caster??

[patina]

On my car I am using a 42-48 axle and bones that i split using the tierod kit from speed way. I got my chassis set up at ride height (6) inchs from the lowest paint and i also got 670-15 up front. Trying to set my caster at 6 or 7 degrees but The closest caster i can get is 9 degrees. A Friend of my suggested about splicing the bones up front. Is there something i am missing or not doing correctly thats allowing me to not get the caster i need?

Jason

 

[rainman]

PICS??

 

[RAT IHC]

Do you have a picture of your front end setup. The rear mounting point of the wishbones and spring perch angle...will determine your caster. If ground clearance is an issue you might have to splice the bones. Have only heard of that being done...never seen it. To me if it's that bad I would think about reconfiguring the front suspension.

-Troy

 

[rainman]

Cutting the bones should be a last resort, you should be able to get the angle you want by the mount location!! If not try flipping the bones over they are at slightly different angles up front!! You haven't really given enough info to give a suggestion!! Pics would be a huge help!!

 

[sgtpontiac]

I assume you mean 9 degrees positive....

the axle lying back toward the rear? Yeah pic's would help...

 

[dmw56]

Try it at 9*. That's not excessive and may work just fine.

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

9 degrees is perfect. Leave it alone.

 

[rainman]

Try it at 9*. That's not excessive and may work just fine.

The only draw back is, depending on the steering box, it could be hard to turn!! Mine kind of is at 6 1/2 deg.

 

[sgtpontiac]

it'll track straight as heck...lol

The only draw back is, depending on the steering box, it could be hard to turn!! Mine kind of is at 6 1/2 deg.

might effect the steering return after making the corner....[S

 

[rainman]

might effect the steering return after making the corner....[S

Guess I better explain what I mean! The more caster you run, the more the car wants to run straight!! At slower speeds anything over 6 degrees or so
(every car seems to be a little different) it can be hard to turn!!
Think about what you're actually doing by putting caster into it, you're changing the contact patch of the tire!!

Hope this expalins it??

When I say hard to turn, I mean physicaly hard, at the wheel!!

 

[Hydrocarbon Rocket]

Bigger tires on the back could get you what you want.

 

[donsrods]

I've had them as high as 10 degrees and some cars like that. Like the guys suggested , try it out first and cut as a very last resort.


Don

 

[patina]

thanks. I got it tacked on for know and i guess i will just wait till to i get my rear tires and double check it and and hope i can get the caster i need if not i will try cutting the bones.

I got some pictures but there not very good. But i understand about using the rubber rake to achieve the proper caster

 

[patina]

 

[Sam_Fear]

Looks like you got it. Drive it before cutting anything.

 

[patina]

yeah i didnt want to cut anything... im gona try raising the rear a tiny bit. and hope for the best

 

[Blue Eyed Devil]

I'm tellin' ya, 9 degrees is right where you want to be. I've built a LOT of cars and set every one of them at or near 10 degrees and they drive & handle great. 6-7 degrees may have been fine for a stock Model A Ford, but it isn't enough for modern speeds. There is no reason that changing the caster should affect turning the wheel at a stop. That has nothing to do with a caster setting. The contact patch of the tire is the same whether the spindle is at 6 degrees, 9 degrees or 25 degrees. The only thing more caster slightly affects is the tendency to "push" through a turn at speed, but with a lightweight hot rod that is of little to no concern. The weight just isn't enough to play into the equation. 10 degrees caster and 1/16" toe-in, proper tire pressure and you're golden. Drive the wheels off it.

 

[bob w]

Lots of caster causes the front to "lift" slightly when turning. So you are raising the car's front end weight with steering effort.

I too have built lots of hot rods and typically use 5-6 degrees of caster. Works fine for me. My dragster has close to 15 degrees however.

 

[rainman]

Lots of caster causes the front to "lift" slightly when turning. So you are raising the car's front end weight with steering effort.

I too have built lots of hot rods and typically use 5-6 degrees of caster. Works fine for me. My dragster has close to 15 degrees however.

Good idea in a dragster, as I said makes the car go straight!!
I don't clain to know all about this issue, but anyone who has raced on
oval tracks, an done their own set ups can tell you caster effects the car
a lot!!
For instance my starting point on some of my SS cars would be to put
about 6 degrees in the pass. side and 1 in the driver side!!
Because of what you mentioned Bob, that would make the car pull hard left, into the turn!! Just one thought!!

 

[moparcowboy]

6 deg. worked great for me[cl