View Full Version : Self centering
alga
11th September 2012, 07:40 PM
My car does not self-center at all. The mushroom inserts are with their hole forward, Toyo R888 tyres inflated to 1.5 bar (tried 1.8, too, no effect), 1 degree toe in, -2 degrees camber. The wishbones are built to book dimensions, there is a visible caster angle in the kingpin axis. It does seem to self-center in reverse, though. Any pointers, ideas?
snapper
11th September 2012, 07:48 PM
Bit of toe out for IVA sorted out self centre issue
alga
12th September 2012, 12:29 AM
*sigh* Thanks, I'll try that. But there's a reason why self-centering is a required for IVA, it's a safety feature.
I'm considering several ways to increase the caster angle. One is slotting out the holes on one of the front suspension brackets and fitting some eccentric washers, much like this: http://www.jegs.com/i/Specialty-Products/827/23765/10002/-1
Another idea is shortening the four bushes on the top wishbones by some 2.5 mm (bush tube and crush tube) and packing with washers to increase the caster angle by about 1 degree.
DRCorsa
12th September 2012, 07:29 AM
*sigh* Thanks, I'll try that. But there's a reason why self-centering is a required for IVA, it's a safety feature.
I'm considering several ways to increase the caster angle. One is slotting out the holes on one of the front suspension brackets and fitting some eccentric washers, much like this: http://www.jegs.com/i/Specialty-Products/827/23765/10002/-1
Another idea is shortening the four bushes on the top wishbones by some 2.5 mm (bush tube and crush tube) and packing with washers to increase the caster angle by about 1 degree.
That's what i was thinking of doing some time when i finish my project as it seems every car with Sierra uprights has the same issue.
robo
12th September 2012, 08:20 AM
If you have a dig about on here someone did an explanation of all this. The mushrooms dont add caster they give you trail. Its this trail that helps with the self centering, a bodge is a better word for it. There is not enough caster in the front suspension set up and no way to alter it.Thats why I am making my upper bones with adjusters on the inner joints. When they are on the car I will take some measurements of them in the corrected adjusted position then perhaps someone can do an ammended top wishbone drawing so they are built to include the caster without the need for adjusters. Caster is an important must have for straight line stability not just self centering. I am no expert on trig but i bet its only a few mm added to the front top wishbone tubes to sort it.
================... KPI ......... caster
Lotus Elise........................ 12° ......... 3.8° caster
Corvette C5, C6................. 8.8° ...... 6.5° caster
Pinto/MustangII/Wilwood... 11°
Ferrari 512BB............... 9 or 13°
ATS AFX Tall..................... 8°
Triumph Spitfire................ 7° ..........4.7° caster
Lotus Seven..................... 9° .......... 5° caster
Mazda Miata................... 11.3° ........ 5° caster
Ferrari F355................... 13.16°
McLaren F1...................... 9° ........... 6° caster ...... 16.25mm scrub
Bob
TSM Locost
12th September 2012, 08:33 AM
I would suggest that you lower the tyre pressures to 1.1 bar as a starting point,
AshG
12th September 2012, 09:42 AM
set the toe to 0deg and try it. if that fails then 0.5deg toe out will get it self centering but it will feel twitchy at high speed.
alga
12th September 2012, 05:56 PM
If you have a dig about on here someone did an explanation of all this. The mushrooms dont add caster they give you trail.
One is as good as the other:
http://www.lancerevoclub.org/faq/img/castor.gif
Fixing the Sierra's trail inceases positive caster distance, too. It's the distance between the kingpin axis' projection intersection with ground and the centre of the contact patch, and it is precisely the lever that does self-centering.
alga
12th September 2012, 06:04 PM
I would suggest that you lower the tyre pressures to 1.1 bar as a starting point,
I thought so. But now I have 1.5 bar in the rear tyres, zero camber, and the marks left on the asphalt when spinning wheels are just narrow stripes along the edges.
robo
12th September 2012, 06:06 PM
Not quite the same thing because the trail wont become effictive untill you move where as the caster will be effiective at all times. Hence the lack of self centering when stationary. That castor like on a shopping trolley could be kicked arround 360 degrees and it will only straighten if you move forward. Also the inside wheel on turn in on the proper set up is forced downwards whereas the trail set up remains static. That in turn makes the steering feel vague, thats the reason all decent suspesion systems have caster built in. The mushrooms help but its only a patch up fix for an inherent problem, they do infact make the set up act as scrub which most would regard as undesirable.
