Just noticed that the 1980 FSM and the 1983 FSM have completely opposite settings for "original" setting of the arrow on the strut top. Are the SA models really different? If I have strut assemblies from a 1983 in my SA, which one would be the "original" setting?

 

Forget the 'original' setting. Put the arrows back and in to get the maximum amount of negative camber and positive caster. The car will handle much better on turn in.

If you're really dead set on putting it back to 'factory,' use the '83 settings, as they were made with those strut tops in mind, which are quite a bit different than the '79-80 units.

 

The SA strut bearings have the arrow pointing 180* from the FB units. On the FB, the arrow points to the closest bolt, while on the SA, it points to the furtherest one.

 

Back and in is "original" for the '83. That's how I had it, but the car got really darty, much less stable and prone to wandering. I thought maybe I should move it back. Not sure what leads to the dartiness. Caster? Toe?

I did find something odd today. The gland nut on the passenger side strut had spun out. I started hearing a noise from that side a week ago but didn't see anything until I took the wheel off. I fixed that, and I'm replacing the tension rod bushings with poly bushings. The old ones didn't look too bad, but I have the new ones so I'll use them. I have new control arm bushings too, but not going to get to them this weekend.

 

On the ones I have upgraded, I've use the FB's factory setting instead of the SA.

 

According to the table in the '83 FSM, max neg camber would be 0 and max pos caster would be +28'. The table shows that as in and forward. See position B in the FSM. All the threads show back and in as the suggested setting, but they focused on max camber (back). Do I want the max camber or not. This is a daily driver car.

 

For street use, I would not as with full negative camber, your front tires will follow any uneveness on road surface, particulary grooves and stuff.

 

But your car handles so much better, i have -1.5 on my daily and -3 on my auto-x car.