| d_cider1 |
11-10-2007 09:16 AM |
Caster (not Casper), Camber and Toe are the three main adjustments made when aligning a vehicle.Caster is the forward or rearward tilt from the axle. Positive caster is forward of the axle and negative caster is rearward of the axle. Most bicycles have negative caster on the front wheel. Did you ever turn the handlebars around and try to ride with the front wheel reversed? Kinda unstable, huh? That is positive caster.Camber is the deflection from vertical on the wheels. Positive camber tilts the top of the wheel out, negative tilts it in. Next time you are behind a BMW, look at the rear wheels. Odds are that the tops of the wheels are tilted in toward the centerline of the vehicle. BMW does that for stability, although it is hard on tires.Camber and caster are pulling angles. If either or both are out of spec, the vehicle wants to drift away from a straight line.Toe is the inward or outward positioning of the wheel in relation to the vehicle's centerline. Stand pigeon-toed. That is negative toe. Stand splay-footed. That is positive toe.Toe is the angle that is most affected by driving, and the most-adjusted angle in an alignment. Often "set the toe and let it go" is all the alignment a vehicle needs. Toe does not cause pull, but it wreaks havoc on tires. If your tire is worn only on one side of the tread, or has a "sawtooth" look to the tread blocks, toe is the culprit.Any reputable repair facility will be glad to show you before- and after- specs for your vehicle.
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