Caster + Camber plate for NAVIC Coilovers - Completed Dec 2022 - Available in shop
August 2022:
These were roughly measured out and a prototype is being cut at a fabrication shop to fix the caster issue with an AZ-1/Cara being lowered. The way the suspension set up is affects the caster as you alter the ride height of the vehicle. You ideally want at least 0 degrees of caster to get a “neutral” feeling car and maybe a little bit to the positive for better handling.
I had my car aligned last year after installing my Navic Street Coilovers and this is the result: Left side: -7.1degrees and Right Side: -6.8 degrees caster. The steering is very darty (already so on top of such a short wheelbase car) Any deformation of the road the car will wander very easily and it requires effort to maintain a straight line for the most part.
In the Facebook AZ-1 group, Stephen Nelson made his own one off set of caster plates to fix this issue and says he has over 7 degrees of caster. I believe that means +7degrees.
Either way lets find out how much caster can be gained out of this to fix this. I was told it would be difficult to get an adjustable set up with the way the car is but I asked to see if they can try. They mentioned something about needing to drill a 3rd hole on the strut tower but I asked for no permanent modifications to the vehicle as a requirement to the job.
November 2022:
Dropped off car for alignments to confirm fitment and effect of the new caster plates. Second update coming soon!
December 2022:
Car drives excellent even before alignment. It no longer wanders all over the road and skitters on imperfections especially at speed. New product available in the store called CASTERLY MAX. It retains all the features of the NAVIC coilover plate but the caster can be moved a fixed amount. MAX moving it 10.x degrees positive. My car went from -7.1 and -6.8 degrees to 3.55 and 3.57 degrees nearly spot on to stock spec in the center at 3.58 degrees.
Measuring the bolt spacing and center hole
Drawing it out
Stephen’s homemade plate.
Basically what we’re making will be very similar to this. His version has the camber adjustment recessed into the hole and requires the strut to be dropped down to adjust camber.
We decided to go for retaining adjustment up top so my version offered is different than this.
Alignment Sheet
This is what my alignment adjusting what can be adjusted and lowered a 1-2 inch. I forget how much now. Tons of negative caster.
New alignment after installing CASTERLY MAX onto my NAVIC Street coilovers.
I also learned that HUNTER and SNAPON alignment machines share the same database and they have
the AZ-1 and it’s specs in the system. It’s under worldwide cars, Japan, Mazda, AZ-1 (PG6SA).