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        General >> Problems >> castors out of specification
        
(Message started by: Butterfingers on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 12:45pm)

Title: castors out of specification
Post by Butterfingers on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 12:45pm

Had a geometry check carried out by a FMD and it showed the front castors to be slightly off manufacturers specification by 0.6 degrees.

What does this mean and is it something to worry about?

Thanks.

Title: Re: castors out of specification
Post by martin_rowe on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 1:00pm

About the only thing that can effect the geometry is worn / sagged springs as its all fixed on the scorp, unless thers been an accident. did you ask what would rectify this fault.

Title: Re: castors out of specification
Post by mr._floppy on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 1:18pm

I got mine done recently too, the limits for the camber are between 4 deg. 12'

and 5 deg. 40', mine were 3 deg. 30', out , but not by much. the guy says

nowt to worry about as at least both sides are out by an equal amount so

there should be no steering pull, and anyway it's non adjustable unless

you want to re-position and re-weld the engine bay suspension tower

mountings.

Title: Re: castors out of specification
Post by scorpio_man on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 8:34pm

hi there

sounds like the wishbone ball joint is worn. :(

seen it before with mine. tried replacing the bushes only, but that's a complete waste of time, imho, as every part has done the same mileage, etc.

others might have a different view, though.

Title: Re: castors out of specification
Post by howiedintheplace on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 8:46pm

Castor angle is the angle of the strut relative to the car from front to back.
It's this angle that lets your car steering wheel self centre & affects turn in speed on a corner.

If both these are O.K I would not worry.

Strut top mounting & lower arm will affect it.
But if you mess with these parts it will alter your camber & tracking also.

Title: Re: castors out of specification
Post by Butterfingers on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 9:10pm

Thanks, does this explain why my steering wheel maybe off centre?

Thanks.

Title: Re: castors out of specification
Post by Snoopy on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 9:44pm

NO not necessarilly.. Having the tracking done can put the steering wheel off centre .. There is a procedure for re-centering it. Steering_wheel (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/manual/steering/CentrlSTWheel.pdf)

Title: Re: castors out of specification
Post by howiedintheplace on Jul 3^rd, 2006, 10:29pm

No the fact your steering is not straight is down to poor tracking adjustment by someone.

What I mean is when you let go of the wheel the car goes straight & will straighten up by itself.
That is what the castor angle does, if no castor angle the car would carry on at what ever position the steering wheel was at.

Title: Re: castors out of specification
Post by Snoopy on Jul 4^th, 2006, 7:31am

Dave is quite correct in what he states. If you need to understand what castor angle is and what it does it is explained on this page HERE (http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/tyre_bible.html)
To demonstrate the effect of castor angle If you put the car in reverse and put full lock on the car will continue to go around in a circle due to the effect of reverse castor the castor angle is MOST pronounced on the forks of bicyles , its the amount the forks lean forward from the vertical.