Well, I finally got the car aligned before going to Sebring yesterday.
The "before" alignment was pretty off. Camber was -.5 L/F, +0.1 R/F. At least rear camber was close, -1.4 L, -1.3 rear.
Toe was goofy: -.43 degrees L/F, -.20 R/F. Rear had OK amounts both sides toe in, .13 and .14 degrees.
In this configuration the car was oversteery on right-handers, although I would have to say I don't understand why. I would think the toe out front would have it LESS so, but maybe with the L/F camber being high (relative to the R/F) it offset the toe. Whatever.
I set it conservatively, with -0.7 camber front and -1.3 rear. Toe was set to .22 degrees out front and same amount in rear.
It was much more settled and I was indeed faster with more confidence. There was one fairly large moment entering lefthand turn one (approach 110MPH, turn in about 75, carry 75-85 through the turn) where for some reason the tail started to go away. Nothing too dramatic, but that's not a turn where you'd want a problem as oversteering to the inside means hitting a concrete wall, and running out of room at the exit means dirt for about 30 feet before hitting a concrete wall. No worries, though, as it was a safe day all around.
I still can't quite get up to the 85 MPH in that turn I do in my Miata. I'm still getting used to the NSX and I'm sure the tires I use on the Miata, Kumho V700, are better. Next will be to buy a stickier set (the ones I have are starting to get old and aren't the stickiest in the world, but they came with the car's OEM wheels and still have plenty of tread left, Yoko Advan-032R. I know they're not the optimum tire).
Anyways, a little embarrassing is the fact that pulling in to one of the covered pits I traversed a grassy area and didn't notice it had a dip large enough to cause a problem. I knocked the front air dam loose, without knowing it. After taking my student around for orientation laps, the chief steward stopped me and handed me the plug for the tie-down in the front. And some grass. And asked me about how I went off during full-course yellow laps. I had to explain that I didn't go off on course. I was teased for going off during yellow laps all day, even though I hadn't.
I removed the splitter and went out for my session. At speed, the passenger side inner fender liner came loose and was rubbing against the tire. Black/meatball flag for me. I had to come in and cut away the liner. It was destroyed.
At least when I got home I was able to re-affix the air dam, but I do need a new fender liner. Anyone know a good source (read: cheap)?
Overall, had a good time yesterday as the only NSX chasing down Mustangs at the SVT Owner's Association track day at Sebring.
The "before" alignment was pretty off. Camber was -.5 L/F, +0.1 R/F. At least rear camber was close, -1.4 L, -1.3 rear.
Toe was goofy: -.43 degrees L/F, -.20 R/F. Rear had OK amounts both sides toe in, .13 and .14 degrees.
In this configuration the car was oversteery on right-handers, although I would have to say I don't understand why. I would think the toe out front would have it LESS so, but maybe with the L/F camber being high (relative to the R/F) it offset the toe. Whatever.
I set it conservatively, with -0.7 camber front and -1.3 rear. Toe was set to .22 degrees out front and same amount in rear.
It was much more settled and I was indeed faster with more confidence. There was one fairly large moment entering lefthand turn one (approach 110MPH, turn in about 75, carry 75-85 through the turn) where for some reason the tail started to go away. Nothing too dramatic, but that's not a turn where you'd want a problem as oversteering to the inside means hitting a concrete wall, and running out of room at the exit means dirt for about 30 feet before hitting a concrete wall. No worries, though, as it was a safe day all around.
I still can't quite get up to the 85 MPH in that turn I do in my Miata. I'm still getting used to the NSX and I'm sure the tires I use on the Miata, Kumho V700, are better. Next will be to buy a stickier set (the ones I have are starting to get old and aren't the stickiest in the world, but they came with the car's OEM wheels and still have plenty of tread left, Yoko Advan-032R. I know they're not the optimum tire).
Anyways, a little embarrassing is the fact that pulling in to one of the covered pits I traversed a grassy area and didn't notice it had a dip large enough to cause a problem. I knocked the front air dam loose, without knowing it. After taking my student around for orientation laps, the chief steward stopped me and handed me the plug for the tie-down in the front. And some grass. And asked me about how I went off during full-course yellow laps. I had to explain that I didn't go off on course. I was teased for going off during yellow laps all day, even though I hadn't.
I removed the splitter and went out for my session. At speed, the passenger side inner fender liner came loose and was rubbing against the tire. Black/meatball flag for me. I had to come in and cut away the liner. It was destroyed.
At least when I got home I was able to re-affix the air dam, but I do need a new fender liner. Anyone know a good source (read: cheap)?
Overall, had a good time yesterday as the only NSX chasing down Mustangs at the SVT Owner's Association track day at Sebring.
