Caster alignment

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by 569dean

what is the factory spec on the elise

camber
caster
corner balance
and all that

The factory settings are in the back of the Owner's Manual.

[Elise 323]

I'm pretty sure it will be difficult for you to tell much about the change in handling without resetting the toe after each castor change. The toe changes significantly moving just one shim.... I'm sure you have guessed how I know this . I couldn't get the handling to feel right and took shims in and out a few times until I started checking the other alignment parameters. Doh. I think with more castor your car should want to go straight and tram less than with less castor. Makes me suspicious that your toe was significantly off. The true benefit will be in the turns where you will have more negative camber with the wheel turned.

[apk919]

Originally Posted by Elise 323

I'm pretty sure it will be difficult for you to tell much about the change in handling without resetting the toe after each castor change. The toe changes significantly moving just one shim.... I'm sure you have guessed how I know this . I couldn't get the handling to feel right and took shims in and out a few times until I started checking the other alignment parameters. Doh. I think with more castor your car should want to go straight and tram less than with less castor. Makes me suspicious that your toe was significantly off. The true benefit will be in the turns where you will have more negative camber with the wheel turned.

I did a full alignment check today... believe it or not my toe was exactly the same as it was when I set it 3 weeks ago (0.25mm toe out). I think the tramlining was due to the earlier mismatch in caster.

Full suspension measurements:

Ride height: 120mm front/125mm rear
Corner balance: 50.0%
Toe: 0.25mm total toe out front/1.5mm toe in each side rear
Camber: -1.6º front/-2.5º rear
Caster: 4.2º left/4.0º right

[Elise 323]

Should work great. Let us know how it handles after the next event. I'm impressed that you have a set up that will measure to .010" (1/4 mm). With the local shops or at home I can't get that good of repeatability.

[apk919]

Originally Posted by Elise 323

Should work great. Let us know how it handles after the next event. I'm impressed that you have a set up that will measure to .010" (1/4 mm). With the local shops or at home I can't get that good of repeatability.

It's taken some practice, and I usually take two separate toe measurements at each corner by rotating around the car twice, but I can consistently get measurements that are within that 1/4mm of each other (I'd actually say my standard deviation is around half that). To take the actual readings I use a digital caliper that can measure down to 0.01mm.

I week from today I'll be at Buttonwillow... looking forward to feeling the results.

[carl]

Just finished changing the caster what a b-tch of a job(sorry Andy)! Kids don't try this at home!
I'd thought id write this while I wait for the bleeding to stop. It took me 6+ hours 4 1/2 for the first side and 1.5 for the other.
After 3.5 hours I called Brent and he saved my a-s by telling me not to use the small washers. I found some 3/8 SS fender washers that were 1.5mm thick and drilled them out. His other trick is to stretch out the rear box a little by using a long threaded bolt and washers with 2 nuts on the inside to expand it you only need to open it about .5mm .020 this makes a big difference. Assemble the front first and make sure you use the long bolt in front its 5 mm longer( don't ask me how I found out). Brent has made some custom shims that have a tab on them that would make it a 2 hour job. I didn't want to wait for him to send me some which he so generously offered so I did it the hard way (as usual). IF you are going to change the caster pm Brent and see if he will sell you his custom shims.
I know Andy did his the hard way and got the small washers back in amazing!! carl

[ZJChaser]

the shims make it MUCH easier!

[Chococar]

So Carl,

How does the car feel now?

Thanks,

Joe

[agirls]

Wow. My caster was off and I was contemplating adjusting it. It looked like it was going to be a pia so I held off. And now I read it is.

[carl]

Some of the time was spent making special tools. Like grinding a pair on NN pliers to 1mm thick and making the jaws curved to grip the washers..That was a waist of 45 min and didn't work. Also tried grinding the edge of the small washers to a bevel to push them in another waist of 20min and didn't work. Then there was the idea of trying to tape the edge of the small washers together another 20min, didn't work. Also tried gluing them together another 15min wasted. A trip to the hardware store 45min. Worked found 1.5mm thick fender washers. Setting the car on slip plates and measuring took 40min. Looking for Band-Aids 15min. Trust me on this if you want to increase caster to improve mid corner camber buy Brent's shims. carl

[agirls]

lol, who is Brent?

[carl]

Originally Posted by agirls

lol, who is Brent?

Brent Bauman on this forum. carl

[ZJChaser]

Originally Posted by agirls

lol, who is Brent?

are you going to be at WCLM? Brent or I can bring a set there.

[agirls]

Yes, sweet, thanks!

[apk919]

Originally Posted by carl

Just finished changing the caster what a b-tch of a job(sorry Andy)! Kids don't try this at home!
I'd thought id write this while I wait for the bleeding to stop. It took me 6+ hours 4 1/2 for the first side and 1.5 for the other.
After 3.5 hours I called Brent and he saved my a-s by telling me not to use the small washers. I found some 3/8 SS fender washers that were 1.5mm thick and drilled them out. His other trick is to stretch out the rear box a little by using a long threaded bolt and washers with 2 nuts on the inside to expand it you only need to open it about .5mm .020 this makes a big difference. Assemble the front first and make sure you use the long bolt in front its 5 mm longer( don't ask me how I found out). Brent has made some custom shims that have a tab on them that would make it a 2 hour job. I didn't want to wait for him to send me some which he so generously offered so I did it the hard way (as usual). IF you are going to change the caster pm Brent and see if he will sell you his custom shims.
I know Andy did his the hard way and got the small washers back in amazing!! carl

No need to apologize... in terms of expletives per unit of work done, I set a personal record reinserting the washers. Using tapered drift pins to align and hold the washers helped a lot, as well as gluing the washers together with rubber cement...

[carl]

Originally Posted by apk919

No need to apologize... in terms of expletives per unit of work done, I set a personal record reinserting the washers. Using tapered drift pins to align and hold the washers helped a lot, as well as gluing the washers together with rubber cement...

Your a better man than I am Gungadin..carl