The screw can be adjusted to move the wheel forwards or backwards adjusting the caster angle. A little too much positive caster seems better than too little but results in more heavy, sluggish steering. Quick fact: While some positive or negative camber is good, too much … And did you ever hit a curb or large pothole ? radial tires deform less at speed when compared to a bias ply tire. Any unusual wear on them ? With caster maxed out now I get closer to the other side, +5.0 caster, with -1.95 camber. If your upper ball joint or strut mount is located more toward your vehicle’s rear than the lower ball joint, your vehicle has a positive caster. It is important to note that some might argue that you can not have too much positive caster. I maxed out the upper control arm and added shims to the lower control arm shimming out the lower knuckle. We’ve already discussed what is caster and how it becomes positive or negative. The majority of these front-wheel-drive vehicles do not allow their positive cambers to be adjusted. If you increase the degree of the positive caster angle too much, it … Vehicles with SLA suspensions use the upper and lower ball joints to create the angle, and those with struts use the center of the upper strut mount and the lower ball joint as the angle. How were the old tires ? Caster is positive when the load is ahead or pulling on the spindle. Excessive positive caster increases low-speed steering effort and ride harshness or road shock. Click here They went too far the other way, and it is wearing the outside pretty quickly. Running too much positive caster can cause some issues due to the weight jacking effects and the negative camber gains that caster produces. Have you gotten the "driveline vibration" letter yet? Even if it isnt the best way to fix it, The steering dampner is a really good way to cover up the problem. Because too much positive caster also has it’s drawbacks. Too little positive caster might make steering touchy at high speeds and diminish wheel returnability when the car is coming out of a turn. Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the front tyres as viewed from the front of the vehicle. Conversely, too much positive caster can cause the steering to feel "floaty". Too much negative camber will wear the inside of the tire more while too much positive will wear the outside more. Actually additional caster can help improve stability as noted above but there is a threshold where too much is too much and apparently the front wheels will start to shimmy. Too much of a good thing leads to trouble. Too much caster often means the vehicle’s rear is lower than the recommended height causing the front suspension to move to a more positive caster. Conversely, too much positive caster can cause the steering to feel "floaty". I had a 05 harley sportster and at speeds over 75-80 it would get a little wooble or shake in the front end. Too much caster indicates that the vehicle’s rear is lower than the recommended vehicle height which causes the front suspension to shift to a more positive caster. Positive Caster. Too much caster often means the vehicle’s rear is lower than the recommended height causing the front suspension to move to a more positive caster. Also, if you’re normally driving on uneven roads or surfaces, then you will want the added stability that positive cambers provide. Off topic but is that dove springs in your avatar? Ugh I highly doubt moving the wheel up in the wheel well would cause that. Too much inward (negative camber) or outward (positive camber) tilt, indicates improper alignment. Too much positive camber in 68 RR. I checked every thing and put a hi end tire on the front and it would still do it. For example, a tire wear pattern called feathering can result from a combination of too much caster with incorrect toe settings. With caster maxed out now I get closer to the other side, +5.0 caster, with -1.95 camber. Caster is the forward or backward tilt of the steering axis viewed from the side of the vehicle. Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by CTaulbert, Apr 14, 2013. Only real downside, is adding caster slightly increases steering effort. bruceb Diamond Member. There are factory vehicles with over 10* of caster. Copyright © 1995-2020 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Caster is the lean of the knuckle at the ball joints as you look at the side of the Jeep. Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Taco2525, Dec 18, 2017. do You think it’s possible a high speed drive linevibration is caused by to much positive caster? A large positive camber setting (wheel facing forward of axis) is good for high speed stability but can make it … As for too negative of an angle, you've seen those results, again, scary. Positive caster is a GOOD thing! Positive caster increases negative camber when the wheels are turned due to the geometry of the suspension components. How were the old tires ? Actually additional caster can help improve stability as noted above but there is a threshold where too much is too much and apparently the front wheels will start to shimmy. Later, I took it to place that had old Bear alignment equipment to see if they could adjust that out. The more positive the caster, the more cross weight there is being removed. Worn ball joints, strut mount, tie rod, and other wheel-suspension parts may contribute to camber misalignment. Op, how much caster are you taking about? Too little caster can also make steering overly sensitive at high speeds and reduce wheel returnability after completing a turn. Caster is positive when the load is ahead or pulling on the spindle. Worn ball joints, strut mount, tie rod, and other wheel-suspension parts may contribute to camber misalignment. Too much caster (positive caster) and the front of the car will understeer more, too little (negative caster) and you will get oversteer handling characteristics. Positive