Tarett, Elephant Racing, or Rennline Camber Plates?

[WillyDaP]

I will readily admit that not long after ordering my Cayman GTS I found that the factory had limited the amount of negative camber an owner could achieve with the standard adjustments. Coming from a 21 Mach 1 with the " Handling Package " that includes a factory camber plate in said option upgrade, I was a bit shocked the car many consider the best handling brand out there was severely camber limited. Well, no biggie I thought, I have added camber plates to many of the vehicles I have tracked so I did a little search and found three choices right away with Tarett, Elephant Racing and Rennline. From their published negative camber ranges it appears that Rennline and Elephant have a slightly bigger range than Tarett for vehicles running their stock shocks. Since getting to -3 degrees will give me more wheel and tire options that is my primary goal and I will run 18 inch wheels for tire cost benefits. I believe this will entail doing the GT 3 lower control arms and some shims, since it appears -2.5 is about the max one can get with just camber plates. So, since playing on track for a zillion years I have found one can not always believe what one reads since you find out something completely different when at the track, I am asking what folks with a Cayman GTS, base or S , have found out. I figure this is a great place to ask because I chatted with a couple of my Autocross friends and they all told me that a 295 width was about the max in the rear , but I might be able to get a 305 Pirelli.Michelin race slick on? Since I have run Hoosiers quite often I asked about a 315/30/18 and was told by everyone they were too wide. Ok I thought, and then just this past weekend at a Great Plains Region of the PCA I noticed the Club President , Mike Anderson , had a set of 315s on the rear of his Cayman ---- real World as opposed to what one might see in print. So , back to the original question, what have some of you seen with just camber plates, which seem to actually have the best range and if I can get -2.5 up front, I may just settle for the plates alone if enough folks are getting that with ease.

[blueline]

We've had some discussions in the Carpokes 718 sub-forum regarding the needs you're describing - J-Dub, Danial (Jet Fuel Only), and others. I think you've read most or all of the comments already.

I went with Tarett Engineering's camber plates & rear toe-links as you already know and I am very pleased with them. They are a good company to deal with too. J-Dub and Danial also went with Tarett and they're both pleased as far as I know. The Tarett got the nod from a couple of pro racers too.

As for 18" wheels, I think you can do that on a GTS but be sure first because that's just a guess on my part. Was your friend's car with the 18" wheels a 981 or a 718? I cannot do 18" on the GT4. They'll fit but that's about all you can say about them. The caliper clearance is nonexistent so they cannot be done safely on a GT4. If a small piece of debris such as a small bolt or nut were to get in the space then it's bad news and all downhill. Wallet buster and maybe more.

I stepped down to 19" x 9" and 19" x 11" wheels (the Apex forged SM10RS) for track use which allows 265 ft and 295 rear. On the GT4 I could go to 305 in the rear but the well clearance is tight and therefore questionable. Plus, Hoosiers are available for me in 265 and 295 but not 305.

This video from Danial's YouTube channel is specifically about his use and experience with Tarett Engineering's products:



One thing about the 718 is that so much of the car is already ideal in its design that small tweaks and upgrades are generally sufficient. It doesn't require that one reinvent the wheel. The car is not a monster HP barn-burner but it doesn't need to be. The finesse carries the load and it performs like magic.

PS: Hindsight is 20/20 and in that vein, I wish I would have gotten another 718 GT4 or GTS and stuck it away somewhere in storage. I like the car that much. I cannot fathom why Porsche decided to kill the model. Idiotic decision.

[J-Dub]

As Tim mentioned I did do the Tarett on my GTS. They install easily, are not noisy and I would recommend them.
As you said if you want more than -2.5 or so you will need GT3 style lower control arms up front. So far I have only done the camber plates and played with my front toe in some. Before the next track day I do plan to add some more toe in to the rear. Plan to add Tarett or TPC rear links in the near future.

But just in case your question is would I buy them again....that gets more complicated. Happy to get into that but don't want to derail the question.

[WillyDaP]

Thanks, guys, I have had 6 sets of Apex wheels on other cars because I liked the fact that they are hub centric and lightweight. Well acquainted with Hoosiers and was actually shocked to see 315/30/18s on the rear of the 718 Cayman. I had planned on 255s and 295s on 9 inch and 10.5 inch wheels, though I have considered BC Forged for 8.5s up front to keep me legal for Super Street Class in SCCA ( I would have to bump those up to 19s though ). It seems the bulk of folks are quite high on the quality and set up from Tarett, but what I have read it also appears they have the least amount of range. What is in print, though, does not always translate to actual usage and therefore I was wondering if anyone got to -2.5 with Elephant or Rennline. It seems they might give one enough range ( just barely ) but I am anticipating needing to go with GT3 lower control arms and shims. I did not notice the the wheel make on the Cayman running the 315s, but they looked like they may be OZ. I left a message for Mike to call me as this has me intrigued at how these fit when the buds I have with GT4s are not running a 315/19 even. I appreciate the personal examples as that was what I was hoping for and
I am fairly sure I will not pursue staying in a Street Class for autocrossing as the primary purpose will be Time Trials , so the camber plates and more are my likely modifications. I am wondering if anyone has used the Rennline set, though, as they appear to have the most range, yet I have not chatted with a single person who has used them.

[Ix_]

But just in case your question is would I buy them again....that gets more complicated.

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

[blueline]

I'm running a bit over -2.5 square with the Tarett camber plates and their turnbuckle style rear toe links.

Latest alignment with the new 19" Apex wheels. Neg camber up a bit from last time. Camber and Toe recommendations came from Andy P.

Alignment GT4 Apex 19 wheels 2023-08-18 screenshot.png (557.13 KiB) Viewed 3766 times

[J-Dub]

I need to clarify the comment I made above, I was not intending to cast doubt on any one camber plate. If I intend to keep the stock springs or stock type springs on my car I would absolutely buy the Tarett camber plates again.

If I want to move to a height adjustable motorsports type spring where I can fine tune the suspension those are all based around the other camber plate design, the one that fits the GT4. Tarett also makes that design but it means buying another set of camber plates

Sorry for any confusion that comment may have caused.

Jeremy

[WillyDaP]

No confusion, I plan to keep things relatively stock other than camber plates and maybe a GT3 style lower control arm, but the range on the non ClubSport designed plates seem to have an additional range of .8 to 1.2 depending on brand, therefore asking to see what folks have gotten with the three models readily available. I have talked to one guy who has minus three degrees with his camber plate, but his comment followed a Cheshire smirk letting me know it involved his own customized adjustments. I plan on chatting with him at the Solo Nationals next week to see just what those " Customized adjustments " were. I want to keep the car as close to stock as possible for warranty considerations, though not worried much about some minor suspension mods as plenty of owners in may area have done them.

How much negative camber do you have up front?

[J-Dub]

I am currently at 2.3 deg negative camber with the Tarett plates and the slots pushed all the way in. I understand that people that really dial these cars in typically use both the GT3/4 style lower control arm and the camber plates.

If you do get new lower control arms, try to get ones that feature adjustable pucks so you can adjust your caster and center your wheel after pushing the hubs out with the spacers.

I am interested as well to hear more about the customized adjustments to get to 3 deg.

[J-Dub]

In case you have not seen these options that recently have hit the market... or should I say scheduled to hit the market in December. I find it interesting that they seem to work with both spring types for the front of the 718.


https://www.dundonmotorsports.com/pr...-camber-plates

https://www.dundonmotorsports.com/pr...er-plates-pair