DIY alignment caster question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 857
From: MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
DIY alignment caster question
Hello All,
I found a great article to perform a DYI alignment located here > http://www.flintcorvetteclub.com/images/Autocrossing/Alignment%20%28Web%29.pdf#search='aligni ng%20corvette'
But I will be using the camber adjustment tool here >
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42496
The above article is great with respect to adjusting camber and toe but there is no info on adjusting caster.
My question here is what other methods can be used to adjust and verify the degree’s of Caster?
Thanks,
Kevin
I found a great article to perform a DYI alignment located here > http://www.flintcorvetteclub.com/images/Autocrossing/Alignment%20%28Web%29.pdf#search='aligni ng%20corvette'
But I will be using the camber adjustment tool here >
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42496
The above article is great with respect to adjusting camber and toe but there is no info on adjusting caster.
My question here is what other methods can be used to adjust and verify the degree’s of Caster?
Thanks,
Kevin
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 1
From: Manchester NH
Originally Posted by 69
But I will be using the camber adjustment tool here >
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42496
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42496
Am I missing something with this tool?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Would this alignment info work on the C5?? I am guessing it will.
That tool is interesting, as many of us dont use center caps on our alluminim wheels so it should stick to the center of the hub.
That tool is interesting, as many of us dont use center caps on our alluminim wheels so it should stick to the center of the hub.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,438
Likes: 919
From: CONCORD NC
Any camber gauge will work. All you want to do is turn each wheel a specific amount (15deg out to 15 deg in for instance) and measure the camber change. All you really want is to keep both sides close to each other.
I've actually calculated the conversion that you can actually use to convert to a real number. I'll dig it out if you really want it. Regardless, and method of calculating camber (buble gauge, level and tape, etc) can be used to measure castor.
Didn't you guys take trig in school?
I've actually calculated the conversion that you can actually use to convert to a real number. I'll dig it out if you really want it. Regardless, and method of calculating camber (buble gauge, level and tape, etc) can be used to measure castor.
Didn't you guys take trig in school?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 210
From: Detroit MI
I read that article, and it defines postive caster as tilting the steering axis forward. Isn't positive caster when the steering axis is tilted to the rear?? In other words, isn't that diagram showing positive caster? If not I've been wrong for a while and the caster on my car is way wrong.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 857
From: MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Here is one method I found....
How to Measure Castor and Camber: Use the level or castor/cambor gauge to read the camber of all 4 wheels. Camber is the tilt in or out looking from the front of the car. Write these numbers down. Negative camber is the tire/wheel tilting inward at the top. For the front, we need to measure castor. To due that, turn the wheel full lock to the left, and then measure the camber on both L and R wheels. Then turn the wheel full lock right and measure the camber. Subtract the two left wheel camber numbers and that will be the left wheel castor setting, and the do the same for the right wheel Note that you really want to turn the wheel +/- 20 degrees, but full lock is real close and much easier to duplicate. Also, the actual castor setting is not critical, but any difference side to side is since it will make the car pull to the side that has more castor. Toe must be measure/adjusted AFTER castor/camber is adjusted
How to Measure Castor and Camber: Use the level or castor/cambor gauge to read the camber of all 4 wheels. Camber is the tilt in or out looking from the front of the car. Write these numbers down. Negative camber is the tire/wheel tilting inward at the top. For the front, we need to measure castor. To due that, turn the wheel full lock to the left, and then measure the camber on both L and R wheels. Then turn the wheel full lock right and measure the camber. Subtract the two left wheel camber numbers and that will be the left wheel castor setting, and the do the same for the right wheel Note that you really want to turn the wheel +/- 20 degrees, but full lock is real close and much easier to duplicate. Also, the actual castor setting is not critical, but any difference side to side is since it will make the car pull to the side that has more castor. Toe must be measure/adjusted AFTER castor/camber is adjusted
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 5
From: Atlantis
Cruise-In I Veteran
Huh????
CASTER is the difference in CAMBER from left to right????????????
Don't believe I've heard this before.
Correct me if I'm wrong........
The CASTER number is an individual wheel number. Left hasn't got anything to do with right.
CROSS CASTER is the difference between left and right.
