Height Adjustment & Travel, Why parallel? Options

[Joseph Mills]

My 914 goes to the shop next week for alignment: 1.5 to 2 degrees neg camber front, 2 to 2.5 neg rear with 1/16" toe-out front, 1/16" toe-in rear. Tires are Hoosier A3S03's.

I have found a few posts that seem to indicate that when the A-arms and trailing arms are parallel to the ground, you have maximized your cars height. Is this in fact, correct?

If so, why is this level preferred? If you go below this height is suspension geometry adversely effected? How much wheel travel is left at this point?

Joseph
'75 914 2.0L AX bound

[Brad Roberts]

I have NEVER set a car up with more negative in the rear than the front.


Tidbit of info for people reading this thread:

Newbies in first time AutoX or Time Trial scenerio's do NOT need a ton of negative camber for your first alignment. You will not use the tires to their full potential no matter how Ricky Racer you think you are. I see this all the time, where an alignment shop sets your car on FULL KILL and you THINK your driving it 9/10ths and the first tire temps you do show inside (210) middle (180) outside (140) Your not using the whole tire and wont until you learn to drive.

My point. Start conservative and save your tires. It wont be until AutoX or Time Trial number 4-5 before aggressive alignments will help you out and you will only know when its time by doing the tire temps. When you start seeing outside temps higher than inside (add more negative camber)

B