I had some 235/60-15's on 7" wheels with 4.25" BS. With this set up, my front end camber was about -1.5 degrees. It has always looked funny to me. My plan was to switch to 225/70 tires and wheels with 3.75" BS wheels and then get the alignment set to -.5 degrees.

Well, I put the new wheels/tires on, and the camber changed to about -.5. True fact, and I checked with a digital angle gauge (.1 resolution) with my car on my lift that is absolutely level and never changes.

So, apparently, that extra .5" of leverage from changing the backspacking works the suspension upward enough to change the camber angle. I know this doesn't sound reasonable, but that's what happened. I'll take it....

Anyone else seen a result like this?

no matter what the backspacing- unless you put the mounting flange outside the width of the rim like on the old FWD El Dorados and Toronado's of the 60's and 70's- the "leverage" on the suspension won't change.

no matter what the backspacing- unless you put the mounting flange outside the width of the rim like on the old FWD El Dorados and Toronado's of the 60's and 70's- the "leverage" on the suspension won't change.

Sure the leverage changes. It may be insignificant (or maybe not), but it changes. Given that the wheel width stays the same, less backspace means that the centerline of the wheel moves outward, along with the tire, and there is more leverage. Remember that "urban" style of using wheels with seriously negative offs, such that half the wheel stuck outside the fender? The leverage on the suspensions was so much that the springs seriously compressed.

I'd say the change was more from a change in ride height due to the different size tires than because of any difference in leverage.

Sure the leverage changes. It may be insignificant (or maybe not), but it changes. Given that the wheel width stays the same, less backspace means that the centerline of the wheel moves outward, along with the tire, and there is more leverage. Remember that "urban" style of using wheels with seriously negative offs, such that half the wheel stuck outside the fender? The leverage on the suspensions was so much that the springs seriously compressed.

the only way the springs will compress more is if you add more weight to the car. no matter what the offset of the wheel is, there is still the same amount of weight pushing down on the spring.
those cars that you are talking about sit so damn low because they were running low profile 13" tires on cars designed for 15" wheels- going from a 27" tall tire to a 24" or shorter tire will make any car look goofy..
i agree that more negative offset (or is it positive when the wheel sticks out? my primitive redneck mind likes to use backspacing, so offsets just get me all confuzzled) will cause problems with wheel bearings and tie rods when going down the road, due to the extra leverage exerted when a pothole or curb is hit.
but sitting still, leverage doesn't change with wheel offset.

the only way the springs will compress more is if you add more weight to the car. no matter what the offset of the wheel is, there is still the same amount of weight pushing down on the spring.
sitting still, leverage doesn't change with wheel offset.

Sorry I have to disagree.... wheel offsets definitely change leverage. Those of us who circle track race use this principle to compensate for changes in track surface. Its quite easy to see on car scales.