Caster Info needed!!

[03.5MSP_12]

Ok guys, where are the white dots supposed to be set on the top of the strut towers for optimum caster? I autox and a former owner instructed me that adjusting the caster in these will help dial in some camber. I don't want a camber kit, I am running G Stock and want to stay there for at least a season, so whatever small adjustments I can do without adding parts would be optimal.

[rustychops41]

The white dot is there for a reason. The strut centerline is offset into one corner of the tophat assembly, albeit ever so slightly. It's hard to see with the naked eye, about 1/8" at best. Pretty sure the paint dot is OPPOSITE the offset. By rotating the tophat (upper spring perch/mount, with the four 14mm nuts) before mounting, you can adjust both camber and caster, depending on the orientation of that white dot relative to the car. There are other posts in here covering how much change, etc, but the stock position is both dots pointing outward and back, towards the side mirrors. This is max neg camber, min pos caster. Dots pointing out toward the front corners =MORE pos caster/SAME (max) neg camber. Pointing toward the center of the dashboard = STOCK (min)caster/LESS neg. camber. Finally, pointing toward the radiator =MORE pos caster/LESS neg camber. The changes are small, (.3 degrees?)and most people that are doing any mods are going to the first option, more positive CASTER, with the same MAX neg camber. You should already have the maximum amount of neg camber available without camber plates/bolts. The increased caster will increase steering effort, and can have tire wear issues. See TheMAN's excellent protegefaq for more/better info