Bob
alga
12th September 2012, 06:18 PM
Not quite the same thing because the trail wont become effictive untill you move where as the caster will be effiective at all times. Hence the lack of self centering when stationary.
I have no problem with lack of self-centering when stationary. I would say it's a feature of most cars. Turned wheels stay turned as long as the car is not moving.
Now, the kingpin inclination angle, which is cast into the upright geometry, should provide some self-centering effect, as turning the wheels results in slightly raising the car, but, apparently, with the Roadster's weight, this effect is not enough.
That castor like on a shopping trolley could be kicked arround 360 degrees and it will only straighten if you move forward. Also the inside wheel on turn in on the proper set up is forced downwards whereas the trail set up remains static.
You're missing the bit that Sierra's upright has negative trail, and offset mushrooms set it to zero, making the wheel axle intersect the kingping axis.
robo
12th September 2012, 06:43 PM
I have not gone for the sierra set up so I cant comment on it but dig about with the search and its was made clear that the offset mushrooms were used to give the suspension trail. That might or might not be correct so moving on to the basics and there is not enough caster in the system to give it self centering end of. i have gone for the mazda rx8 uprights and will be making fully adjustable top wishbones to address the problem. Caster is what is needed. If the mushrooms set the trail to zero that makes the whole thing worse!! Zero or close to zero caster and zero trail "no thanks"
Bob
DRCorsa
12th September 2012, 07:52 PM
You don't merely need caster angle. What you need is the benefit that caster angle gives you. This "benefit" is actually called "mechanical trail" and this along with the "pneumatic trail" gives the "total trail".
Caster is one way to obtain mechanical trail. Another way is moving the kinpin forward of the wheel center.
Mechanical trail is not an "angel". You dont need "much" of that, because if pneumatic trail is only a small percentage of the total trail, then when you are at the limit of traction (where pneumatic trail tends to disappear) you will not get a good feel of it.
robo
12th September 2012, 08:05 PM
.
Caster is one way to obtain mechanical trail. Another way is moving the kinpin forward of the wheel center.
[/QUOTE]
Which we wont be doing as we are using ready made uprights so caster it will have to be. Unless of course we fabricate our own uprights! I have checked the mazda uprights the best I can and the king pin line runs through the center of the stub axle so there is no trail built into those particular uprights. All valid stuff this and needs looking at.
Bob
DRCorsa
12th September 2012, 08:18 PM
Offset mushrooms is another way to obtain some mechanical trail and you don't need any special uprights to do this.
What i want to tell is that caster is not what you actually need. What you need is trail and there are a number of ways to get trail including caster angle.
robo
12th September 2012, 08:30 PM
You're missing the bit that Sierra's upright has negative trail, and offset mushrooms set it to zero, making the wheel axle intersect the kingping axis.
Quote.
Alga has already pointed out that the mushrooms set the trail to zero<which i was told gave a positive trail> so where do the sierra upright boys go now. More caster.?????? We have what the donor of our choice gave us and the only practical way to rectify the problem is to frig the top wishbone or pivot points. Any other method would involve purpose made uprights which no one is going to do.
Bob
alga
12th September 2012, 11:44 PM
Robo, here's a piccie of the Sierra upright. The negative trail, while exaggerated, is fairly obvious.
http://www.locost.lt/pic/144
The book design has the caster angle of approximately 5.5°, which, while not a lot, is far from zero.
alga
12th September 2012, 11:53 PM
Hm, moving the upright back by 2.5 mm will increase the caster angle to about 6.15°. That's a pretty small difference, I doubt it's worth it.
