Just got my NC's precision 4-wheel alignment done at Stokes Tire / Santa Monica. Same place I had my NB done. I've been very satisfied with their work. I showed the Tech my NB's specs before alignment. Here are NB and NC specs:
NB Initial Final FRONT Lt.Caster 6.18° 5.71° Rt.Caster 6.12° 5.83°
Lt.Camber -0.13° -0.96° Rt.Camber -0.38° -0.93°
Lt.Toe 0.09° 0.03° Rt.Toe 0.18° 0.03° Total 0.27° 0.06°
REAR Lt.Camber -0.87° -1.49° Rt.Camber -1.36° -1.51°
Lt.Toe 0.39° 0.08° Rt.Toe -0.08° 0.08° Total 0.31° 0.16°
Thrust Angle 0.23° 0.00°
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NC Initial Final FRONT Lt.Caster 5.87° 5.65° Rt.Caster 5.64° 5.91°
Lt.Camber 0.21° -0.90° Rt.Camber -0.11° -0.87°
Lt.Toe 0.11° -0.04° Rt.Toe 0.22° -0.05° Total 0.33° -0.09°
REAR Lt.Camber -0.72° -1.63° Rt.Camber -0.96° -1.60°
Lt.Toe 0.11° 0.16° Rt.Toe 0.36° 0.16° Total 0.47° 0.32°
Thrust Angle -0.13° 0.00°
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I just got back from an early-morning run thru twisty Latigo Canyon. Couldn't wait to compare the 2 cars - I drive this canyon a lot. First thing - Oversteer. Rear end of NC is considerably looser, to me. There's one banked hairpin that's good test. You can easily see if anyone's coming (opp. direction), so when it's open, you can take the turn hard-as-you-want. Did this a lot w/NB. Could enter this turn at 35, drift a little, power out. Well, the NC almost changed ends when I did same thing w/it, first-time. Tried again. Little better, but rear end less neutral than NB, kept coming around. Dropped speed into turn - to 25, and I could sorta drift thru, power out. But NC just wasn't as 'sticky' as NB.
NB had Michelin Pilot, 195/50R15's. NC: Yokohama Advan A11A, 205/50R16's. Could be the difference? But NC front end stuck, no oversteer at all. So - I don't know.
Going back to Stokes for adjustment(?) on Tuesday. Again, same place, same Tech as NB, yet car feels different, looser.
First thoughts; NC is heavier. Battery no longer in trunk (way up-front, engine compartment, passenger-side). Is NC *really* a 50-50 wt. distr. car?
-- Steve McMahon Green '07 Sport