Understanding and adjusting the camber angle of your car wheels is key to maximising road contact, enhancing tyre longevity, and improving cornering performance. In this discussion, we’ll delve into the complex world of wheel camber, explore why it’s essential for your car, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to accurately measure and adjust it for optimal performance.
Understanding Wheel Camber
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of measuring and adjusting camber, it’s essential to grasp what camber is and the role it plays in your car’s suspension system. Camber refers to the tilt of the car’s front tyre when viewed from the front of the car. If the top of the wheel is leaning towards the car (negative camber) or away from the car (positive camber), the camber needs adjusting.
Changes in camber can affect the alignment of the car, the contact patch of the tyre with the road, and the car’s straight line and cornering performance. Negative camber, for instance, aids in cornering by keeping the tyre perpendicular to the road, ensuring maximum contact. However, too much negative camber can cause the inside of the tyres to wear out faster.
How to Measure Camber
Now that you understand what camber is, the next step is learning how to measure it accurately. For this task, you will require a camber gauge, a perfectly flat surface, and a level.
Start by parking your car on a level surface. Make sure the suspension is settled by jouncing the front and rear of the car. With the steering wheel straight, attach the camber gauge to the wheel hub or spindle (not the tyre), and ensure it’s flush against the metal. Take the reading from the gauge, which will give you the camber angle.
Camber is measured in degrees, and most vehicles should have a slightly negative camber, typically between -0.5 to -1.5 degrees. This set-up is ideal for most cars, providing a balance between cornering performance and tyre wear.
Adjusting Camber
If your camber reading is outside the ideal range, it’s time to make some adjustments. Remember, adjusting camber can significantly impact the handling of your car, so it’s crucial to make these changes carefully and gradually.
Start by loosening the camber adjustment bolts on the wheel’s upper control arm or strut mounts. If you’re aiming for negative camber, move the top of the tyre inwards towards the engine; for positive camber, move the top of the tyre outwards away from the car. Once done, tighten the bolts back up and take a new camber measurement.
You may have to repeat this process several times until you get the desired camber angle. It’s important to note that adjusting camber also affects toe and caster, so a full four-wheel alignment check is recommended after adjusting camber.
The Impact of Camber on Tyre Wear and Cornering
You might wonder why all this fuss about camber? The answer lies in the profound effect camber has on your car’s performance, specifically tyre wear and cornering.
Setting your camber too positive can cause the outside edge of your tyres to wear out quicker, while too negative can wear out the inner edge faster. An even tyre wear will increase the longevity of your tyres, saving you money over time.
In the context of cornering, having the ideal camber is even more critical. When a car turns a corner, the body naturally rolls to the outside. With negative camber set, the outside tyres remain more vertical, providing a larger contact patch and therefore more grip. This results in more stable and efficient cornering.
The Importance of Professional Help
While adjusting the camber of your car at home can be done, it’s not a job for the faint-hearted. It requires precision, patience and a good understanding of your car’s suspension system. Any errors in measurement or adjustment can lead to poor handling, increased tyre wear and safety risks.
For this reason, it’s often advisable to seek professional help, especially if you’re not confident in your abilities. Professional garages have the necessary equipment to accurately measure and adjust camber, ensuring your car performs at its best.
Remember, your car’s alignment isn’t just about the camber. You also have to consider the toe and caster angles. Therefore, a professional alignment check can give you the peace of mind that all aspects of your car’s suspension are set optimally, providing the best performance and safety.
Impact of Camber on Other Suspension Settings
Knowing more about camber is not just about understanding your car’s cornering capabilities and tyre wear. It’s also crucial to be aware of how camber tie in with other suspension settings like toe, caster angle and ride height.
Let’s start with toe. Toe refers to the angle your tyres sit relative to each other when viewed from above. A toe-in means that the front of the tyres are closer to each other than the rear, while a toe-out is the opposite. When camber is adjusted, it directly impacts the toe of your car. Hence, following a camber adjustment, you need to check and adjust the toe to ensure the front wheels are parallel to each other.
Next, we have caster angle. This is the tilt of the front suspension when viewed from the side. If the top of the suspension is leaning towards the rear of the car, it’s called positive caster. On the other hand, if it’s leaning towards the front, it’s termed negative caster. Corrections in camber can change caster angles inadvertently. Hence, you must check and set the caster angle correctly after adjusting camber.
Lastly, ride height is another critical suspension setting affected by camber. Ride height is the distance between the base of your vehicle and the ground. Changes in camber can lead to modifications in ride height, which can further affect the car’s handling, particularly in corners. So, adjusting the ride height is recommended after any camber changes.
In summary, adjusting camber doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s part of a complex suspension system where each element interacts with the others. Hence, every time you adjust camber, you must consider its effects on the toe, caster angle and ride height, ensuring that your car is balanced and aligned for optimal performance.
Conclusion
Understanding and adjusting the camber on your UK car is integral in improving your vehicle’s cornering performance and tyre longevity. However, it’s not a straightforward process. It requires precision and a deep understanding of how the car’s suspension system works. From measuring camber using a camber gauge to making the necessary adjustments, every step matters.
Remember, an improper camber angle can negatively impact the tyre’s contact patch, leading to uneven tyre wear and poor handling. Besides, camber modifications also affect other suspension settings like the toe, caster angle, and ride height. Therefore, it’s critical to check and adjust these settings whenever you alter the camber.
While a DIY camber adjustment can be rewarding, it’s crucial to take a cautious approach. If you’re unsure, seeking professional help is always a wise decision. Professional mechanics have the expertise and tools to ensure the accurate measurement and adjustment of camber, providing you with the best possible performance and safety from your car.
In conclusion, maintaining the correct camber is not just about enhancing performance. It’s also about ensuring safety and longevity of your tyres. So, whether you’re a casual driver or a car enthusiast, understanding and correctly maintaining your car’s camber can make a significant difference to your driving experience.
