From: Jim Morison To: fj55@tlca.org Subject: Re: [FJ55] Cheesy Caster Angle Questions Send reply to: fj55@tlca.org Date sent: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 09:50:50 -0700 (PDT) --- Jared Pitts wrote: >1) How do you measure caster angle-- I know you use one of those little >magnetic angle measurement things, but where do you put it? ....I Like to use a magnetic angle finder too. I usually use them when I am doing a cut and turn. I stick it to the top of the bear knuckle with the veh (or in my case the jig) level. If your knuckle has not been cut and turned, the flat surface of your pinion flange should be allmost 90 deg from your caster(89 deg). this surface is a little easier to access with the knuckles still assembled. It will give you a good idea where you sit. >2) Adding an extended shackle to the front spring of an FJ55 with a shackle >reversal would do what to the caster angle? Increase it? Decrease it? > ....It will most certainly decrese it. when the axis is tilted forward, your caster is decresed. and visa versa. >3) What does increasing caster angle do? What does decreasing it do? > .....Incresing the caster will help your veh track. the roads surface will have less of an influence on the stearing system. The stearing wheel will return to center much easier. >4) What is the preferred caster angle of an FJ55? Or maybe I should say, >what is the acceptable caster angle range? Does the addition of power >steering change this? I run an FJ60 front axle-- does that change anything? > ....Stock carster I belive is 1 deg pos. dosent sound like much but without PS, incresed caster would make it MUCH harder to steer. With PS you can increse the caster to reap the benifits without fighting the wheel. On my C&T's I set the caster @4deg pos. The more pos caster you go with , the more your tires will wear durind cornering. Edge scruf becomes worse with incresed caster. I like 4 deg, but oppinions are like assholes, ya know. :) long as your caster is not neg, and at least a hair pos, you should be OK. Don Brannon (fc)