Ghetto Camber kit?
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Bay, Florida, US
Rep Power: 0 
Ghetto Camber kit?
whats up - one of my friends told me he can save me some cash buy buying parts from home depot and make me a camber kit...he did it on his Integra - but the thing is, aren't the set-ups on our cars and the tegs different? If not, should I try this? He knows quite a bit about
cars, his ride is tight as hell, and lowered 2.5 inches all around. Whut ya think? I don't think i will be getting a camber kit for a while, so this seems like a good alternative...also - should I get an alignment if i am not getting a camber kit anytime soon (maybe a few months away)
damn! is this the right forum for this I hope????
my bad if no!!
cars, his ride is tight as hell, and lowered 2.5 inches all around. Whut ya think? I don't think i will be getting a camber kit for a while, so this seems like a good alternative...also - should I get an alignment if i am not getting a camber kit anytime soon (maybe a few months away)
damn! is this the right forum for this I hope????
my bad if no!! 
Registered!!
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,454
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, California, US
Rep Power: 0 integra and our car have different suspension, has for te integra the rear camber kit is just a bolt a washer but integra need front camber kit, but out car are mcpherson susupensino so we need a camber arm but we dont need front camber kit
The Standard One
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,659
Likes: 1
From: City of Angels, California, US
Rep Power: 417 ya the suspension on the cars are different... you can use bolt+washers for the integ/older civics cause of how its mounted. its mounted from the side, but our cars are mounted from the bottom up... so ya theres people that say it wont work BUT... i think theres a slight change it might. cause you add 10 washers and a really long bolt.. the camber is not going to stay the same, its going to change. your obviously not going to use 10 washers but i'm just using it as an example since it easier to picture. i would say try it, if it doesnt work, oh well you lost $5 and 30 mins of your time. i've been meaning to try it for the longest time now but i've been lazy. ya and i dont see why it wouldnt be strong enough... i think it should work..
Registered!!
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 486
Likes: 0
From: Rowland Heights, California, US
Rep Power: 0
Quote
[hr]Originally posted by: VNlilMAN
ya the suspension on the cars are different... you can use bolt+washers for the integ/older civics cause of how its mounted. its mounted from the side, but our cars are mounted from the bottom up... so ya theres people that say it wont work BUT... i think theres a slight change it might. cause you add 10 washers and a really long bolt.. the camber is not going to stay the same, its going to change. your obviously not going to use 10 washers but i'm just using it as an example since it easier to picture. i would say try it, if it doesnt work, oh well you lost $5 and 30 mins of your time. i've been meaning to try it for the longest time now but i've been lazy. ya and i dont see why it wouldnt be strong enough... i think it should work..[hr]
[hr]Originally posted by: VNlilMAN
ya the suspension on the cars are different... you can use bolt+washers for the integ/older civics cause of how its mounted. its mounted from the side, but our cars are mounted from the bottom up... so ya theres people that say it wont work BUT... i think theres a slight change it might. cause you add 10 washers and a really long bolt.. the camber is not going to stay the same, its going to change. your obviously not going to use 10 washers but i'm just using it as an example since it easier to picture. i would say try it, if it doesnt work, oh well you lost $5 and 30 mins of your time. i've been meaning to try it for the longest time now but i've been lazy. ya and i dont see why it wouldnt be strong enough... i think it should work..[hr]
what he just said =) 
Registered!!
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
From: Anniston, Alabama, US
Rep Power: 306 Why this will not even work.
If you picture your rear suspension, it is a trapezoid with unequal arms. When you lower the car, you are moving one side of the suspension higher, this causes the tire to turn in, thus causing negative camber.
To correct this, a new camber kit, or adjustable top arm uses a turnbuckle to expand the distance between the top two angles. This causes the top of the tire to go out, thus restoring the camber.
This is why the older Civics could use this method. The top arm was mounted to the side of the frame. So adding washers increased the overall length of the arm and added some positive camber.
The 7th generation Civic uses a mounting method that places the bolts down. If you add washers to the mountiong point, you are in effect lowering the inside top mounting location and decreasing the amount of camber (or making your car have even more negative camber). So instead of helping, you are making matters worse.
To top this off, you will need METRIC bolts to even try this, and they would have to be grade 8 or higher to avoid sheering the bolts off and your wheel falling inside your wheel well. You will not just find these bolts, it will be a bit harder than that. Plus if you do the math, basic Geometry, you will find that it will hurt you not help you.
Plus when you do have a camber kit, the shop uses an expensive machine to accurately measure the wheel position, then adjusts the turnbuckle to add positive camber.
Basically, this will be a waste of your time to do this. Save up for a camber kit or buy tires more often, that is your only two choices.
If you picture your rear suspension, it is a trapezoid with unequal arms. When you lower the car, you are moving one side of the suspension higher, this causes the tire to turn in, thus causing negative camber.
To correct this, a new camber kit, or adjustable top arm uses a turnbuckle to expand the distance between the top two angles. This causes the top of the tire to go out, thus restoring the camber.
This is why the older Civics could use this method. The top arm was mounted to the side of the frame. So adding washers increased the overall length of the arm and added some positive camber.
The 7th generation Civic uses a mounting method that places the bolts down. If you add washers to the mountiong point, you are in effect lowering the inside top mounting location and decreasing the amount of camber (or making your car have even more negative camber). So instead of helping, you are making matters worse.
To top this off, you will need METRIC bolts to even try this, and they would have to be grade 8 or higher to avoid sheering the bolts off and your wheel falling inside your wheel well. You will not just find these bolts, it will be a bit harder than that. Plus if you do the math, basic Geometry, you will find that it will hurt you not help you.
Plus when you do have a camber kit, the shop uses an expensive machine to accurately measure the wheel position, then adjusts the turnbuckle to add positive camber.
Basically, this will be a waste of your time to do this. Save up for a camber kit or buy tires more often, that is your only two choices.
The Standard One
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,659
Likes: 1
From: City of Angels, California, US
Rep Power: 417 well ya thats what i was saying.. if you add washers its not going to be the same(the camber).. its either going to give you a positive or negative.. but then i guess it'll give you negative as rick said so it wouldnt help...
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
Dave Brabant
6th Generation Civic 1996 - 2000
20
Oct 6, 2015 12:44 AM
Hutch1051
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
2
Sep 29, 2015 09:20 AM