Actually, making another set of top wishbones with larger offset might be the neatest way to increase the caster. The question is, by how much?
DRCorsa
13th September 2012, 06:12 AM
Alga, have you actually measured your car's caster angles in an alignment shop?
robo
13th September 2012, 08:53 AM
Albert help might be at hand here. The extract below was from a drift forum. Where I cant comment on the 2wd sierra stuff I can check out the 4wd stuff because I have two sets of 4wd hubs here. If the below is true that might be the best option. I will check them out for trail today and let you know. Its the negative trail that is wiping out the effect of the caster and causing the problems. Its a shame it was not noted when the cars were being developed because they could have mounted the rack behind the front axle and just reversed the hubs giving positive trail, but thats not where we are.
For drifting Sierras lack caster and lock, so I want to use 4WD front hubs as they give more caster angle than the 2WD hubs. I had them left over from when I broke the XR4x4 I had. I've already removed the CV joint innards.........
[image]
.......and to increase lock I want to get the hubs redrilled to change the location of the track rod end. Like this.......
[image]
.......although I want a tapered hole so I can use the OE track rod ends, instead of the bolt and rose jointed affair I'm the photo.
Using 4WD hubs means I must use the pinch bolt type track control arms (which I've also got) and the larger diameter 4WD dampers too (which I don't have).
Bob
MikeB
13th September 2012, 10:22 AM
One is as good as the other:
http://www.lancerevoclub.org/faq/img/castor.gif
Fixing the Sierra's trail inceases positive caster distance, too. It's the distance between the kingpin axis' projection intersection with ground and the centre of the contact patch, and it is precisely the lever that does self-centering.
Just to clarify,
When you move the inserts, it doesn't change the castor angle as the top and bottom pivots are fixed, it effectively moves the centre line of the wheel forward and backwards changing the trail, so in the diagram above the steering axis stays fixed the wheel effectively moves for and aft.
From recollection the only thing that would give you any self centering when stationary is king pin inclination as this causes the body to rise and fall when the wheels are turned so the vehicle mass forces it back down due to gravity. (sorry missed someone already said this!)
alga
13th September 2012, 11:08 AM
Alga, have you actually measured your car's caster angles in an alignment shop?
No, I haven't. Do you think it's the only way to get a reasonably exact measurement?
robo
13th September 2012, 12:03 PM
Here is a picture of the 4x4 hub with a steel ruler through the two pinch bolts, I know this is not 100% accurate but it looks like the drift boys are right. It does appear there is no trail + or - , the strut diameter is 50mm so I dont know how that compares. Might be a cheap quick fix. Edit :have a read of this, the cobra builders have the same problems http://www.cobraclub.com/forum/pilgrim-sumo-technical-questions/23922-sumo-camber-castor-angles.html
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k577/mypickys/000_0172.jpg
Bob
DRCorsa
13th September 2012, 12:10 PM
No, I haven't. Do you think it's the only way to get a reasonably exact measurement?
Absolutely. You will also be able to find out if you have any difference in caster angle between left and right wheel.
alga
13th September 2012, 07:58 PM
Here is a picture of the 4x4 hub with a steel ruler through the two pinch bolts, I know this is not 100% accurate but it looks like the drift boys are right. It does appear there is no trail + or - , the strut diameter is 50mm so I dont know how that compares. Might be a cheap quick fix. Edit :have a read of this, the cobra builders have the same problems http://www.cobraclub.com/forum/pilgrim-sumo-technical-questions/23922-sumo-camber-castor-angles.html
Very interesting, thanks for the pointers! Alas, RWD sierra's struts are 45.5 mm in diameter...
alga
13th September 2012, 10:08 PM
Absolutely. You will also be able to find out if you have any difference in caster angle between left and right wheel.
