Improve Your Miata's Handling With Aftermarket Camber Kits

Understanding Camber and Camber Kits for Miatas

Miatas are popular lightweight convertible sports cars known for their agile handling and responsive steering. However, over time the factory suspension settings can lead to uneven tire wear and reduced grip. This is where installing an aftermarket camber kit can help optimize the alignment and improve performance.

What is Camber?

Camber refers to the angle of the wheels relative to the ground when viewed from the front or rear. Specifications are usually given in degrees, with 0 degrees being perfectly perpendicular to the road.

On many vehicles, including Miatas, the top of the wheel tips out slightly. This is known as positive camber and helps counteract body roll in corners. Too much positive camber can lead to inner tire wear, while negative camber wears more on the outer tire.

Benefits of Adjustable Camber

The best aftermarket Miata camber kits allow owners to fine tune the alignment settings. Benefits of increased adjustability include:

• Improving grip and cornering
• Balancing tire wear
• Lowering the car's center of gravity
• Enhancing steering feel and turn-in
• Correcting bump steer issues

Being able to adjust front and rear camber, castor, and toe settings enables owners to really dial in the handling. This allows you to maximize mechanical grip when pushing hard through turns on winding roads or racing circuits.

Aftermarket Camber Kit Options

There are a variety of Miata camber kits available from reputable brands that cater to all budgets and applications.

Entry-Level Bolt-On Kits

The most affordable option is to purchase basic camber bolts or plates. These replace the existing hardware with eccentrically offset versions. The easier installation makes them popular, but they offer limited adjustment compared to more advanced solutions.

Coilover Suspension Packages

For enthusiasts looking to lower their Miata while retaining adjustability, coilovers are an excellent choice. They combine height adjustable shock absorbers with camber plates for aligning the wheels during installation. Flexible ride height allows further lowering of the center of gravity too.

Aftermarket Control Arms

Serious track day warriors and amateur racers may benefit most from replacing the factory control arms. Brands like Megan Racing, Powerflex, and FM offer adjustable sets with spherical bearings to correct geometry changes from lowering. Expect a more labor intensive install but huge alignment range.

Installing a Miata Camber Kit

Bolting on an aftermarket camber kit is an intermediate level job better left to experienced home mechanics. Allow a full afternoon and have an alignment shop verify settings after. Here are some quick installation tips:

• Use a floor jack to safely lift the front or rear
• Always support on jack stands before working underneath
• Remove wheels and disconnect relevant suspension parts
• Compare factory hardware vs new kit components
• Adjust alignment within recommended specifications
• Road test and double check for issues

Taking the time to properly set up an adjustable camber kit on your Miata will help improve performance and handling. Test drive your car and have an alignment shop make final tweaks until reaching desired tire temps and pressure across all four corners.

Maintaining Proper Wheel Alignment

Installing a Miata camber kit allows your suspension geometry to be precisely dialed in. However, regular maintenance is required to maintain alignment specs and enjoy ongoing benefits.

Periodic Inspections

It's good practice to have an annual alignment check, especially if noticing uneven tire wear. A basic inspection verifies key measurements haven't drifted. This allows proactive adjustments to be made.

Reset After Impacts

Potholes or other road impacts can knock alignment settings out. If the chassis takes a big hit, don't just assume you're still aligned properly. Get checked and reset as necessary to restore grip and prevent abnormal wear.

Component Replacement Effects

Upgrading brake components, wheel bearings, ball joints or bushings often necessitates having an alignment. Changing any suspension or steering links changes the geometry and requires resetting everything correctly.

Staying on top of maintenance checks ensures you get the most from your Miata camber bolt kit and protects your investment in new tires too.

FAQs

What is camber?

Camber refers to the angle of the wheels relative to the ground when viewed from the front or rear. Specifications are usually given in degrees, with 0 degrees being perfectly perpendicular to the road.

How can adjusting camber benefit my Miata?

Properly adjusting camber can improve grip, balance tire wear, lower the center of gravity, enhance steering feel and response, correct bump steer issues, and overall optimize the handling of your Miata.

What options do I have for Miata camber kits?

There are affordable bolt-on camber plates and bolts, coilover suspension packages that allow adjusting camber, and more advanced control arm kits that provide maximum alignment adjustability.