Happy Independence Day,
Since I bought the NSX I have been introduced into a Higher Echelon of Technician. Al the NSX wizard also knows our Legends. Here are the two tips he gave me. I am here to say they work:
>Here is way he aligns the NSX and Legend alike. He feels that if you can stay within the US spec you are fine but he feels the European specs are superior in one significant parameter: Front Toe.
Al feels the front toe on the NSX and the Legend are best set to ZERO degrees. This will reduce tire wear and also allow the car to roll better. If one has one's suspension together it will only affect handling for the better.
It works. Not only does the car track better - less tendency to follow those little grooves and dips in the road - but at highway speeds it actually feels like you were previously driving with the parking brake on! I'm overstating a point to make one but it is a sensible feeling. Also it is well within the European specs for either Acura where hi speed driving is more common so you're not taking a leap into DOPI Loservision.
>Alignment set up process. This is nothing new but it bears repeating.
Do a four wheel alignment. Slip the saleman or the alignment manager a fiver and tell him you want to sit in the car while the alignment is being performed. They'll raise the car on the lift. They'll do the rear first and then the front. They'll ask you to turn the car on and off and twist the wheel back and forth a few times, just don't let out the clutch when the car is running!
When they get to the front end they'll loosen up the steering rack enough so you can freely set the steering wheel in the position you like it when you are cruising. I like it slightly to the left so I can rest my elbow on the door, hold the wheel at speed comfortably and the car will track straight.
They will then tighten up the nuts and the wheel will be locked into position and they will carry on with the alignment. When they come to toe, they will have to go about +.003 past ZERO because when they tighten the adjuster up, it will move back in toward Zero. This normal and if the tech can;t get the setting to zero suggest this to him. Also, the programs that I saw on the two alignment machines I did this on will NOT print out a European alignment setting - even though you know it is set to Zero and will show it on the LED readout the paper print out will show a -.003 toe in or whatever because the legal program only knows this. (Makes it kinda easy to fake an alignment UNLESS you are sitting in the car, no?)
Anyway try this out the next time you do suspension work or need an alignment. It's nice to have a car balanced around you. If you're not good to yourself and your whip, who will be?
Peace and God Bless America,
Ivanj
PS
Let me know if you have any questions. Especially ones I can't answer.
Since I bought the NSX I have been introduced into a Higher Echelon of Technician. Al the NSX wizard also knows our Legends. Here are the two tips he gave me. I am here to say they work:
>Here is way he aligns the NSX and Legend alike. He feels that if you can stay within the US spec you are fine but he feels the European specs are superior in one significant parameter: Front Toe.
Al feels the front toe on the NSX and the Legend are best set to ZERO degrees. This will reduce tire wear and also allow the car to roll better. If one has one's suspension together it will only affect handling for the better.
It works. Not only does the car track better - less tendency to follow those little grooves and dips in the road - but at highway speeds it actually feels like you were previously driving with the parking brake on! I'm overstating a point to make one but it is a sensible feeling. Also it is well within the European specs for either Acura where hi speed driving is more common so you're not taking a leap into DOPI Loservision.
>Alignment set up process. This is nothing new but it bears repeating.
Do a four wheel alignment. Slip the saleman or the alignment manager a fiver and tell him you want to sit in the car while the alignment is being performed. They'll raise the car on the lift. They'll do the rear first and then the front. They'll ask you to turn the car on and off and twist the wheel back and forth a few times, just don't let out the clutch when the car is running!
When they get to the front end they'll loosen up the steering rack enough so you can freely set the steering wheel in the position you like it when you are cruising. I like it slightly to the left so I can rest my elbow on the door, hold the wheel at speed comfortably and the car will track straight.
They will then tighten up the nuts and the wheel will be locked into position and they will carry on with the alignment. When they come to toe, they will have to go about +.003 past ZERO because when they tighten the adjuster up, it will move back in toward Zero. This normal and if the tech can;t get the setting to zero suggest this to him. Also, the programs that I saw on the two alignment machines I did this on will NOT print out a European alignment setting - even though you know it is set to Zero and will show it on the LED readout the paper print out will show a -.003 toe in or whatever because the legal program only knows this. (Makes it kinda easy to fake an alignment UNLESS you are sitting in the car, no?)
Anyway try this out the next time you do suspension work or need an alignment. It's nice to have a car balanced around you. If you're not good to yourself and your whip, who will be?
Peace and God Bless America,
Ivanj
PS
Let me know if you have any questions. Especially ones I can't answer.
