RE: Big donuts/neg camber

["Graydon D. Stuckey" <graydon@apollo.gmi.edu>]

On Sat, 26 Apr 1997, Duff, Ian wrote:

> I would guess you're quoting neg camber cause it pulls the top of the
> wheels inboard, so's to clear the lip of the fender. OTOH, I thought

Exactly.

> camber was induced at the ball joint. If so, negative camber pushes the
> bottom of the tire _out_, and does not pull the top of the tire _in_,

The method of attaining that camber is irrelevant.   The fact is the tire 
is at an angle relative to the car - that is camber - in this case, neg 
when the top ot the tire is closer to the centre of the car than the 
bottom.   You can get it by kengthening the lower control arms or 
shortening the top control arms.   You can also get it by machining the 
hub so that the wheel mounts at an angle, or rather than changing the 
length of the control arms, you can move them inboard or outboard.

> Please identify
> the type of paint I am sniffing, because I am *just not getting it*.

Boy, I wouldn't know where to start there...   Pittsburgh maybe?

> plus I bet neg camber helps in the corners, no? 

Yes, generally, to compensate for a poor suspension design (IMHO), extra 
camber will help cornering.   It will degrade acceleration and 
braking traction though, so its a compromise.   That's why I say the 
suspension is actually at fault.   I properly designed suspension would 
give you the camber change you need while retaining traction during 
braking and acceleration.

HTH

Later,
Graydon D. Stuckey 
'86 5KCSTQ - Lotsa Go-fast Toys!
'89 T-bird - Lotsa Look-Good Toys!  (don't need any more Go-fast toys!)
'85 RX7    - pooooooor baby, No Toys!  :-(