Best Alignment Settings for Sharper Turn-In & Heavier Steering on Emira?

[luciddaydream]

howdy everyone,

I’m really enjoying my Emira but want to fine-tune the alignment to get sharper turn-in and a heavier steering feel.

From what I’ve been reading, adjustments like front toe-out and more negative camber (within factory limits) might help. Before I take it to my shop, I’d like to hear how best to word the request so they know exactly what i want.

Has anyone tried:

• Switching the front from factory toe-in to zero or slight toe-out?
• Maxing out negative camber up front (around -1.3°)?
• Dialing back rear toe-in from the factory setup?

I’d love to know how you explained these changes to your shop and what the real-world results were — especially in terms of steering weight, response, stability, and daily drivability... thanks

PS: Sorry I am new to the lingo and stuff above. I also have the sport suspension, but the Michelins.

 

[KAR120C]

I've gone to max negative camber and zero toe in front. I like the results. Definitely reduces understeer. Also, I run the tire pressures at 4psi difference front to rear. (26/30 cold). Rears always heat up more and will result in about 5psi difference when hot. Helps the understeer.

I wouldn't go positive toe in front as it will become darty. I also leave rear toe alone. It seems fine with the above changes and I want no possibility that it could ever reach a toe out condition under heavy suspension movement.

 

[OppositeLock]

The suspension makes a huge difference. My car had the non-sport suspension, and on Nitrons, it's a different car. I've also maxed out my negative camber, but the toe settings are stock.

 

[Adam Brouillard]

Depending on exactly what you mean by sharper turn-in, changing toe will do a few things. More toe-out will reduce front end response right around center steering. This reduces self centering force right around the center though, so it can actually make a car feel more responsive, however. These are pretty subtle changes though and mostly what you are looking for is a smooth transition across the center and a tiny amount of toe-out is generally recommended for this. My guess is that Lotus specced a little toe in for the cup 2s because that makes them feel a little more responsive when someone does the little wiggle test and many people think this is a good thing. I would just keep toe where it is on your car. I wouldn't touch rear toe either.



Increasing camber gives a similar effect to more toe in because of camber thrust, but it's not as pronounced, especially with the small camber changes we're talking about here. So it’s not going to change steering feel much, but if you plan to do any track days, maxing out camber will help with front end grip and even with street driving it will probably help with tire wear if you corner somewhat quickly. I tend to wear out the outsides of my tires first and I’m not really cornering that much faster than a normal driver would on the streets. Nowhere near the limit in the Lotus.


I mostly recommend you try running more caster. Maybe ask the shop to give you a degree to two more and see if you like that. This will give you increased steering effort throughout the entire range, and not just around center like toe/camber. Not sure how much adjustment range the car has though and it might limit how much negative camber you can get as well.

Here's an article I did a couple years ago that goes over steering feel.

Steering Feel Explained – How Forces At The Tire Contact Patch Are Transferred To The Steering Wheel

Long waits for a car delivery apparently bring out the obsessive part of me almost as much as the physics of racing. I placed a deposit for the new Lotus Emira back in May of ‘22, in Hethel...

www.paradigmshiftracing.com

 

[luciddaydream]

Depending on exactly what you mean by sharper turn-in, changing toe will do a few things. More toe-out will reduce front end response right around center steering. This reduces self centering force right around the center though, so it can actually make a car feel more responsive, however. These are pretty subtle changes though and mostly what you are looking for is a smooth transition across the center and a tiny amount of toe-out is generally recommended for this. My guess is that Lotus specced a little toe in for the cup 2s because that makes them feel a little more responsive when someone does the little wiggle test and many people think this is a good thing. I would just keep toe where it is on your car. I wouldn't touch rear toe either.



Increasing camber gives a similar effect to more toe in because of camber thrust, but it's not as pronounced, especially with the small camber changes we're talking about here. So it’s not going to change steering feel much, but if you plan to do any track days, maxing out camber will help with front end grip and even with street driving it will probably help with tire wear if you corner somewhat quickly. I tend to wear out the outsides of my tires first and I’m not really cornering that much faster than a normal driver would on the streets. Nowhere near the limit in the Lotus.


I mostly recommend you try running more caster. Maybe ask the shop to give you a degree to two more and see if you like that. This will give you increased steering effort throughout the entire range, and not just around center like toe/camber. Not sure how much adjustment range the car has though and it might limit how much negative camber you can get as well.

Here's an article I did a couple years ago that goes over steering feel.

Steering Feel Explained – How Forces At The Tire Contact Patch Are Transferred To The Steering Wheel

Long waits for a car delivery apparently bring out the obsessive part of me almost as much as the physics of racing. I placed a deposit for the new Lotus Emira back in May of ‘22, in Hethel...

www.paradigmshiftracing.com

Thank you!