Alignment/caster question.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Alignment/caster question.
I made some front suspension geometry changes the other day, and of course had to realign everything (home alignment). The car drives nice, but with a slight pull to the right. Although the test drive was on some county roads with a bit of a crown, I suspect that part of the pull is due to an imperfect alignment. Please confirm/clear up my understanding of things. It's my understanding that if the caster differs from side to side the steering will pull (if there's toe-in) to the side that has more caster.
(I don't have a caster gauge yet. It's on my list of future tools.)
Is my understanding correct?
Thanks guys.
(I don't have a caster gauge yet. It's on my list of future tools.)
Is my understanding correct?
Thanks guys.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,934
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Like I mentioned before, a caster gauge is on my short list.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I'm wrong.
I looked at several alignment sites and the word is that the car will pull to the side with less caster, not more. The mechanics/physics made sense to me the other way around, so I'm going to have to figure out the force mechanics of the correct answer.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
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Caster
Your car will pull to the side with the least positive caster. The left side is usually given about 1/2 degree less positive caster to compensate for road crown. Most people never feel it.
Camber should be set even.
Toe-in does not cause a pull.
Hope this helps.
Roger T
Camber should be set even.
Toe-in does not cause a pull.
Hope this helps.
Roger T
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Somewhere in the Finger Lakes of NY
Grassy-field alignments -
You can measure caster with a camber gauge.
First, crank the wheels 20deg to one side...measure camber on a wheel, then crank it back straight, and 20deg. the other way...measure camber again. Calculate the difference between the two...and multiply by 1.4....that's the caster of that wheel.
You can measure caster with a camber gauge.
First, crank the wheels 20deg to one side...measure camber on a wheel, then crank it back straight, and 20deg. the other way...measure camber again. Calculate the difference between the two...and multiply by 1.4....that's the caster of that wheel.
