Roll Center design theory

[Mean 69]

You know, I really wonder how terribly important lots of positive caster is. I run a smooch over 6 degrees on the Camaro, which is what Global designed into the UCA. I really wonder if it needs that much. I always thought it was cool to have the steering wheel snap back to center after a turn, but the drawback is the wheel lift associated with lots of postive caster in a tight turn. I didn't study what the design target was on D's bad boy ride, but I can tell you, 9 degrees sounds like a ton. I am guessing that you guys are not trying to get anywhere near that. Anyway, the power steering masks the bad stuff with lots of positive caster, but it would be interesting to see how sensitive a car would be to this, for instance, 4 degrees versus 6 degrees. For those of you that run lots of caster, go turn the wheel lock to lock in your garage and see how much the front end moves vertically, more than you'd think. Hmm. Given, you don't normally use that much steering input on a typical course, but, well, you get my point.

Harshman, nice looking car in the magazine, good to see that you drive it. Awesome. I am not so sure I could agree with Tony's comment on Karl Chicca's car during the Pony Express. It certainly "could" have been a bump/toe issue, but also could have *merely* been a scrub issue, or something else. A buck-fifty is moving out, than you very much, doesn't take much road irregularity to show nasties on a setup. Anyway, Tony's comments were well put, this is a fundamental aspect of car setup (bump steer). Oh, and by the way, you have to be careful how many of those "praying" smilies you put towards Katz, he'll get a big head.



Mark