Learn me about adjustable camber plates

I recently had BC Racing coilovers installed on my 2009 Mazdaspeed3, with adjustable camber plates on the front strut towers. Cool, except I've no clue how to work with them. Also, according to my local club's autocross rules, it's bumped me up a class. Even with a discount from my sympathetic mechanic, setting up the suspension for a track day, then restoring it afterwards for my daily commute, will cost more than I can justify. Is this an adjustment that a mere mortal can perform without throwing the entire front end out of whack? 

danl318 said:

I recently had BC Racing coilovers installed on my 2009 Mazdaspeed3, with adjustable camber plates on the front strut towers. Cool, except I've no clue how to work with them. Also, according to my local club's autocross rules, it's bumped me up a class. Even with a discount from my sympathetic mechanic, setting up the suspension for a track day, then restoring it afterwards for my daily commute, will cost more than I can justify. Is this an adjustment that a mere mortal can perform without throwing the entire front end out of whack? 

I assume you're referring to adjusting camber. 

adjusting the camber is going to require loosening the 4 hex head bolts on the top of the coilover assembly. 

it does appear based upon some research that the MS3 might not have those visible to you because the hole at the top of the shock tower is small. 

you will probably have to remove the coilover, make the adjustment and reinstall it. 
 

In reply to danl318 :

I assume this is what you're seeing what's shown in these photos at the top of the strut tower. 

just the adjuster knob sticking up through the hole.. with no access to the camber adjustment. 

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/f12/adjusting-camber-bc-coilovers-71674/

I just had camber plates installed on my M2.  I thought I could have both a "street" camber setting and a "track " camber setting.  Something I wasn't aware of, though, was that adjusting the camber at the track would change the front toe.

I ended up re-aligning my car to the preferred track setting (almost 3 degrees of camber -- yum).

In reply to ZOO :

Depending on which direction the toe moves with increased camber and how much it moves, as well as your desired street alignment, it's sometimes possible to align for the street, then add camber at the track but still end up with a reasonable track toe setting (especially on cars that toe out as you add camber).  

Alternately, you can note how many turns of the tie rods it takes to correct the toe change. As long as you're consistent in your adjustments, you could go back and forth. The equipment for checking/setting toe is really cheap, you could even make your own out of two tape measures and a piece of plywood.

And here's a GRM Live! on alignments. Hopefully it helps some.

Those are helpful.  I don't drive the car enough to really worry about a "track" setting on the street.  I won't likely even change the track pads out.