Camber, toe etc.

Patrick · #1 26th April 2007, 20:15

I've been able to borrow camber gauge - the rear is showing exactly 2 degrees negative which will go a bit past 2 once all the weight is in.

I plan to set the front camber at the week end - but to what? Are there any nominal recommend settings anyone knows that would be a good start for testing?

Slightly related, I think this is the type of suspension on the front of the Sportster: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Long_Arms_Suspension

I could get my head around why the camber / castor etc changed so much, but that sort of explains it in basic terms.

peterux · #2 26th April 2007, 22:04

I think there are some suggestions in the Marlin 'manual' - section 3:21.

Rear camber 1.5 degrees negative.

Front camber 1.0 degree negative

Caster - three washers each side of the top pivot

Toe in - 1-2mm

Probably a good starting point.

BTW my front suspension bushes squeak when I move the car. Does yours and any ideas for a cure?

Peter

Patrick · #3 26th April 2007, 22:10

Mine don't squeek but the rubber has already started cracking - also the lower wish bones have started rusting around the edge where the bushes are - very worrying considering its not been out in the wet yet. The upper ones lost all their paint quite quickly, I already fixed one side.

I think I may get the poly bushes for the front - I can't find them cheaper than Marlin's price so I'll probably buy from them.

Good point on the manual, thanks for post those

The manual covers the short wheel base ford chassis I think? Which had parallel wish bones at the front - dont know if that will make a difference or not.

EDIT: One thing, don't if you've done it this way - When you do the final bolt up make sure the car is on its wheels - that way the bushes are not under stress when it sat still and wont need to move as far downwards - might reduce squeek too?

peterux · #4 26th April 2007, 22:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

Mine don't squeek but the rubber has already started cracking - also the lower wish bones have started rusting around the edge where the bushes are - very worrying considering its not been out in the wet yet. The upper ones lost all their paint quite quickly, I already fixed one side.

I think I may get the poly bushes for the front - I can't find them cheaper than Marlin's price so I'll probably buy from them.

Good point on the manual, thanks for post those

The manual covers the short wheel base ford chassis I think? Which had parallel wish bones at the front - dont know if that will make a difference or not.

Did you use that special rubber grease when you put the bushes in? to be honest I haven't looked at mine that close. I have a few rust spots but nothing serious. Sounds like yours weren't cleaned up before powder coating.

Good point about the manual, but I guessed it wouldn't matter but I may be wrong? Perhaps we can quiz Mark if he is at Stoneleigh

Peter

GreatOldOne · #5 27th April 2007, 07:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterux

Did you use that special rubber grease when you put the bushes in?

I did - It's good stuff, but boy, does it get everywhere. Smells funny too.

Patrick · #6 27th April 2007, 08:21

err nope, used washing up liquid to get the bushes in - there is special grease?

We'll have to hunt mark down as team

- although Simon might be the better person to ask

There is rust under all the powder coat - I bent the front wing bracket,the powder coat just lifted off and cracked. Light rust on the medal which will need some metal ready and spray of chassis paint! Same with the diff hanger.

GreatOldOne · #7 27th April 2007, 08:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick

err nope, used washing up liquid to get the bushes in - there is special grease?

Yep - this stuff:

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.a...Grease%20(500g)

I've used it on all the bushings - diff hanger, trailing arms & front wishbones.

The powder coat isn't great, is it? I'm sure one of you chaps said it was little more than black spray paint....

Patrick · #8 27th April 2007, 08:40

I actually have a tub of that but didn't think to use it for bushes!! Thanks

Yeah, powder coat is supposed be much more chip resistant that normal paint, not so in the case of our chassis!

peterux · #9 27th April 2007, 21:56

Hhmmm...
I used silicone spray from Maplin which worked really well when inserting the bushes but now it seems it has dried out.
I might have to remove them and grease them, but I might not be able to hear the squeeks if i drive fast enough?

peterux · #10 14th July 2008, 21:00

Now i'm on the road, I thought I would resurect this old discussion about suspension set up.

Has anybody got any recommended settings based on driving experience?

How do you set up the front dampers? (How many clicks?)

Rear wheel camber seems to depend on ride height setting?

Should the chassis be level with the ground or higher at back or front?

Has anyone had their car professionally set up and can advise on best settings?

Sorry, lots of questions, but so far I haven't a clue where to start....

Peter

Patrick · #11 14th July 2008, 21:12

My current setup:

front camber 1.25 degrees negative

caster, one more washer at the back than the front

toe in set about straight then slow toed in / out until it felt good to drive and still auto centred. Steering should be relatively easy to use and firm up a bit while cornering.

front dampers IIRC is quite soft 3 -5 clicks.

Rear is set as high as it will go on my coil overs, its actually ever so slightly lower at the back

Rear dampers are set around 13 - 15 to compensate for the drivers weight (

) to stop it hitting the ground.

I have a stock 325i touring roll bar at the back.

Dampers shouldn't be too hard on our rubbish roads so you don't end up with the car skipping over bumps. I'd set it so its comfortable.

I'd quite like to take out on a track or big empty area to give it a bit of a better go. I've found my setup to be fine for driving normal road speeds.

Stuart · #12 15th July 2008, 12:52

Patrick I am about to rebuild my suspension as i have just had my replacement lower arms. I never really touched the caster of the car as it seemed to handle quite well. When you say you add washers at the back can you show us what you mean i cant find it in my build manual.

Stuart

MartinClan · #13 15th July 2008, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

Patrick I am about to rebuild my suspension as i have just had my replacement lower arms. I never really touched the caster of the car as it seemed to handle quite well. When you say you add washers at the back can you show us what you mean i cant find it in my build manual.

Stuart

Stuart. Can I ask how you sent your old wishbones back? The Post Office don't seem to recognize Marlin's PO Box number.

Thanks

Robin

Stuart · #14 15th July 2008, 16:22

Robin I delivered them in person as i live fairly close to them.

Robin check your pm's

Patrick · #15 15th July 2008, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

Patrick I am about to rebuild my suspension as i have just had my replacement lower arms. I never really touched the caster of the car as it seemed to handle quite well. When you say you add washers at the back can you show us what you mean i cant find it in my build manual.

Stuart

2 washers at the front 3 at the back in between chassis and wishbone bush

You can't get an even amount in there on my car so I put one more at the back. The more you put in the back / less in the front the more castor you put on it.

What your doing it moving the top wishbone backwards.

peterux · #16 15th July 2008, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinClan

Stuart. Can I ask how you sent your old wishbones back? The Post Office don't seem to recognize Marlin's PO Box number.

Thanks

Robin

If you drop Terry a note, she'll send you their home address to post them too,

Peter

MartinClan · #17 16th July 2008, 13:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

Robin I delivered them in person as i live fairly close to them.

Robin check your pm's

Stuart - Did they replace them straight away or did they send you some new ones through the post? Terry said she would send my replacements last week but they haven't arrived. :-(

PM sent...

Robin

Stuart · #18 16th July 2008, 15:31

No i had to wait nearly 3 months to get the replacements which i collected this week.

MartinClan · #19 16th July 2008, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart

No i had to wait nearly 3 months to get the replacements which i collected this week.

OK - thanks. About the same time I have been waiting although to be fair they did move premises in that time. I just phoned them to see what was happening but it seems they are now away until next week.

Bother (or words to that effect...)

Robin