alignment tips
11-26-2005 | 03:50 PM
#1
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From: Fort Mill,
SC
alignment tips
How can u get a jato to drive perfectly straight? i used the steering alignment thing on the controller but it always drags to one side even after the smallest changes. Do i have to just keep doing this til it goes perfect cuz that would take forever.
11-27-2005 | 11:04 AM
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From: Mesa,
AZ
RE: alignment tips
normally the car comes with a tool that you can use to turn the turnbuckles. just turn the steering one and one way will turn the wheel inward, (toe-in) and the other will turn it outward, (toe-out). normally you want a little bit of toe-out on the front wheels. that pretty much just helps it maintain a straight line better in off road conditions.
11-27-2005 | 11:12 AM
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From: Jonesboro,
TN
RE: alignment tips
If you are wondering about which way is toe in an which way is toe out, I'll help you out
front toe in / \, front toe out \ /
rear toe in / \, rear toe out \ /
so you want your truck to basicall look like this from the top
f
\ /
/ \
r
front toe in / \, front toe out \ /
rear toe in / \, rear toe out \ /
so you want your truck to basicall look like this from the top
f
\ /
/ \
r
11-28-2005 | 10:03 AM
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From: St. Thomas, ON, CANADA
RE: alignment tips
Toe out does not help straight line stability. It provides better turn in and steering response. It makes for worse straight line stability. Toe in provides stability at the expense of steering response and turn in.
Quotes from: http://www.teamorion.com/faq/car-handling4.asp
Quotes from: http://www.teamorion.com/faq/car-handling4.asp
Toe-out causes instability, so there's no point in using it at the rear of your car, it will make it undrivable. But, in the front, there's the stabilizing effect of caster. That's why a little toe-out is sometimes used in front, as long as the car has sufficient caster, instability on the straights won't be a problem. The 'instable effect' will be noticeable though: while turning into corners. Turning in will feel more immediate and more aggressive.
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Toe-in at the front does basically the same thing: it stabilises the front. This can be a nice effect if you want to calm down the front of your car while accellerating. It will also make you lose a little steering; turn-in will be far less aggressive.
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Toe-in at the front does basically the same thing: it stabilises the front. This can be a nice effect if you want to calm down the front of your car while accellerating. It will also make you lose a little steering; turn-in will be far less aggressive.
11-28-2005 | 11:44 AM
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From: KEWANEE,
IL
RE: alignment tips
what a cheap way of checking is to hold a CD case against the outside of your wheels (or something flat and bigger than the wheel) so your eye can see where the wheel is at. and i got a digi caliper to measure the tie rods. if you dont have one then use a stiff piece of wire and mark how long each side is and make them the same.
11-28-2005 | 08:33 PM
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From: Mesa,
AZ
RE: alignment tips
than why is it that i hear toe out provides straight line stability? you said that caster works better, but im not sure what that is. any help? i would like to know how to increase straight line stability also.
11-29-2005 | 09:41 AM
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From: St. Thomas, ON, CANADA
RE: alignment tips
Front and Rear toe in give stabilility, But you trade steering and traction for it. Car setup is all about compromise and tradeoffs. A little of this for a little of that.
Caster gives stability because the contact point is a little behind the pivot. This makes them act a little like front shopping cart wheels, and they tend to stay pointing in the direction you are moving.
If you are running some toe in on the rear, and none or some toe in on the front, and you still have straight line stability issues, you should probably examine your suspension. Check that it is all free to move, and working properly. Make sure your camber and toe settings are identical on both sides of the car. Check that your bearings are all in good shape and free moving. I'm assuming your radio is trimmed properly to give you a straight line at low speeds.
That link i posted earlier is only one page of an awesome read about car setup and handling.
Caster gives stability because the contact point is a little behind the pivot. This makes them act a little like front shopping cart wheels, and they tend to stay pointing in the direction you are moving.
If you are running some toe in on the rear, and none or some toe in on the front, and you still have straight line stability issues, you should probably examine your suspension. Check that it is all free to move, and working properly. Make sure your camber and toe settings are identical on both sides of the car. Check that your bearings are all in good shape and free moving. I'm assuming your radio is trimmed properly to give you a straight line at low speeds.
That link i posted earlier is only one page of an awesome read about car setup and handling.
