Wheel Alignment and Tires

[Tim]

I have just had my wheels aligned on my 94 RT 10 at Leduc Chrysler here in Nisku Alberta (Edmonton). Mike at Jack Powel Dodge in California helped us over the phone with his recommended alignment specs. All I can say is "Wow" what a difference in the way this car handles. It is no longer the 2 handed challenge to drive on some of the roads. At times it was down right dangerous to the point that I couldn't believe that Chrysler was able to even sell the Viper and I was at the point of selling mine. (I bleed Mopar) No matter what anyone says these cars when set up properly are not darty even on the worst of the roads.

Make sure that you don't mix XGTZ with Sports no matter what Michelin says. In all fairness half of my problem was when I was running XGTZ on all 4’s. Not great handling but still pay attention as it will bite.

XGTZ on Front with Sports on the back. Michelin says this was fine as the tires are compatible (front Sports were still on the boat from France) That is not the case as I learned. THESE TIRES ARE NOT COMPATABLE AND ARE DANGEROUS WHEN MIXED.

1 XGTZ on the front (problem mounting other tire) and 2 Sports on the rear. Definite improvement in handling and dartyness. This was interesting I thought.

4 Sports and big difference on handling, minimal dartyness.

4 Wheel alignment and the difference from night to day on handling, no dartness and now stable on the road at 155 MPH.

Summary: Don’t mix and match your tires even if the Michelin Tech. recommends it. Proper wheel alignment and these cars are not darty.

Now my neighbor’s 99 GTS is all over the road @ 50 MPH while I’m doing 80 and in the middle of my lane. He’s booking his in next week to check his alignment.

 

[jimandela]

Last weekend a gentleman died in his gts when it flipped.
it was noted he didnt have the same tread pattern.
different tires front and rear!!!

check the thread:

Guess again if you think the GTS
is safe in a roll over!!!

it goes into detail of the accident...

 

[TacDoc]

Tim, will you post your specs, I am always interested in new settings to look at.

Greg
96 RT/10
00 GTS

 

[viper spray]

My 95 was all over the road really bad. I found tons of play in both rear wheels because the rear link ,(tie rod looking arm with a ball joint on one end}, on each side was worn out. I replaced both and it is a new car, handles great,does not dart at all, big smile on my face. Jack up the rear end and wiggle the tire back and forth to look for to much play. I have 37000 miles on mine. Mike Ryan

 

[garolittle]

I just ordered four MXX3 Pilots from Jon B. at PartsRack. My '94 RT/10 is currently equipped with the orginal XGT-Z's which now have 18,000 miles of experience. I'm looking forward to the new "tread".

 

[Tim]

I'm sure that you will think that will be the best thing since sliced bread. Let us know what you think on the handling.

Tim

 

[Robert1994]

I also need help with the alignment specs, and would
really appreciate it if you could post them.
Then I need to find a shop that can perform the work.
I took my service manual to one of the major alignment
shops. They read the manual, but apparently do not
have some of the specialized equipment that the manual
calls for.

 

[Marv S]

Alignment specs for what use? Track only on race tires or just want a bit better bite for street and auto-x on street tires?

Quick and cheaper fix: For street and even auto-x just go stock settings and then pull the sport shims and reset the toe. Pulling the shims should get you to about -1.5 front camber. Bites better and doesn't wear the fronts too bad.

If you're going through the whole alignment $$:

Front Camber= neg 1.5 degrees Rear camber 1.2 to 1.5 negative.

Keep castor up at 6 to 6.5 This is where the tech's alignment skills will be proven, (bit heavier steering but better straight line tracking).

Use 0 to 1/16 toe in at front and use 1/4" toe in at the rear. You can go slightly more in the rear if tire wear is not an issue. But no more than 3/8. What this does is stabilizes your corner exits under power. The neg camber which is the most important for quick lapping will give you slightly increased wear on the street but if you do not scuff the tires around a lot on a daily basis I doubt that you will notice. An all out track set up would be around 2.0+ degrees neg.

 

[JonB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tim:
I have just had my wheels aligned on my 94 RT 10 .......All I can say is "Wow" what a difference in the way this car handles. ........Make sure that you don't mix XGTZ with Sports no matter what Michelin says. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The VCA site since C+D days was the first to alert owners (and even dealers!) to re-align 1992-1994 Viper to 1995 specs.

Dartiness went away! Then, MXX-3s made it glide......

But we have ALWAYS been very stern with our warnings to NEVER mix tread patterns on Vipers! The "transitional response" is widely different from style-to-style. Your front sidewalls flexing at a differt rate than the rears, coupled with mismatched tread grip, is a formula for disaster...... I find it hard to believe (ie stunned) that anyone in the know at Michelin would give you that advice !

The WORST possible mis-match is XGT-Zs with Sports. Dangerous.
Other DANGER mixs are drag slicks rear, and radials up front.

 

[Performin Norman]

Thanks for the specs. I too dislike the wandering all over the road and wanted some custom alignment specs that are good for just street and highway cruising. I hate fighting the wheel.