[Healeys] BN2 Caster Angle

[Bob Spidell]

Point taken, Michael. That's why I bought an alignment kit, so I can 
test the effects of changes. Several Healey owners run 0deg camber with 
no issues, and I've seen a couple that appear to have neg. camber (I 
won't go near that). All my changes can be reversed if I don't like the 
results.

If we shouldn't mess with a 70 year-old suspension design--designed for 
radial tires--we probably shouldn't be running radials.


On 1/6/2021 10:48 AM, Michael Salter wrote:
> Re: /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).
> /
> I would have completely agreed with you Bob until I started doing some 
> basic designing of front suspension systems.
> Although changing the camber may seem like a small thing you would be 
> surprised at how much a small adjustment in any of the suspension 
> angles of dimensions affects other things including "kingpin offset" 
> and "bump steer" each of which can have a profound effect on ride and 
> handling.
> As an example I have a Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR4. This car has 4 wheel 
> steering but I don't think that is relevant.
> When I bought it fancy alloy replacement wheels had been installed. 
> These wheels moved the front tyre contact patch outboard around 1.5 cm.
> The car was absolutely horrendous to drive with profound torque steer 
> upon the application of full throttle (320 BHP), appalling "tram 
> tracking" and incredible tyre wear.
> I had another 3000 GT come in for service and as a test fitted the 
> wheels off that car onto mine. The transformation was absolutely 
> unbelievable; both the handling problems vanished completely.
> I almost managed to talk the owner of the other 3000 into swapping his 
> regular wheels for my fancy alloys but just couldn't do it and came 
> clean by letting him drive my car with the alloy wheels back on.
> Small changes can have VERY LARGE consequences.
> M
>
> On Wed, Jan 6, 2021 at 11:22 AM Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net 
> <mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>> wrote:
>
>     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).
>

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