[Healeys] BN2 Caster Angle

Bob Spidell bspidell at comcast.net
Mon Jan 4 15:19:50 MST 2021


Soooooo ... that could be the cause of hard turning?

On 1/4/2021 2:12 PM, Michael Salter wrote:
> Castor should be 1 3/4 degrees ... it's in the factory manual ..
> Bear in mind that sagged rear springs can add to that.
> 2 1/2 degrees is way too much.
>
> M
>
> On Mon., Jan. 4, 2021, 5:01 p.m. Bob Spidell, <bspidell at comcast.net 
> <mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>> wrote:
>
>     Nope. For once, I'm NOT confused. I've acquired an interest in
>     chassis geometry WRT to handling characteristics (and can't spend
>     ALL my time correcting people on the interwebs ;).  I know Healey
>     geometry is usually fixed; but my BN2 has Kilmartin adjustable
>     camber plates, and I acquired a set of shock plate inserts for my
>     BJ8. I believe I can remove the ends of the shock plates, remove
>     the captive nuts and lengthen and widen the holes enough to allow
>     a couple degrees of camber adjustment and maybe a degree or two of
>     caster adjustment. I bought a 4-wheel alignment kit to do the
>     measuring.
>
>     My BN2 is surprisingly hard to turn, and only got more so when I
>     installed a smaller diameter steering wheel. It has 2-2.5deg pos.
>     caster; I think lessening that a little might decrease steering
>     effort (which may be normal, but I've only driven this one BN2).
>     If it makes the car too 'squirrely' I can fiddle with it until I
>     get the handling I like.
>
>     Bob
>
>     On 1/4/2021 1:36 PM, Neil Anderson wrote:
>>     Bob,
>>     I think you mean camber angle.  Caster is the forward/rearward
>>     angle inclination of the swivel upright, which is permanently set
>>     on a Healey.  Camber is the top inward or outward angle tilt of
>>     the wheel when viewed front front.
>>
>>     Not sure what the factory camber angle is, but what you stated is
>>     probably close.
>>
>>     Neil Anderson
>>
>>     On Mon, Jan 4, 2021, 2:28 PM Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net
>>     <mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>> wrote:
>>
>>         Listers,
>>
>>         What's the recommended setting (my version of the shop manual
>>         doesn't
>>         specify one)? I think the BJ8 manual recommends 1-2deg pos.
>>
>>         Bob
>>
>
>

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