Front Hub Spider Assy

[jakesmig]

Hi, back again.

No, they are the only bushes left on the car which are rubber.

The following is a pic showing the shims on my hub assembly, plenty of meat to play with there, and i'm probably only looking at changing negative camber by 1 or 2 degrees. I reckon that shaving 1mm off the shims will give just over a degree, although I have a hobby lathe so I shall create modified ones so that I can easily revert back if required.

.FILE0041.jpg

On the caster angle, my thinking is that inserting a couple of thick washers on the drag strut will be enough to induce noticeable increase in positive caster which will give an indication that alteration is or isn't beneficial.

Biggest pain will be adjusting tracking during all the variations, however I have access to tracking equipment which will help.

John.

[73stagman]

I have those thick shims in place but have left out the really thin (less than .1mm) which is why it didnt make much difference.
Honestly though having driven a Stag with a wobbly rack I know what a difference it makes to have it fixed solid in place! I reckon if you have variable understeer and turn in to corners it will be more to do with dodgy rack mounting than minor steering geometry adjustments

[Richard G]

They do fit on the smaller bolt - obviously as they don't fit the larger one. Either will have much the same effect.

Cheers,
Mike.

Seems like I started quite an interesting thread here!

I will refit mine to lower bolt which is probably where they originated. Must then get all steering setup checked

RG

[73stagman]

Sorry Richard we did get carried away but i guess the answer as to what do the shims do is in there somewhere....

[DJT]

ISTR speaking to Tony Hart years ago about wear in the drag strut chassis mounting point holes. During the conversation he mentioned that he welded an additional washer on the outside to strengthen this point on his racing Stag, which had the effect of increasing the caster angle for track use. Don't think he recommended it for road use though.

[Baldeagle]

Interesting thread although I don't profess to understand much of it. Just fitted some new tyres and had occasion to return to the tyre depot (unlucky puncture) after approx. 1k miles. They pointed out the right front was already showing "feathering" in the outside edge and suggested my camber must be wrong (something they couldn't fix). Previous tyre had also badly worn the same way although at he time I put that down to a tracking issue. Looking from the front of the car the wheels do look like they're not vertical so presumably this could cause tyre wear although handling seems normal. It's not a job I can do myself and the thread suggests lots of Stags don't have these shims but could my problem be anything else? The hubs haven't been haven't been off the car in the 8 years I've had it...

[73stagman]

I believe the car was set up originally with a very slight negative camber.... wheel leans in to the car at the top.....so unless a PO has added shims ? Its difficult to see how it could go out of adjustment to get more positive camber to wear out the outside edge of the tyre.

[Baldeagle]

That's what I was thinking but because the tyre chap suggested I have a camber problem it's now something else for me to fret about! Cant really tell by just looking at the car but should a tyre company be able to measure it accurately so at least I'll know for sure there's an issue? I'll ring 'em and ask...

[Richard G]

I believe the car was set up originally with a very slight negative camber.... wheel leans in to the car at the top.....so unless a PO has added shims ? Its difficult to see how it could go out of adjustment to get more positive camber to wear out the outside edge of the tyre.

Yes hard to see it would change , the shims are only a few thou thick. I retro refitted mine in lower bolt, took no time but all mine is nice and new having recently reassembled.

Want to get mine checked but i would think that a tyre dealer would need some pretty good equipment to do it, and anyway it would not be possible to adjust on the spot.

[73stagman]

There are a few bits of kit to measure the front geometry available for the home mech... but how good they are is for someone else to say!

[jakesmig]

I doubt the camber has anything to do with your feathering, sounds like too much toe in on the tracking. Try a different tyre man.

[Baldeagle]

I doubt the camber has anything to do with your feathering, sounds like too much toe in on the tracking. Try a different tyre man.

Yes I've come to same conclusion - I'll try and get it properly measured before assuming anything, found a friend with a device you fit on the wheel which apparently measures all the angles - wish me luck!

[73stagman]

Yes I've come to same conclusion - I'll try and get it properly measured before assuming anything, found a friend with a device you fit on the wheel which apparently measures all the angles - wish me luck!

Good luck!!
you can also get a "track right" device which I have heard is a worthwhile purchase but it does just measure tracking angle.... which as you have been advised is what causes most tyre abnormal wear...