Ah, okay, I think I now understand what the arrow means that's on top of the stock strut! It points to direction of camber/caster, I assume negative but it could be positive. So, if I understand this correctly, if you point the arrow towards the front/inside mounting hole then the camber would be set negative and caster would be set positive. If you point the arrow to the back/inside then you would have negative camber and negative caster. Is this correct or is it the opposite way?

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT EVERYONE: Okay rotorheads, go out and look at the little arrow on top rim of your stock struts and report back here on which way they point! Go! Do it now! please..... Maybe we can get some sort of consensus.

Thanks!

Mine was set to:

right side: front/inner
left side: rear/inner

 

i had mine all screwy when i put new struts and lowering springs in. i'm not sure if the caster 0's or goes negative with it forward. it depends on the geometry that mazda incorperated. i will check this once i take it in for an alignment.

 

From this page:
http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm

If the top of the strut is leaning toward the rear of the car, then the caster is positive, if it's leaning toward the front, it is negative.

 

yes, i know. but who said that the tower is in direct alignment with the hub.

 

ummm....Mazda FSM!


as per the 80 FSM....

Caster....RH side....4 degrees 30' (+/- 30')
LH side....4 degrees 0' (+/- 30')
max difference in caster between sides...+/- 40'

Camber....1 deg. 10' (+/- 30')
max diff..........+/- 30'

toe in 0~0.24in