For all those who have asked for specs about their cars: here is how I set mine up yesterday. Granted you will not get the amount of caster I have dialed in without extensive mods but the camber/toe is right on the money. graemlins/thumbsup.gif
alignment printout (http://www.jackazzmotorsports.com/images/align.jpg)

Why so much caster?

Denny,

How does the car feel with that much caster?

Theo.

Plans for runs at 160MPH+. Doesn't much different at all at low speeds. On the freeway it is much more stable than before. I guess there is a reason all the high end European cars run so much caster

I'm running -.7 camber, 4.5 caster, and 1/32 toe in on my chevelle, very happy with it so far! It will want to 'track' with grooves and road and such though.

Wow, 3/8" total toe in seems like Lots! arent the tires dragging as it goes down the road? The only time I've seen that much toe in used is when the tie rods are sloppy. I'll be shooting for caster settings similar to yours when my suspension gets together, who cares if it takes a little extra arm with my manual box as slow speeds-I'd rather have the high speed stability.

So increased caster gives more high speed stability?

Yes, the more caster you have dialed in the more the wheels will want stay pointed straight ahead-hence the more difficult it is to turn at slow speeds without P/S. There is a fine line however, once you get too much caster (which I am pushing) you get into high speed wheel wobble (think shopping cart front wheels when you push the cart real fast). It is a trial and error thing, running 5-6 degrees is ideal for a street car. The newer high end stuff is pushing 10-12, I don't think the rest of my geomtry will support that though-time will tell.

Here are some links to better explaining caster and it's affects on handling
corner-carvers.com (http://www.corner-carvers.com/forums/showthread.php?s=09bd512c9fbad1069a545fa0bb2b6596&threadid=10654)
Longacre racing (http://www.longacreracing.com/articles/art.asp?ARTID=4)

I have a 67 convertible w/all rebuilt stock suspension, Bilsteins & large sway bars. Car wanders on center. So what do I say to an alignment shop when they tell me they have dialed in as much positive caster as they can and it's at +0.5?

I'd have a hard time beleiving all they could get is 1/2 degree out of it. Do you still have a copy of the print out and a couple pics of the 2 shim packs on each side-I'll be able to help better with that info.

sk1,

I have the stock A-arms & spindle extenders and I am getting 3.5 deg. of caster. You should be able to get more caster than that.

I will be installing a set of aftermarket upper A-arms (McGauphy, http://www.mcgaughysclassic.com/carproductssteering.htm) to get some more caster (5-6) and improve the geometry some more. Their A-arms can be used with stock spindles and they are very well made. Did I mention that they are priced right???

Theo.

ride height also effects caster, the higher the rear is raised the less caster adjustment will be available.

Originally posted by baddbob71:
ride height also effects caster, the higher the rear is raised the less caster adjustment will be available. Gonna have to help me with this one Bob, caster is a measurement of camber at specific points during a 10 degree wheel turn in both directions, how does rear height play into this? Camber is barley affected by rear height, I fail to see how it would affect caster at all.