Camber kits (and poor design)

**Zdster** · 24-08-2007 01:59 PM

I would like to make people aware of the potential issues that can be faced with camber kits. First we should start by discussing what is camber? From Whitelines website:

"Camber is the inclination of the wheel from the vertical when viewed from the front. When the top of the wheel leans out you have positive camber, lean in equal’s negative camber."

Now as many of you are aware when you put on new wheels or you lower your car or even hitting a pothole or curb can push your camber out. Now in most instances this is not a big deal, but when a car is lowered significantly camber can become quite harsh. To alleviate the effects of camber you turn to a camber kit which can allow for adjustment outside of the parametres of the normal car settings.

Rear camber kits can range anywhere from adding additional washers to 'proper kits' that are sold on the market.

Front camber kits are a bit more complicated. The point of this thread is to bring awareness to some of the poor designs on the market and the potential issues that have arisen.

Here is what a camber kit looks like:

The metal silver piece (the ball joint) is adjustable so that it slides back and forth (therefore adjusting the camber). On either end of the metal piece are two bolts that lock the camber angle in place. One of the main problems identified with this design is that the channels that the bolts sit in are made of only a small amount of metal and have been known to bend or break. Skunk2 released a revision to their kit which now tries to stiffen up the area and stop the ball joint ripping out.

This thread was just to bring awareness to you all about the kits on the market and to research them well before committing. I have attached some links below to show some real world examples:
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=762468
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1767312
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=635008
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1876321
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1560685
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2034061
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1541857

P.S. camber does not effect tire wear at the same rate toe does.

**SiReal** · 24-08-2007 03:22 PM

you are a king.

**LXRY** · 24-08-2007 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Zdster

I would like to make people aware of the potential issues that can be faced with camber kits. First we should start by discussing what is camber? From Whitelines website:

"Camber is the inclination of the wheel from the vertical when viewed from the front. When the top of the wheel leans out you have positive camber, lean in equal’s negative camber."

Now as many of you are aware when you put on new wheels or you lower your car or even hitting a pothole or curb can push your camber out. Now in most instances this is not a big deal, but when a car is lowered significantly camber can become quite harsh. To alleviate the effects of camber you turn to a camber kit which can allow for adjustment outside of the parametres of the normal car settings.

Rear camber kits can range anywhere from adding additional washers to 'proper kits' that are sold on the market.

Front camber kits are a bit more complicated. The point of this thread is to bring awareness to some of the poor designs on the market and the potential issues that have arisen.

Here is what a camber kit looks like:

The metal silver piece (the ball joint) is adjustable so that it slides back and forth (therefore adjusting the camber). On either end of the metal piece are two bolts that lock the camber angle in place. One of the main problems identified with this design is that the channels that the bolts sit in are made of only a small amount of metal and have been known to bend or break. Skunk2 released a revision to their kit which now tries to stiffen up the area and stop the ball joint ripping out.

This thread was just to bring awareness to you all about the kits on the market and to research them well before committing. I have attached some links below to show some real world examples:
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=762468
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1767312
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=635008
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1876321
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1560685
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2034061
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1541857

P.S. camber does not effect tire wear at the same rate toe does.

Are Eibach camber kits ok Zdster ? all above links point to skunk2 being no good. I was told that Ingnalls was the choice of many especially euro's. I got eibach's at a good price. Heard problems with kmac creaking noises too...

thanks for the heads up btw

**SiReal** · 24-08-2007 04:13 PM

Hey Shen,

It mainly depends on the design. If its for a euro, i think the ingalls, eibach kits have ball joint replacements as well as the fork type. Please note these only apply to the fronts.

So... if you stick to the traditinoal ball joint full replacement, u should be ok (i've never read of any issues with that design).

Ingalls and SPC are probably the two most popular kits in the states. I bought the SPC over the ingalls due to the single control arm change vs the double arm change. for the 6th gen at least. For the rears only for me.

**tseesinngwailo** · 24-08-2007 04:20 PM

I have just put a set like this on my DA, have not come across any issues yet, the tracks seem a bit thicker on the sides than what i can see in your pictures, but its a good idea to check regulqarly, my car is a daily driver too. Thanks for the info, good to see someone taking the time to research, Thanks

**Zdster** · 24-08-2007 04:21 PM

As SiReal said, it really depends on the design. Here is another camber kit for a civic which eliminates the issue altogether:

**LXRY** · 24-08-2007 04:25 PM

Wow you've opened my eyes didn't think there wherre so many different designs, thanks Zdster

**panda[cRx]** · 24-08-2007 04:45 PM

good to see you preaching in the right place now

**bennjamin** · 24-08-2007 05:01 PM

TOE wears tyres out quicker than CAMBER.
If your car is low enough to warrant such a kit ~ why not just rotate your tyres every 5k ?

**Zdster** · 24-08-2007 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by bennjamin

TOE wears tyres out quicker than CAMBER.
If your car is low enough to warrant such a kit ~ why not just rotate your tyres every 5k ?

Agreed and I did mention that right at the end. It just seems that most people throw a camber kit on just for the sake of it and if they were going to do that should be informed about how they are designed.

**DNYALL** · 24-08-2007 07:22 PM

hmm, i just recieved my skunk2 pro series front camber arms in the mail...

should i be worried........From all those links u posted up it seems that it was just the normal skunk2 camber arms that broke, not the pro series ones. oh well. we will see what happens once they are put in

and i also just ordered a Blox rear camber kit...hmmm. I guess i will wait and see if mine breaks. Hope not!!