[Healeys] BN2 Caster Angle
Bob Spidell
bspidell at comcast.net
Wed Jan 6 09:13:52 MST 2021
That's odd; the bearings should be immersed in grease (although I've
wondered how well greasing the top trunnion works, as a lot gets
squished out).
I installed the Torrington bearings on my BJ8 years ago; I thought
steering effort was reduced a bit (but I think part of it was
confirmation bias). Agree that it would make more sense to install them
on the bottom, load-bearing, trunnion.
Bob
ps. Still wondering how adjusting camber, for instance--zero camber is
recommended (newer cars have slightly neg. camber)--for the radial tires
most of us run is a hazard (assuming it's done properly).
On 1/6/2021 7:34 AM, Michael Salter wrote:
> I installed a couple of sets of those many years ago. Unfortunately
> the bearings were made from carbon steel not stainless and they rusted
> up after about 1 year.
> Hopefully the manufacturers now make them from stainless andor brass.
>
> M
>
> On Wed, Jan 6, 2021 at 9:49 AM Bluehealey <bluehealey at gmail.com
> <mailto:bluehealey at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> These are the ones.
> https://www.ahspares.co.uk/austin-healey/big-healey/suspension-front/top-trunnion-bearing-kit-pair.aspx
> <https://www.ahspares.co.uk/austin-healey/big-healey/suspension-front/top-trunnion-bearing-kit-pair.aspx>
> Well worth doing.
> The other often overlooked source of heavy steering is the
> Steering Idler. It is rarely lubricated, has no real reservoir for
> oil, and a poor seal at the bottom. I suggest releasing the ball
> joints that connect to the drop arm to check it for stiffness.
> Complete removal of the idler isn’t a difficult job and is the
> best way to clean and lubricate.
> The caster is pretty good on these cars (the initial design was
> good). Camber could go from positive to negative to be more
> compatible with radial tyres. Also check and minimise toe-in. This
> has a radical impact on steering feel when wrong (in either
> direction).
> If after all that you still have problems, then go for the caster
> changes you have in mind and tell us about your findings. The Team
> may learn something.
> The only other aspect that seems to vary from car to car is bump
> steer. Some can be horrible on fast bumpies and others are on
> rails. I’ve never seen a decent treatise on dealing with this on
> our Big Healeys.
> Have fun.
> Alan - from my iPad
>
>> On 6 Jan 2021, at 13:35, Team.net <lawrence.swift at gmail.com
>> <mailto:lawrence.swift at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>> When I rebuilt the front end on my BT7, I had the trust bearings
>> at the top of the kingpin replaced with bearings - made a huge
>> difference in the ease of steering.
>>
>>> On Jan 5, 2021, at 10:36 AM, Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net
>>> <mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>> wrote:
>>>
>>> re: "The other two are factory fixed and too dangerous to play
>>> with or maintain...even if Kilmartin makes the parts"
>>>
>>> How so?
>>>
>>> On 1/4/2021 9:40 PM, gradea1 at charter.net
>>> <mailto:gradea1 at charter.net> wrote:
>>>> 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
>>>>
>>>
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