jp928
Well-Known Member
Done some measuring, to be taken with some salt. I make the mounting points (bolts) of the bellcrank 280mm apart horizontally, the bellcrank 350mm from pivot to top ball joint, upright distance between ball joints 265mm. All should be within 5mm of true.
This means the following:-
-to change caster by packing BOTH mounts away from bulkead by 1deg would require 4.63mm, .182" or 3/16". Conversely packing here 1mm will change(reduce) caster by 0.215deg. All assuming nothing else changes. Based on my experience I would suggest starting with 1mm or 1/16" if trying to address heavy steering, but proceed at your own risk. Dont use alloy - steel plate only. Suggest one strip long enough to cover the complete mount, drilled and slotted so it can be slipped in sideways once the bolts have been loosened enough. Measure the bolt spacing under the glove box.
- packing 1 of the mounts by 1mm will move the top ball joint 1.25mm in or outwards, depending on which mount you pack - multiply the packing thickness by 350/280 (5/4) to get this.
- moving the top ball joint by this amount will change the camber by ~ 0.3 degrees.
Shows how sensitive caster is...our value is very low compared to some other cars whose values I know - 3-7 degrees is not uncommon. Stupid windows calulator doesnt have artan, so I have done some interpolation.
This means the following:-
-to change caster by packing BOTH mounts away from bulkead by 1deg would require 4.63mm, .182" or 3/16". Conversely packing here 1mm will change(reduce) caster by 0.215deg. All assuming nothing else changes. Based on my experience I would suggest starting with 1mm or 1/16" if trying to address heavy steering, but proceed at your own risk. Dont use alloy - steel plate only. Suggest one strip long enough to cover the complete mount, drilled and slotted so it can be slipped in sideways once the bolts have been loosened enough. Measure the bolt spacing under the glove box.
- packing 1 of the mounts by 1mm will move the top ball joint 1.25mm in or outwards, depending on which mount you pack - multiply the packing thickness by 350/280 (5/4) to get this.
- moving the top ball joint by this amount will change the camber by ~ 0.3 degrees.
Shows how sensitive caster is...our value is very low compared to some other cars whose values I know - 3-7 degrees is not uncommon. Stupid windows calulator doesnt have artan, so I have done some interpolation.