Should have done a little more research on installing my Eibach Pro-Kit Springs lowering kit. The kit went in fine. I like the spacing and the rake.

However, I didn't think about camber!!! Now I know for every 1" down, plan on -.75 of camber. The Eibach Pro-Kit Springs put me at -1.25 of camber. Within factory specs (0 to -1.5) but I don't like the look and I don't want premature tire ware.

Now the fix...

#1. I can install a set of camber plates. (This would have been the right choice pre-install. The kit has nice industrial bearings and allows for adjustment.) Unfortunately, you need to tear everything down again.. if you made the mistake I did...

#2. Install camber bolts. This only requires replacing a bolt on each side of the strut. It's probably not the best fix but it will get the job done.

I'm going to try #2. Like most things, it's a learning experience.

If anyone has some experience with this same issue. I would love to hear your opinion.

 

they are called crash bolts for a reason.

 

after a few months on my DD the lobes on the camber bolts had worn away during normal driving, that made me switch to cc plates

 

-1.25° camber isn't all that aggressive if you drive the corners with a fair bit of "enthusiasm".

I'm very wary of crash bolts anyway, but I wouldn't go near them for an S197. Long story short, camber bolts can only be torqued to about half what the original bolts call for, and particularly on the earlier S197s you need the full clamping load. Go past whatever torque value the crash bolts call for and you've just made a conversation piece for your desk.

If you have any tendency to corner hard or brake hard, forget that crash bolts even exist.


Norm

 

Been working in a garage for many years... Ive seen my fair share of sheared camber bolts. They are made with a poor quality metal.

Get camber/Caster plates!