I just realised, it is pretty easy to check to within less than 1 degree with a steel ruler, a square, a reference plane (e.g, wall, big square box, etc.) touching front wheels. Just measure the difference of the distance of centres of balljoints from the reference plane. A measuring error of 1 mm will result in the error of about 16'.
robo
14th September 2012, 09:43 AM
Really then for the sake of spinning up some 50mm mushrooms and going to the 4x4 hub it would appear that all would be ok for caster and self centering as its the negative trail of the 2wd hub that is wiping out the effect of the caster this built into the suspension system. That would explain why you car self centers when reversing. Best to give tt a nudge and see if there is anything else odd about the 4x4 hub.
Bob
Big Vern
14th September 2012, 04:18 PM
Really then for the sake of spinning up some 50mm mushrooms and going to the 4x4 hub it would appear that all would be ok for caster and self centering as its the negative trail of the 2wd hub that is wiping out the effect of the caster this built into the suspension system. That would explain why you car self centers when reversing. Best to give tt a nudge and see if there is anything else odd about the 4x4 hub.
Bob
The lack of caster has been a known fault right from the original design, and I believe has been a problem on the MK as well yet there is still no revision to the design, update of the book in this respect. Unfortunatly most builders don't find this out until they've built the chassis/car so end up having to 'bodge' around the problem.
A solution if you can get them would appear to be the 4x4 upright,but it would be better for a sticky on here relating to this design problem so future builders have the chance to 'build in' some extra castor.
robo
14th September 2012, 05:07 PM
I have two sets here if someone wants to have a go. What the f@@k do you do with the front cv because it looks like the same system as the front wheel drive cars where the cv holds the whole hub together. I suppose you could cut the cv bit off the shaft and leave enough of a shoulder on there to make it like a big bolt. I think I will muller one and have a look.
Bob
Johno
14th September 2012, 08:19 PM
Well I've been reading this thread and at the moment it's totally incomprehensible to me...:o :o
I really need to read up on this I guess. I don't want to hijack this thread ALGA but will the MX5 build suffer the same fate...:confused:
Here's a photo
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa472/JohnoSS1/2012-09-13-443.jpg
I don't believe anybody has finished a MX5 build on here yet so it would be very nice to know.
I believe Nathan modified his top wishbone to overcome the clearance issue with the steering rack extensions fouling the bottom wishbone and moved the top threaded adjuster rewards.
He stated this helped his self centering as well as a result.
Obviously you are looking for a cost effective solution to the problem but would a new top wishbone as Robo suggested be the only option??
Johno
alga
14th September 2012, 09:14 PM
You don't need to apologise, Johno, this is clearly on-topic. From your photo it does look like the wheel axis is a bit further to the front than the kingpin axis, and I assume Andy left the caster angle the same as in the Sierra-based wishbones.
Actually, it's easy to test-self centering in the stage you are in, just put it on the wheels, turn the wheel to the lock, and push the chassis a couple of feet and back. My steering wheel stays where it was on the stroke forward and unwinds a bit when pulled back.
alga
14th September 2012, 09:24 PM
Johno, robo posted an amazing link about suspension geometry a while back:
http://www.haynes.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=7371
Johno
17th September 2012, 09:33 PM
Hi Alga good site,
Still trying to get my head round it all (too much info:eek: :eek: ).
I'm going to remake my top wishbones soon and need to readup on this before I fab them.
But I actually found out what "bump steer was this weeend".:D
I fitted my new wishbones and moved them throughout their travel with the shock on and noticed the wheel moved in and out...LOL
Johno
robo
17th September 2012, 09:46 PM
Dont panic the steering rack has to centralised mm perfect before you can run that check.
Edit ,another usefull site http://www.optimumg.com/OptimumGWebSite/Documents/OptimumK%20Help%20File%20v1.1/Welcome3_legacy.htm
Bob
DRCorsa
18th September 2012, 11:31 AM
Hm, moving the upright back by 2.5 mm will increase the caster angle to about 6.15°. That's a pretty small difference, I doubt it's worth it.
