set up a dropped axle

I am just putting my car on the road and need some guidance. I have a dropped Super Bell axle set up and need to hear how everyone has it set. The car seems to drive good but I think there is room for improvement. Any leads on a good tech?

 

It's already built? What do you mean set, like toe/caster settings?

 

Yeah, it's already built but I would like to know how they are adjusted (toe/caster) and the other in and outs of a dropped axle. I can't believe there isn't a tech on this one yet!

 

Details please. What kind of car, locating (4 bar, hairpin, wishbone), spring and shackles, bias or radials, etc?

 

1931 Tudor Sedan, hairpin, super bell 4" drop chrome front end (the complete kit), disc brakes all on a re-pop 32 frame with vega steering box. I run radials front and rear.

 

Well you really can't do much about adjusting camber because that is set by the king-pins. I'd shoot for 7 degrees of caster and around 3/16 of toe...
How is your steering setup (cross steer)? The really isn't a 'tech' for this kind of stuff because it's not a one size fits all operation. Everyone's setup is a little different. The specs I mentioned are probably a decent place to start. Beyond that, just drive it and adjust as you see fit.

 

Here's the search term:

Death wobble


Here's a follow up:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=497111&highlight=death+wobble

Be prepared to go blind reading all of this. It is pretty lengthy and contentious. Good information to be had when you search. Stay away from "deth wobbel...you are warned.

 

Like they said, not much you can adjust
Caster might be adjustable if you need to
Set toe at 3/16 and you're done.

You never said what problem you are trying to fix.

 

I've read somewhere that radials shouldn't have as much toe in as bias, but I can't find the actual numbers. The bias on the dropped I-beam I set up like a lot of toe-in. Probably 3/16 at least. I just kept adjusting inward til it felt right.

 

I read that on here somewhere, but also don't remember the numbers or what thread I saw it in.

 

Alchemy we used to set toe on radials @ 1/8".
I don't know if anyone has any real numbers but that was what we set them at.

7 degrees is about where you want your caster if you are going to drive it. A little more makes it a little more stable at speed but it starts to get sluggish in the steering dept.

 

Thanks for the information, I'll read some of ther posts mentioned. The car seems to drive OK and straight just feels a little loose in the rough spots. I do not have a lot of information on the frame set-up so I am more or less just back checking the work that was done by the PO.

 

heavier cars need less caster than lighter caster is used for steering self centering and so that the car goes straight and doesn't wander also more caster you have the heavier the steering feels