Audi takes the simplistic view that the camber change is acceptable. For the S line suspension, sold in Europe, they just change the spec to allow more negative camber. Manufacturing cost savings are considerable if you chose not to provide for camber adjustment. I have experimented with my car (lowered and at standard ride height) at the following settings -1.2, -1.8, -2.4 (all in degrees). The car works the best at -1.2 (raised or lowered). It's the most stable, tramlining dissapears, and tires last lots longer. Ultimate grip? I don't know, I don't track the car, but in very high speed mountain travel I've never had a whiff of oversteer. If you raise and lower a given car with coilovers, the camber will probly remain within the overly generous spec. The toe won't. If you drive the car without aligning it, it will most likely drive OK. But at the expense of rapid tire wear. I think you're right, most folks find a ride height that they like, and leave it there. If you do raise and lower a car seasonally, or in search of the "hot" set up, camber compensating arms or bushings are highly recommended, and it should be re-aligned.

TTRicks

Thanks for the info. What's tramlining?

Russ Scott

poor tracking, when your cars directional stability is disturbed by imperfections in the road surface... when you encounter railroad or streetcar tracks which run parallel or nearly so to you direction of travel, or just a rutted road (common in places where studded traction tires are used in winter) your car is pulled off course by the ruts/tracks rather than proceeding in the direction you pointed it.... "tramlining"