Why do vettes with an IRS need negative camber?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,411
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From: St. Louis, Missouri
Why do vettes with an IRS need negative camber?
When I place my car in Drive, the rear end squats about an inch (the opposite in reverse). Anyway, it seems that the torque from the pinion trying to climb up the ring gear would add slightly MORE negative camber as you cruise down the highway.
It seems that you would want to keep the tread square with the pavement.
Confused
It seems that you would want to keep the tread square with the pavement.
Confused
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 305
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From: Fort Collins CO
Re: Why do vettes with an IRS need negative camber? (Neo Fender)
Its a design *flaw* with the corvette IRS. Vette Brakes has a smart strut kit that changes the suspension geometry and removes the camber change with suspension travel.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
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From: CO
Re: Why do vettes with an IRS need negative camber? (Neo Fender)
I had a problem with the outside of my tires wearing before the inside. I installed some lower control arms(poly strut rods from VB) and had the alignment redone. The problem went away, when I look at the car from behind the tires appear to be seated square with the pavement. I don't know what the exact specs on the alignment were but the uneven tire wear is gone.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,411
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From: St. Louis, Missouri
Re: Why do vettes with an IRS need negative camber? (flood)
My tires seem to be wearing OK. I've just heard that when an IRS Corvette was aligned to spec, it should have slight negative camber.
Team Owner
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Re: Why do vettes with an IRS need negative camber? (Neo Fender)
Yes, you do want the tire square with the pavement. That's the biggest problem with an independent suspension, it DOESN'T do that!
When you're driving on a smooth road you'd think you want the tire to have no camber.
Now think about when you turn. Suppose you're making a left turn so the car leans to the right. What happens to the outside tires? They ALSO lean out. Not as much as the car does, but a good percentage of it. Now while you're turning you'd probably like to have those tires relatively close to vertical, and certainly not leaning OUT of the corner, right? So to do that, you put some negative camber in to start with.
Dave
When you're driving on a smooth road you'd think you want the tire to have no camber.
Now think about when you turn. Suppose you're making a left turn so the car leans to the right. What happens to the outside tires? They ALSO lean out. Not as much as the car does, but a good percentage of it. Now while you're turning you'd probably like to have those tires relatively close to vertical, and certainly not leaning OUT of the corner, right? So to do that, you put some negative camber in to start with.
Dave
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 18,478
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From: Quincy IL
Re: Why do vettes with an IRS need negative camber? (ddecart)
i put vette brakes smart struts on my vette 5 years ago,and recall that the instructions told you how to set the negative camber by using a a block of wood that just fits on the flat of your wheel rims. hold the block vertical, up against the rim and put a level on the outside edge of the wood. in my case i cut a 2x4 to a specific length and duct taped a level to 2x4. i got the camber right according to the guy who did the 4 wheel alignment after i also rebuild the front end. BTW,my 97 toyota rav4 has negative camber as do many cars.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,004
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From: Severna Park Md
Re: Why do vettes with an IRS need negative camber? (Neo Fender)
Its got to do with racing. Negitive will get you around the corner. Works good for powering out of a turn. Vettes shine for this. :D
