Alignment advice needed?
6T9 GTS - I think you might be confusing caster with toe...
Caster mearly affects wheel return - has nothing to do with pulling. Camber and Toe are the two biggest reasons for an alignment pull.
Let me see if I can't help explain a few things myself here...
Toe - how far left or right of center on a horizontal plane - stand a tire straight up and down, then turn it left or right, this is toe. If there is too much toe out, you'll have major drifting problems while driving in your lane. Too much toe in, and you'll be prematurely wearing your tires (with either setting, premature tire wear will occur). A little trick with Mopars, set the toe in to about 1/8"... as you start driving, the force of driving on the suspension will tighten up all the joints and the tires will straighten themselves out. You'd be surprised at the change in handling with this!
Camber - how far left or right of center on a vertical plane - stand a tire straight up and down, now lean it left or right, this is camber. Excessive camber in either direction is bad!! Most good alignment techs will allow a little extra negative camber on the passenger side to compensate for the crown in most roads. If you're having premature tire wear on either the inside or outside treads, get your alignment check immediately! With a tire that has out of spec camber, the car WILL pull in that direction.
Caster - (this description was taken from http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm) - "Positive caster improves straight line tracking because the caster line (the line drawn through the steering pivot when viewed from the side) intersects the ground ahead of the contact patch of the tire. Just like a shopping cart caster, the wheel is forced behind the pivot allowing the vehicle to track in a straight line." Steering wheel return is also effected by caster, as well as high speed cornering.
Hopefully this relieves some confusion regarding alignments and what makes a car pull and what doesn't... feel free to ask me any other questions if you guys still got 'em! :)
6T9 GTS said
6T9 GTS - I think you might be confusing caster with toe...
Caster mearly affects wheel return - has nothing to do with pulling. Camber and Toe are the two biggest reasons for an alignment pull.
Let me see if I can't help explain a few things myself here...
Toe - how far left or right of center on a horizontal plane - stand a tire straight up and down, then turn it left or right, this is toe. If there is too much toe out, you'll have major drifting problems while driving in your lane. Too much toe in, and you'll be prematurely wearing your tires (with either setting, premature tire wear will occur). A little trick with Mopars, set the toe in to about 1/8"... as you start driving, the force of driving on the suspension will tighten up all the joints and the tires will straighten themselves out. You'd be surprised at the change in handling with this!
Camber - how far left or right of center on a vertical plane - stand a tire straight up and down, now lean it left or right, this is camber. Excessive camber in either direction is bad!! Most good alignment techs will allow a little extra negative camber on the passenger side to compensate for the crown in most roads. If you're having premature tire wear on either the inside or outside treads, get your alignment check immediately! With a tire that has out of spec camber, the car WILL pull in that direction.
Caster - (this description was taken from http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm) - "Positive caster improves straight line tracking because the caster line (the line drawn through the steering pivot when viewed from the side) intersects the ground ahead of the contact patch of the tire. Just like a shopping cart caster, the wheel is forced behind the pivot allowing the vehicle to track in a straight line." Steering wheel return is also effected by caster, as well as high speed cornering.
Hopefully this relieves some confusion regarding alignments and what makes a car pull and what doesn't... feel free to ask me any other questions if you guys still got 'em! :)