I was just looking in my shop manual and I happened to notice that the FB comes stock with 3mm per side of toe-in, wouldn't this make it handle really heavily with slow steering? Also wouldn't it be harder to turn the wheel with the manual steering? I could be going off on the wrong track here but I need to get my alignment done and I want to see it I can make it handle any better while I'm at it.
Thanks,
Grant

P.S. Ever since the carb cleaner and new plugs she's beem running like a dream, and I got her to idle for the first time last night!

 

Mazda did a pretty good job setting these up but if I were you I'd do a search on mazda factory raceing or something, see if I could find some specs of a race version maybe. Or maybe someone here knows. PM me if yoy find anything cause I have to get an alinment also.

 

If your running the stock rubber bushings in the suspension you need a little toe in. when the car is moving the bushings will deflect and the toe will decrease. Caster is what determines the amount of steering effort needed to turn the wheel. Most alignment shops will only adjust toe, as caster camber on our cars is a bit of work, and usually they wont deviate from factory specs [prolly for insurance reasons].

 

so, if you have polly bushings, what do you suggest for toe?? hmmmm? you dancing bannana FREAK?

 

So if I get some more castor dialed in the steering will take less effort? And if I go with better bushings I can kill some of the toe?
Thanks,
Grant

 

Jake, since the poly bushings have less deflection, you need less toe in. maybe 1/8-1/16". And your starting to sound like Sterling BTW.

More caster= more steering effort, easier self centering, and more camber gain.

 

he,he.....i see. makes sense to me.