I think you may want to set caster individually then go check the cross caster afterwards.
If you WANT cross camber or cross caster you can set it when you set individual wheel caster & camber.
Pretty much ditto on camber.
CASTER is the difference in CAMBER from left to right????????????
Don't believe I've heard this before.
Correct me if I'm wrong........
The CASTER number is an individual wheel number. Left hasn't got anything to do with right.
CROSS CASTER is the difference between left and right.
I think you may want to set caster individually then go check the cross caster afterwards.
If you WANT cross camber or cross caster you can set it when you set individual wheel caster & camber.
Pretty much ditto on camber.
Last edited by VetNutJim; Jan 17, 2005 at 03:37 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,822
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Originally Posted by 69
For the front, we need to measure castor. To due that, turn the wheel full lock to the left, and then measure the camber on both L and R wheels. Then turn the wheel full lock right and measure the camber. Subtract the two left wheel camber numbers and that will be the left wheel castor setting, and the do the same for the right wheel Note that you really want to turn the wheel +/- 20 degrees, but full lock is real close and much easier to duplicate.
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 5
From: Atlantis
Cruise-In I Veteran
Yes! What he said..
Must have been late last night.
What 69 said makes sense this morning too.
It just looked like he said the caster was the difference BETWEEN the left and right min/max caster numbers.
Actually he said it was the difference IN the left and right min/max numbers. which is A-Ok.
Must have been late last night.
What 69 said makes sense this morning too.
It just looked like he said the caster was the difference BETWEEN the left and right min/max caster numbers.
Actually he said it was the difference IN the left and right min/max numbers. which is A-Ok.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,804
Likes: 358
From: Northville, MI
If memory serves me correct, to measure caster from a camber guage turn the front of the wheel 20 deg to the inside and read camber, then turn 20 degree to the inside from the rear part of the wheel. subtract from the first reading and multipy by 1.5. Bought a camber cast guage and just read the number now.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,822
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Here is an excellent article on how to do a 4 wheel alignment.
http://www.vettenet.org/align.html
Bill
http://www.vettenet.org/align.html
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington DE
Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
Here is an excellent article on how to do a 4 wheel alignment.
http://www.vettenet.org/align.html
Bill
http://www.vettenet.org/align.html
Bill
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,438
Likes: 919
From: CONCORD NC
Another way is to turn your wheel so that the edge of the rim moves from 2" out, to 2" in. Multiply the camber change by 2.5, and you have approximate castor.
This is easy to do by puttin a jackstand outside your tire as a reference. A friend to turn the wheel helps.
As probably mentioned, absolute castor is not nearly as important as keep both wheels the same.
In theory, if you could turn your wheels 90 degrees, your castor and camber would be equal when the tires were turn fully to the side.
This is easy to do by puttin a jackstand outside your tire as a reference. A friend to turn the wheel helps.
As probably mentioned, absolute castor is not nearly as important as keep both wheels the same.
In theory, if you could turn your wheels 90 degrees, your castor and camber would be equal when the tires were turn fully to the side.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,364
Likes: 38
From: King George VA
As mentioned above, the directions that came with my camber gauge said to turn wheel 20 degrees one way and take camber, then turn 20 degrees the other way and take camber. The gauge came with a floor template to get the 20 degrees from centerline accurately. Caster is 1.5 times the difference between the two. Be careful with the positives and negatives.
For example, one camber reading comes to -3.5, the next +0.5. The difference is 4.0. Caster is 1.5 x 4.0 = 6.0. Do the same thing on the other side of the car.
Goal is to get max caster, matched side to side as close as possible. I have found I normally have to sacrifice caster on one side to get side to side matched. But when I don't match side to side, the car pulls.
For example, one camber reading comes to -3.5, the next +0.5. The difference is 4.0. Caster is 1.5 x 4.0 = 6.0. Do the same thing on the other side of the car.
Goal is to get max caster, matched side to side as close as possible. I have found I normally have to sacrifice caster on one side to get side to side matched. But when I don't match side to side, the car pulls.
__________________
C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
C66 Racing #66 NASA ST2, SCCA T2
AMSOIL Dealer (Forum Vendor)
AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program (Members buy at Wholesale - a savings of about 25%)
