Adjusting front camber

[AntonyH]

Hi all,

How easy (or otherwise) is it to adjust the front camber?

Is it "merely" undoing the top ball joint, screwing the arm out a bit, retightening the locknut, re-attach ball joint, job done? Or will the whole lot explode once I start undoing things?

Any other pitfalls to watch for / vital torque numbers?

After our refurb our front camber is a lot more "race" than it used to be, meaning that the tyres that had enough tread a week ago are now rather conical and verging on slick on the inner edges, after 7 days on the Isle of Man. Don't really want to put fresh tyres on without first setting the wheels rather closer to vertical, as they previously were, however I need to fit the new tyres before I can get to a professional mechanic...

Thanks in advance.

[Dr Slotter]

You can borrow some wheels/tyres if you want to get it to a proper setup place.

[Paul Richards]

As you describe, but car needs to be on axle stands with suspension at full droop. Splitting the top ball joint can be a bit tricky. 

[AntonyH]

Thanks both. I'll take a look in the garage after work (axle stands, I have). Hopefully the ball joints should be OK as they're brand new (plus about 500 miles) so shouldn't be seized or grotty.

[ECR]

You'll need to check your toe setting as well .....

[StuB]

It can be a bit of a pig reapplying the nyloc nut to the ball joint as the whole thing wants to turn. You can use a ratchet strap to pull everything together or first use a standard nut to pull everything into place, before taking it off and putting the nyloc one on. 

[CharlesElliott]

The wear you describe is more likely to be a toe issue than camber. Camber doesn't really drive wear. 

[Paul McKenzie]

As above, when you have the camber where you want it, then set your toe to parallel using string lines lined up on the rear rims

[Paul Deslandes]

I think I read somewhere that more recent top swivel joints have a hex hole on the end of the threaded stud which will take an Allen key to hold it whilst tightening and untightening.  There's lots of  archive stuff about removing the tapered joint, just don't use a splitter as you'll nadger the rubber boot.  The socket, nut and bolt method works best for me although there are those who swear by the 'clout it with two big hammers' trick.

Now would be a good time to raise the rack to correct bump steer if not already done.

[AntonyH]

Thanks all. Turns out all of my spanners are just too chunky to get in there anyway, so it's going to turn in to a visit to a professional for a proper setup and alignment just as soon as the Hawleys mobile truck has visited!

[AntonyH]

The wear you describe is more likely to be a toe issue than camber. Camber doesn't really drive wear.

...and indeed, the front is toe-out by something like 2 degrees. Not so easy to see just looking at the wheels, given the taper of the car itself, but line some timber up to each wheel and it's blatant. Looks massive in fact, I was surprised it was "only" 2 degrees. I thought the car felt a bit less stable than previously, last week!

Am I right in thinking I can adjust the toe by hand, having undone the locknuts on the track rod ends, without actually disconnecting everything?

Thanks for the tip / pointer.

[Jonathan Kay]

Yes.

But how do you know the timber was true?

Jonathan

[CharlesElliott]

Undo the locknuts and use the flats on the steering arms (might be under the gaiter) to adjust.

Best way to measure is to string the car using fishing line; then you can measure each side's toe independently.

[AntonyH]

But how do you know the timber was true?

By looking down each length with my MkI eyeball and noting how very little they curved in any direction.

And confirming by laying each on my reasonably flat garage floor on each edge in turn and noting how they laid flush each time, rather than arching up in the middle or rocking like a see-saw.

Certainly they're straight enough to point up a substantial toe-out, if possibly not quite so accurate as a laser marker. Or even a taught piece of string.

[AntonyH]

Thanks again Charles.

Four new CR500s now fitted, so I feel some adjustment and a test run / tyre scrubbing-in session coming on this evening.

Now, if only I were surrounded by some beautiful countryside, stuffed full of a plethora of nice pubs selling quality food.

 

Oh no, wait... I just remembered where I live!

[Jonathan Kay]

:-)

Jonathan