camber is for stability, while negative camber is common in high performance vehicles that require better cornering. Too little caster can also make steering overly sensitive at high speeds and reduce wheel returnability after completing a turn. bruceb Diamond Member. If you have too much positive caster, you can induce a tire shake/shimmy. Aug 20, 2004 8,875 111 106. The best I can get is caster +3 and the camber at -0.5. Alignment numbers have nothing to do with a driveshaft vibration. The amount of caster directly correlates to the length of caster trail in a given suspension. Caster Kits - There's almost no such thing as too much positive caster for performance driving.Click here. approximately 2-4* is the sweet spot for a daily driven commuter car. Camber . As for too negative of an angle, you've seen those results, again, scary. ... Too much extended camber can affect those hard stops that may be necessary. However, excessive positive caster in association with other alignment maladjustments can exacerbate a tire wear issue. Vehicles with SLA suspensions use the upper and lower ball joints to create the angle, and those with struts use the center of the upper strut mount and the lower ball joint as the angle. Point the wheels straight ahead. Caster is the forward or backward tilt of the steering axis viewed from the side of the vehicle. It helps the car absorb bumps, as it puts the suspension movement more in line with the bumps. In effect your taking cross weight out of the car the more you turn the wheel. However, just like with camber, vehicle pull is not caused by too much or too little caster, but by side to side imbalance. https://www.comeanddriveit.com/suspension/camber-caster-toe caster. Caster angle can have a positive effect on the contract patch in turns, but it depends on the tires and weight and you can over do it and decrease high speed turn stability too. Also as an important note here….underinflated front tires can also induce a tire shake/shimmy too. That is my theory on caster angles vs. larger tires, whether that is the correct reason or not, I can’t really prove, but the fact is too much caster with big tires can cause death wobble. Aug 20, 2004 8,875 111 106. On most vehicles it's common to have slightly more negative camber (0.8 - 1.3°) in the rear to reduce the chances of … Actually additional caster can help improve stability as noted above but there is a threshold where too much is too much and apparently the front wheels will start to shimmy. Yes an no to that threshold. Positive & Negative Camber. The caster angle or castor angle is the angular displacement of the steering axis from the vertical axis of a steered wheel in a car, motorcycle, bicycle, other vehicle or a vessel, as seen from the side of the vehicle. Jan 7, 2015 #5 I would not be too worried about being out of spec so little. I had a 05 harley sportster and at speeds over 75-80 it would get a wooble! Weight there is being removed front end grip with added caster gains as it puts the suspension.... The spindle too negative of an angle, you can not have too much positive caster can make. Look at the side of the vehicle get a little wooble or shake in the wheel is needle! Thing it could cause is the forward or backward tilt of the car the majority of front-wheel-drive... Moving the wheel positive caster in association with other alignment maladjustments can a. You say drive line vibration i assume your talking about the driveshaft can a. These vehicles is that you can induce a tire wear pattern called feathering result... Not have too much positive caster, you can induce a tire shake/shimmy isnt the way. Degree positive, ie the projected pivot point is in front of the tyre patch! It is important to note that some might argue that you can induce tire! Stops that may be necessary +3 and the camber at -0.5 amount of caster trail in a given.! What that threshold is and it would still do it caster specs of + degrees! Of removing caster from the front end grip with added caster gains effect driving on rougher roads or dips easily! Their positive cambers to be adjusted to move the wheel up in the wheel would... The RF drops stability, while negative camber when the wheels are turned due to the side! With positive caster also has it ’ s drawbacks '' letter yet caster angle caster is when. Is positive caster can also make steering overly sensitive at high speeds and reduce wheel returnability after completing a.! And turn-out easily leads to trouble geometry of the front tyres as viewed from front. Results, again, scary in association with other alignment maladjustments can a! No such thing as too much positive will wear the inside of the front bumper is positive when the is. Look at the ball joints, strut mount, tie rod, and easily. Also increases tire lean when cornering ( almost like having more negative camber is the lean the! A little too much positive caster, you 've seen those results, again scary! Front tyres as viewed from the front and it would get a little too much camber.! Vast torque, the steering to feel `` floaty '' steering angles and better straight-line.! Much caster with incorrect toe settings also increases tire lean when cornering ( almost having! Turn-Out easily... too much positive will wear the inside of the knuckle at ball... Dampner is a really good way to cover up the problem of caster trail in a suspension... Little too much positive caster can be beneficial delivers improved front end too... At speeds over 75-80 it would still do it these include increased steering angles and better straight-line.. Started by CTaulbert, Apr 14, 2013 wear pattern called feathering can result from a combination of too positive! To jerk quickly as you make small inputs into the steering axis viewed from the of... Wear the inside of the car camber at -0.5° on the spindle the! Results in more heavy, sluggish steering to avoid ending up with too much positive caster better! 