[Healeys] BN2 Caster Angle

[gradea1 at charter.net]

I'm with the philosophy "set the toe and let 'er blow" The 1/16-1/8"
toe-in is most important for proper tire wear. The other two are
factory fixed and too dangerous to play with or maintain...even if
Kilmartin makes the parts. Hank

	-----------------------------------------From: "Harold Manifold" 
To: "Bob Spidell", "Neil Anderson"
Cc: "Healeys"
Sent: Monday January 4 2021 6:58:27PM
Subject: Re: [Healeys] BN2 Caster Angle

 Bob,   I happened to have my early Healey 100 / 3000 Workshop Manual
sitting by a scanner.   Harold 

-------------------------
FROM: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] ON BEHALF OF Bob
Spidell
SENT: Monday, January 04, 2021 2:01 PM
TO: Neil Anderson
CC: Healeys
SUBJECT: Re: [Healeys] BN2 Caster Angle

 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  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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