Actually, making another set of top wishbones with larger offset might be the neatest way to increase the caster. The question is, by how much?
Alga, how much caster have you calculated for the original setup?
After a bit of work on CAD, i came up with this rough figure.
I assumed a vertical distance of 200.5mm between ball joints (according to this drawing (http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/gallery/sierra_upright.jpg)) and a slight divergence between the upper and lower wishbones towards their outer ends (ball joint ends).
According to my calculations, by offseting the wishbone chassis mount by 2.5mm you increase caster by 0.7deg and by making a new wishbone with 10mm more offset you get 2.8deg of caster! For 5mm offset wishbone you will gain 1.4deg
Original setup: 5.73deg
2.5mm offset chassis mount: 6.43deg
new wishbone with 5mm more offset: 7.14deg
new wishbone with 10mm more offset: 8.54deg
snapper
18th September 2012, 04:49 PM
Reading a geometry article by Nigel Dean handed out by Track Developments at a Kit Car show he recommends 3 to 3.5 deg for a 7, 5 to 7 degrees for a Cobra
How much are you guys looking for ultimately?
DRCorsa
18th September 2012, 05:09 PM
Self-centering is a safety and stability feature.
If you don't get any sufficient self-centering effect with 5.5deg then you have to go for more.
I think that the best solution would be a new top wishbone with 10mm more offset and rose jointed so you will be able to fine-tune the caster angle according to your specific needs.
I will seriously think of making a pair for my car as soon as i finish building it. Maybe earlier than that..
robo
18th September 2012, 05:59 PM
Self-centering is a safety and stability feature.
If you don't get any sufficient self-centering effect with 5.5deg then you have to go for more.
I think that the best solution would be a new top wishbone with 10mm more offset and rose jointed so you will be able to fine-tune the caster angle according to your specific needs.
I will seriously think of making a pair for my car as soon as i finish building it. Maybe earlier than that..
Thats exactly what I intend to do. The book bones needed an ammendment yonks ago to at least put the caster situation in the picture. Its like the rack being 27mm to long, why have the chassis brackets not been altered 13.5mm on each side to put the bump right. Surely just a few bits like this is going to make a huge difference. Improve the breed with a tinker:)
bob
baz-r
18th September 2012, 06:21 PM
you may as well ditch the sierra upright and go for some light cortina rep front uprights and redo the whole lot in one go
you cant polish a turd and rolling it in glitter is messy :rolleyes:
DRCorsa
18th September 2012, 07:42 PM
A first mock-up:
The V8 Files
18th September 2012, 09:18 PM
you cant polish a turd and rolling it in glitter is messy :rolleyes:
Apparently you can :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiJ9fy1qSFI
alga
18th September 2012, 11:45 PM
Alga, how much caster have you calculated for the original setup?
After a bit of work on CAD, i came up with this rough figure.
I assumed a vertical distance of 200.5mm between ball joints (according to this drawing (http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/gallery/sierra_upright.jpg)) and a slight divergence between the upper and lower wishbones towards their outer ends (ball joint ends)
My "tape measure applied to the side of upright" measurement indicated the distance between balljoints is about 210 mm. I based my calculation on this length, and it works out at 5.5° then. But, this does not take KPI into account, so, looks like your numbers are more accurate.
alga
19th September 2012, 12:04 AM
I know you Alga may be going off a different book over there then our IVA manual, but I wonder if every one expects perfect return to dead ahead steering when pushing a car forward, it will not.
Well, I experienced no self-centering whatsoever when moving forward, at any speed. But it does self-center in reverse, and it does work by just pushing the car back with the steering at full lock. The steering wheel starts turning.
Setting to close toe to about zero did not have much effect. I'll try playing with camber next. Also, I'll try changing the wheels to the stock 14" pressed steel ones.
DRCorsa
19th September 2012, 08:40 AM
alga, one thought. Maybe it's something with your steering column, maybe some awkward angle causing the steering to stuck?
snapper
19th September 2012, 01:27 PM
I must admit from reading this thread it does point to perhaps a more simple issue, you should always try the easy and obvious first.
