Castor Angle

[Sean]

HI

Just wondering what caster angles people are using for Mk 1?

I have seen 3 to 5 and even 7 degrees positive?

Any comments gratefully received.

Sean

[gimmeabeer]

Hi Sean
I'm not saying it is correct, but on the front I run 5.5deg pos caster. Standard Mini runs 3deg. 1.6deg neg Camber and minus 1deg toe.
Rear is 1.2deg neg camber and minus 2deg toe. I do find the car very twitchy on the staights, but have rebuilt the rack (Herald) to very close tolerances since I last drove it at Pukekohe. Hopefully the twitchy steering will have gone.
Good Luck. Geoff

[Sean]

Thanks Geoff

I was thinking 5 as then I can have some adjustment for less or more.

Have you arrived at 5.5 through experimentation?

As you mentioned your rack, so I guess it depends on how heavy the steering is and how much self centering you what?

Regards Sean 

[gimmeabeer]

I set mine to those specs at the recommendation of my alignment specialist (22 years just doing alignments and suspension repairs). I also took advice from the Historic Formula Ford folk.
I've never taken much notice of the centering force. I usually have such a grip on the wheel, through sheer terror, that it goes where I want it to. I have a very small (9") steering wheel like Grays. The 12" wheel impacted on knee room. With the small wheel, it needs a lot of effort.
Geoff

[golfpin]

just a thought chaps remember that an increase in caster angle [pos\ has a side benefit of camber gain on turn, in other words, the more the caster the more the laden wheel will develop negative camber, off setting camber loss on roll. This gets a bit convoluted but it is in the books; personally would suggest an upper limit of 5 degrees because there is as always a pay off, in this case as the laden wheel goes neg the other side goes pos and with increased caster angles the steering effort goes up, trade off !!!m golfpin