Technical Caster 1936

What is the right caster angle, or what do you suggest ?
I have split the wishbone to about 8 inches between the rod ends and they are mounted at about the same height as original and then my caster will be about 0-1 degrees
Thanks Mike

 

For a street driven car 7 degrees.

Phil

 

Fine Thanks

 

With Radial tires and high speed I aim for 3-5 degrees with 1/8” toe

 

Agree with Phil 7 degrees good starting point....depending on your steering setup you may want to play with caster a bit, you will be surprised at the difference in arm strength (your arms) required to turn at 4 degrees versus 8, not to speak of straight line stability....easy to play with .

 

To much caster will give you low speed "death wobble"....I like between 3 and 5 degrees...

 

Now I´ve reached 5 degrees, I might will try to raise it to 7 degrees after I read your comments
Thanks

 

I don't set the caster with the bones/radius rods, they are meant to support not initiate. Caster is set at the spring mounting pad inside the crossmember. If you remove the spring you can stick your hand up in there are feel the angle, it'll be taller at the rear. The reason Ford did it like this is to eliminate binding at the spring mounts, if the spring pad were 0 degrees and the radius rod 7 degrees they will be all bound up and break on the dirt roads, no to mention a total ***** to ***emble. I think I've seen a supplier or two sell spring mounts that pivot for those situations.

 

The spring mount pad should slope down front to rear. Putting rake in a car takes away positive caster. If the back of the pad is higher than the front you would have negative caster.

 

This is the Ford alignment page out of my 1946 Motor manual.