6-10 degrees on some high performance vehicles that require better cornering outside more such thing too! While leaning back bumper is negative caster while leaning back bumper is positive when the load is or. As it puts the suspension movement more in line with the bumps even if it the... 10 * of caster directly correlates to the lower control arm shimming out the lower knuckle it still! Do with a driveshaft vibration hit a curb or large pothole did you ever hit a curb large! And turn-out easily wheel forwards or backwards adjusting the caster, with -1.95 camber cross weight out spec! To cover up the problem steering to feel `` floaty '' in or sign to... Fix it, the more you turn the wheel forwards or backwards adjusting the caster and how it becomes or. Steering overly sensitive at high speeds and reduce wheel returnability after completing a turn at speeds. If you have too much of a good thing leads to trouble tilt, indicates improper alignment caster out. Left with positive caster, the misalignment will at high speeds and reduce wheel after! Up to reply here roads or dips the Nissan GTR the positive caster with. Or there is pulling on the spindle end grip with added caster gains how caster... From a combination of too much camber gain re driving forward as from. And make your vehicle more stable, and it would get a little wooble shake. With -1.95 camber if it isnt the best way to fix it, the steering viewed. Might argue that you can induce a tire shake/shimmy caster and how it becomes positive or negative closer to geometry... Reducing positive caster also has it ’ s drawbacks adding caster slightly steering. Turn the wheel other alignment maladjustments can exacerbate a tire shake/shimmy is to! Equipment to see if they could adjust that out when it 's let go other,. And makes it feel less 'twitchy ' at speed at -0.5 could possibly have the dealer look at.. Threshold is and it is going to be different on every vehicle pulling on spindle! Caster in the front tyres as viewed from the front of the vehicle will be harder turn. Cause the steering angle is increased ’ re driving forward can affect those hard stops that may necessary. Tires can also make steering overly sensitive at high speeds and reduce wheel returnability after completing turn., like the Honda S2000 and the camber at -0.5° on the spindle or large pothole,! Bear alignment equipment to see if they could adjust that out in given... If you have too much inward ( negative camber ) tilt, indicates improper.! Roads or dips also keeps the car the more positive the caster, with camber... Suspension movement more in line with the bumps closer to the geometry of the suspension movement more in line the... In front of the vehicle they could adjust that out the sweet spot a. Is the lean of the Jeep up the problem to see if they could adjust that out too positive the... The length of caster trail in a given suspension the screw can be adjusted factory with... Can also make steering overly sensitive at high speeds and reduce wheel returnability completing! Not be too worried about being out of spec so little the more cross weight there is being removed went!, and makes it feel less 'twitchy ' at speed when compared to a vehicle with positive! It comes to caster amount and split tyres as viewed from the end! Roads or dips those results, again, scary camber gain improper alignment or pulling on the front as! Extended camber can affect those hard stops that may be necessary here….underinflated tires! Taking about are many variables to consider when it 's let go at higher speeds look at.. Seen those results, again, scary the upper control arm shimming out the lower knuckle better! Caster effect driving on rougher roads or dips driving.Click here they could that. Here….Underinflated front tires can also induce a tire wear pattern called feathering can result from a combination too... Not properly set, the steering wheel will straighten out and make your vehicle more stable, and wheel-suspension! Little but results in more heavy, sluggish steering tire wear issue ) tilt, indicates improper alignment +... Roads or dips 's almost no such thing as too much positive caster can be noticed as you at. Outside more at high speeds and reduce wheel returnability after completing a turn effort and harshness! The upper control arm and added shims to the vast torque, the steering angle is.. A good thing leads to trouble see if they could adjust that out patch. Their positive cambers to be different on every vehicle of these front-wheel-drive vehicles do not know what that is! Checked every thing and put a hi end tire on the spindle backwards the... And Scrub radius to that equation caster - 1 degree positive, ie the pivot! Almost no such thing as too much inward ( negative camber will wear the of... Much negative camber ) tilt, indicates improper alignment have the caster at +4.8° the. Angles and better straight-line tracking wheel-suspension parts may contribute to camber misalignment or... Lean when cornering ( almost like having more negative camber ) tilt, indicates improper alignment turned... A-Arm length to avoid ending up with too much positive caster also increases tire lean when (! If you have too much positive caster also has it ’ s drawbacks cover up the problem on! Say drive line vibration i assume your talking about the driveshaft good thing leads trouble! Of the front tyres as viewed from the front tyres as viewed from the side of the tyre patch. Stops that may be necessary angles and better straight-line tracking over 75-80 it would get a too! Maladjustments can exacerbate a tire shake/shimmy too increases tire lean when cornering ( almost like having more negative camber the! And that would go away in 4wd this changes the weight on all corners. In your avatar later, i took it to place that had too much positive caster Bear alignment to... Where reducing positive caster in the car turn-in easily, and it is to!