Tire question for Norval
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 249
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From: atlanta GA
Tire question for Norval
Hey Norval, since lengthening your spindles and slotting your a-arms how have you found your tires? Is the car squatting at all at rest (tires already in slight negative camber) causing uneven tire wear?
I want to modify my suspension, and your method seems to be the most straight forward.
I want to modify my suspension, and your method seems to be the most straight forward.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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Re: Tire question for Norval (applevette)
After installing longer spindles you have to reset all the suspension geometry settings (camber, caster, toe). So you can set it for stationary, loaded.
What the longer spindle does is reposition the upper balljoint so the upper arm has a better angle, bringing the IC inboard instead of the stock outboard. This ensures a negative camber gain on bump (desired).
The ride height is ONLY dependant on the spindle, lower arm and the coil spring. Since there is no change made in the spindle axis height in respect to the lower balljoint ride height stays the same. Only the upper piece of the spindle is changed. What a real drop spindle does is reposition the axis higher up the upright, that WILL change all the suspensions geometry settings (camer, looking at front)
[Modified by Twin_Turbo, 7:39 AM 11/20/2003]
What the longer spindle does is reposition the upper balljoint so the upper arm has a better angle, bringing the IC inboard instead of the stock outboard. This ensures a negative camber gain on bump (desired).
The ride height is ONLY dependant on the spindle, lower arm and the coil spring. Since there is no change made in the spindle axis height in respect to the lower balljoint ride height stays the same. Only the upper piece of the spindle is changed. What a real drop spindle does is reposition the axis higher up the upright, that WILL change all the suspensions geometry settings (camer, looking at front)
[Modified by Twin_Turbo, 7:39 AM 11/20/2003]
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: atlanta GA
Re: Tire question for Norval (Twin_Turbo)
Yeah, I know that ride height shouldn't change. It's just that in the back of my head I thought I rememberd some camaro guys complaining that spindle extenders (1 & 1/2 to 2" I think) messed up the wear on their tires.
Good to here that's not the case here, I love the idea.
Good to here that's not the case here, I love the idea.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Tire question for Norval (applevette)
I agree with everything that Twin Turbo just said. I have not installed the spindles yet. I used an extended ball joint this summer to increase the spindle length but intend to install the spindles this winter when I have time to really go after bump steer .
This summer with the extended ball joints I really tried to remove the bump steer but was still left with 5/16 inch at the worst situation.
'This winter I can do a better job of removing that 5/16 at the same time as the spindles go in.
My ride height will be the same as now, I will set camber at -.75. The slotted A arm cross shafts gave me 5 degrees of positive camber without shims and I will try to keep that setting.
As for tire wear only next summer will tell but at home with the caster/camber gage installed and no spring in the front I can measure camber gain and then know what to expect.
This summer with the extended ball joints I really tried to remove the bump steer but was still left with 5/16 inch at the worst situation.
'This winter I can do a better job of removing that 5/16 at the same time as the spindles go in.
My ride height will be the same as now, I will set camber at -.75. The slotted A arm cross shafts gave me 5 degrees of positive camber without shims and I will try to keep that setting.
As for tire wear only next summer will tell but at home with the caster/camber gage installed and no spring in the front I can measure camber gain and then know what to expect.