I've been to 5 SVA's and IVA's we had a self centering problem on 3 this was always sorted with an adjustment of the toe on the day, none had been set up in advance just somewhere close with string and laser levels.
On the road the lack of perceived self centering has not become a problem.
We have a broad variety of cars most are 7's, Robin Hood, MK, several Locost/Haynes, only one has Cortina hubs and is still in build so can't comment on that however the Sierra hub cars are realy not a problem on the road and on some we have just shimmed the top and or bottom wishbones with washers.
wylliezx9r
19th September 2012, 03:16 PM
I must admit from reading this thread it does point to perhaps a more simple issue, you should always try the easy and obvious first.
I've been to 5 SVA's and IVA's we had a self centering problem on 3 this was always sorted with an adjustment of the toe on the day, none had been set up in advance just somewhere close with string and laser levels.
On the road the lack of perceived self centering has not become a problem.
We have a broad variety of cars most are 7's, Robin Hood, MK, several Locost/Haynes, only one has Cortina hubs and is still in build so can't comment on that however the Sierra hub cars are realy not a problem on the road and on some we have just shimmed the top and or bottom wishbones with washers.
I agree with you but wouldnt it be nice to have the correct amount of caster, the same as the more expensive manufacturers design in. They dont do it for nothing, it aids handling and makes the front end more planted and stable.
If somebody could come up with a new design wishbone, I for one would definately be investing in them. I cant understand why this wasnt designed in the first place. Apparently Mk Indys suffer the same.
Dan
Stumaso
20th September 2012, 10:09 PM
Hi ime a little confused on this one too. The offset of the upper wishbone is 23mm giving a positive caster angle of approx 7 degrees which is all you really need. So why do we need offset mushrooms. Am I missing something?
alga
4th October 2012, 12:51 AM
spud69, could you chime in on the topic? You mentioned several times that you recommend the caster angle set so the car just starts to self-centre. How do you adjust the angle? What's the downside of having more caster on the Roadster?
spud69
4th October 2012, 07:37 AM
spud69, could you chime in on the topic? You mentioned several times that you recommend the caster angle set so the car just starts to self-centre. How do you adjust the angle? What's the downside of having more caster on the Roadster?
I seem to remember this has raised it's head a few times previously and yes technically you're right to bring it up again. You can turn the offset mushroom to the rear to move the steering angle forward a bit to influence the self centering. As you know it doesn't actually move the top pivot point but in my experience of the cars i've helped to set up it does help - the reason why offset mushroom started to be used. Getting the bump steer and toe fine tuned will have the best effect over stability.
I dont claim to be an expert just have some experience to use and pass on.
Cheers.......Andy
Big Vern
4th October 2012, 12:44 PM
I seem to remember this has raised it's head a few times previously and yes technically you're right to bring it up again. You can turn the offset mushroom to the rear to move the steering angle forward a bit to influence the self centering. As you know it doesn't actually move the top pivot point but in my experience of the cars i've helped to set up it does help - the reason why offset mushroom started to be used. Getting the bump steer and toe fine tuned will have the best effect over stability.
I dont claim to be an expert just have some experience to use and pass on.
Cheers.......Andy
The mushroom should be orientated away from the engine.
The mushroom is not meant to be used to overcome the lack of caster. The mushroom takes into account the upright doesn't pivot about its centre line in the donor vehicle. Martin Keenan devised the mushroom to overcome this problem.
The lack of caster is a design flaw in my view and the design should have been corrected years ago or at least a sticky put in place so new builders would know to build in extra caster as they built their chassis. Rotating the mushroom and adding undersirable toe out to get it to self centre is just bodging round the issue.
5 degrees should be considered a minimum but some people arn't getting anywhere near as much.
spud69
4th October 2012, 01:23 PM
The mushroom should be orientated away from the engine.
The mushroom is not meant to be used to overcome the lack of caster. The mushroom takes into account the upright doesn't pivot about its centre line in the donor vehicle. Martin Keenan devised the mushroom to overcome this problem.
