[Healeys] BN2 Caster Angle

Jean Caron vintage_roadster_restoration at hotmail.com
Mon Jan 4 15:53:00 MST 2021


Kilmartin sells shock mount plates that allows you to adjust camber but they can also sells you a set up for 4 degrees of castor.

Jean

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From: Bob Spidell<mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>
Sent: January 4, 2021 4:22 PM
To: Michael Salter<mailto:michaelsalter at gmail.com>
Cc: Healeys<mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] BN2 Caster Angle

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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