What does caster angle do?
Caster angle settings allow manufacturers to balance steering effort, high speed stability, and front end cornering effectiveness. Positive Caster – If the line slopes towards the rear of the vehicle, then you have positive caster. The down side to positive caster is if the vehicle does not have power steering.
What type of angle is caster?
Caster is the measure of how far forward or behind the steering axis is to the vertical axis, viewed from the side. This is measured by drawing a line between the top and bottom pivot points of the front upright. The angle between the drawn line and vertical is the caster angle.
Can you have too much caster?
Caster settings are not a primary, direct factor in tire wear. However, excessive positive caster in association with other alignment maladjustments can exacerbate a tire wear issue. For example, a tire wear pattern called feathering can result from a combination of too much caster with incorrect toe settings.
What is the effect of incorrect caster angle?
Improper caster settings will require the driver to move the steering wheel both into and out of each turn, making it difficult to maintain a straight line.
How do you calculate caster angle?
From Formula Magazine:
- Turn wheel 15 degree left of center and take a camber reading.
- Turn the wheel 15 degrees right of center and take acamber reading.
- Multiply the difference x 2 and that is your castor.
- When turning from outside to inside a neg camber change equals positive castor.
What are the symptoms of too much caster?
This causes heavier steering, or greater difficulty in turning the steering wheel (only noticeable in vehicles without power steering). Modern cars can easily maximize the benefits of positive caster because they have power steering and are not affected by the heavier steering.
How much caster angle is too much?
Vehicles with too much positive caster can be prone to understeer, so most modern vehicles don’t have a caster greater than 3 to 5 degrees. This is the ideal range to maximize straight line stability and still allow for comfortable turning.
Does changing caster effect toe?
If they are toed out too much, the wear will start from the inside of the tire. This type of wear is called feathering. Caster, on the other hand, has no effect on how a tire wears, but it does play a role in handling and on center feel.
How to calculate a caster angle?
How to Calculate a Caster Angle. Park the vehicle with the front wheels on the turntables (set to zero). Attach the gauge to the right front wheel hub. Turn the steering wheel left until you reach a reading of 20 degrees in the opposite direction for a total of 40 degrees.
What is the best type of wheel for your caster?
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How to calculate wheel camber angle?
– Take a big precession metal square (the L shaped metal rule). It should be big enough in the order of your wheel diameter. – Park the vehicle over a flat surface with the tires pointing straight ahead. – Place the metal square passing through the center line of the axle.
What are the values of caster angle and camber angle?
What are the values of caster angle and camber angle? Adding to the description of Camber and Caster angles by Kolly Adex, the castor values are generally positive in the range of 3–6 degrees. the castor angle makes a castor trail in the front of the tire which adds to the pneumatic trail by the tires to generate rack forces.