[RPAPTL6]

I have a 2021 Mach 1 with the Handling Package, which has the adjustable camber plates. My front end seems to get out of alignment fairly easily - starts drifting left.
I have already replaced a set of Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires at 7000 miles due to excessive wear on the inside of the front tires, especially the right front, inside tread.

I had an all-wheel alignment done at about 3000 miles, then at about 7000 noticed the inside tread wear and belt exposure. I am not running it hard and have not had it on the track yet. I replaced the tires and had another all-wheel alignment done (at a discount from the same place that did the first one).

I hit a major pothole yesterday, and its started to drift left again, much like the first time. I can understand a pothole throwing off the alignment, but have a question:

Can an alignment kit, like the one offered by Steeda, help stabilize the alignment more than not having the kit, or is the kit just for making adjustments easier? Comments, thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[JBert]

I wonder if it is set up for track? That would be a ton of negative camber and a little toe out, if I remember correctly ... which might produce that wear pattern, I'm not sure.

If you are talking about this kit, the description does mention correcting alignment problems, so I guess it might help
Steeda 555 4450 Mustang Subframe Alignment and Support kit (15-22)

 

[Braindead]

Sounds as if something never was tightened from factory. Would imagine tire blow out or bending suspension parts before loosing alignment through adjustment points. Expensive experimenting, most shops screw alignments up also I found out many decades ago.

 

[crjackson]

most shops screw alignments up also I found out many decades ago.

Agreed!

 

[JBert]

.... most shops screw alignments up also I found out many decades ago.

yeah, the simplest answer is usually the correct one, LOL

RPAPTL6, did you get the print-out from the alignment shop, that shows the specs and the before and after actual results? If you could post that here, it might provide some clues as to what is going on.

 

[AZlb5.0]

Just throwing ideas out there. Could the handling package be a “track specific” package that driving on the streets for a elongated amount of time (ie a few thousand miles) could throw it off? Please forgive me because I’m coming from GM cars and many “handling packages” that guys use on cars like GTOs and Camaros and such, are usually track specific that driving on the streets tends to throw them off and have to be readjusted after each track use. If I’m wrong please forgive my ignorance.

 

[JBert]

Driving on the street should not throw anything off -- the alignment should hold pretty much forever, if nothing is broken or loose. If anything would throw it off, it would be track duty where the stresses are much much higher.

But guys who drive their cars both on the road track and also on the street, will sometimes adjust the alignment for the track when they go to the track, and then set it back for street after the track day. I tried to do this for a while, but found it very difficult because I didn't have a good set-up to do my own alignment. If you know what you are doing, and have a decent set-up in your garage, it is do-able. This might be what you are thinking of.

But it seems like the OP might have an issue where things actually are changing. The Steeda marketing materials suggest there might be some slop in the factory set-up.

 

[RPAPTL6]

I wonder if it is set up for track? That would be a ton of negative camber and a little toe out, if I remember correctly ... which might produce that wear pattern, I'm not sure.

If you are talking about this kit, the description does mention correcting alignment problems, so I guess it might help
Steeda 555 4450 Mustang Subframe Alignment and Support kit (15-22)

Thanks for the info, and especially the kit link! The kit mentions fitting the GT, but does not mention the Mach 1 or GT 350. The Mach 1 is in-between the GT and GT 350: The Handling Package on the Mach 1 has a tuned chassis, and the rear subframe of the GT 350. I am wondering if the alignment kit is still recommended for the Mach 1!? I'll get Steeda's input. Thanks again JBert!

 

[RPAPTL6]

yeah, the simplest answer is usually the correct one, LOL

RPAPTL6, did you get the print-out from the alignment shop, that shows the specs and the before and after actual results? If you could post that here, it might provide some clues as to what is going on.

Thanks, I'll try to upload a picture of the alignment printout!

 

[RPAPTL6]

Just throwing ideas out there. Could the handling package be a “track specific” package that driving on the streets for a elongated amount of time (ie a few thousand miles) could throw it off? Please forgive me because I’m coming from GM cars and many “handling packages” that guys use on cars like GTOs and Camaros and such, are usually track specific that driving on the streets tends to throw them off and have to be readjusted after each track use. If I’m wrong please forgive my ignorance.

Thanks, good input! I'll run that line of thinking down with Ford Performance, or perhaps Steeda.

 

[Braindead]

The Camaro COPO? Think that‘s right acronym. Came radio delete even of coarse, where upgraded maybe factory forgot alignment parts?

 

[harveyshepherd]

Having just taken delivery of my 2022 Mach1 with the handling package I find this thread very interesting. The first thing I noticed was the tendency for the car to wander at lower speeds. Not fair - the faster you go the better it handles. My assumption was this handling characteristic was due to the 305 front and 315 rear cup2 tires. But could this really be because of the suspension setup? I find it kind of unlikely that Ford would sell the car pre-setup for track use. I thought that the adjustable suspension setup was so track guys could fiddle to meet their individual preferences. I'll be very interested if someone gets to the bottom of this question.

 

[crjackson]

My assumption was this handling characteristic was due to the 305 front and 315 rear cup2 tires.

I believe you are correct in this assumption.

 

[JBert]

.... The first thing I noticed was the tendency for the car to wander at lower speeds ... the faster you go the better it handles. .... But could this really be because of the suspension setup? ... I thought that the adjustable suspension setup was so track guys could fiddle to meet their individual preferences. ...

I think that wandering might be called "tramlining" which is when the car follows ruts or other irregularities in the road. It is common with wide sticky tires, especially tires with a solid center rib. It is because if the tires can push hard on the road, the road can also push back hard on the tires.

I also would doubt that they sell these cars set up for track, the allignment print-out and specs will tell that story. Track setup usually includes a lot of negative camber (like 2-3 degrees) and a little toe out, to help with "turn in" as they say.

Yes I would also assume that the adjustable suspension is for track guy fiddling, and it would come set up for the street until the fiddling begins.