The lack of caster is a design flaw in my view and the design should have been corrected years ago or at least a sticky put in place so new builders would know to build in extra caster as they built their chassis. Rotating the mushroom and adding undersirable toe out to get it to self centre is just bodging round the issue.
5 degrees should be considered a minimum but some people arn't getting anywhere near as much.
You're right Vern, 7:30 this morning was a bit early for my brain working to be honest.
The roadster handles fine the way it is and you don't really want a great deal of self center, in my opinion it's mainly for lazy people driving big cars...:) There is nothing wrong with toe-ing out a bit more on the rack extensions just to get through IVA, although you cant do this with the mushroom (just the camber which you can also do with the threaded insert).
Suns out this afternoon and i've finished my work for the day so i'm of out in mine to see HandyAndy I'm sure it will be handling fine :) :D :)
Andy
Johno
7th October 2012, 04:03 PM
Hi Alga,
Did you sort out your self centering problem?
I've been reading up on it and it all seems a bit daunting to say the least:eek: :eek:
alga
7th October 2012, 11:37 PM
No, didn't have much time to play with it TBH.
Take a look on this old thread: http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=97634
The consensus is that the proper fix is more caster, and one figure given is that 22-24 mm of displacement between top and bottom ball joints should do it (we have 20 mm standard). I'll try slackening the wishbone bushes and ensuring that their play is at the end of most camber angle.
One more idea to try from there -- rotating the mushroom a little bit inwards might increase the KPI angle (as the upper ball joint will have to be threaded further in to return the camber to where it was), while the mechanical trail will be reduced minimally. I'm not sure there will be space on the thread though -- the locknuts are already at the end of the thread, with just -2° camber and mushrooms straight ahead.
I reduced toe to zero, and now the car displays "a degree of self centering evident": if I rotate the wheel by 15 degrees, when driving, it springs back by some 3 or 5 degrees sometimes. This could be enough for IVA, but is nowhere near where I would consider it to have any safety effect.
alga
7th October 2012, 11:45 PM
alga, one thought. Maybe it's something with your steering column, maybe some awkward angle causing the steering to stuck?
With the front up, the wheels move pretty freely, but I'll check the position of the steering rack again.
Johno
27th October 2012, 08:22 PM
Hi Alga,
I've made some new wishbones which you can alter the caster. I know it's of no help to you now you have yours but I thought I would show you a photo.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa472/JohnoSS1/2012-10-27-500.jpg
robo
28th October 2012, 10:44 AM
Nice looking lot there . Have you had a chance to shove a caster camber guage on it yet?
Bob
Johno
28th October 2012, 04:27 PM
Nice looking lot there . Have you had a chance to shove a caster camber guage on it yet?
Bob
Hi Bob,
I don't have a camber/caster gauge.:o
I do own a digital spirit level which I could eye up with the ball joints I guess.:) or is there another way of measuring it easily.
I guess you are interested how much you can alter the caster with the rose joints forward and rearward at max?
I will try and find out tomorrow.
robo
28th October 2012, 09:36 PM
Hi Bob,
I don't have a camber/caster gauge.:o
I do own a digital spirit level which I could eye up with the ball joints I guess.:) or is there another way of measuring it easily.
I guess you are interested how much you can alter the caster with the rose joints forward and rearward at max?
I will try and find out tomorrow.
I have got a guage that attaches to the rim that does both caster and camber. if you need the loan of it just cover the p+p.
Bob
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k577/mypickys/000_0186.jpg
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/k577/mypickys/000_0187.jpg
Johno
29th October 2012, 08:22 PM
Hi Bob,
Thats very kind of you...:) I will let you know if I need it.
I did manage to eye up the joints with my digital level with the rose joints set even and it was approx 7.4 degrees.
When I made my new wishbones I did move the top pivot rearward back 5mm which does correspond with DRcorsa's calculation of 7.14 degrees.
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