[DML] Re: DeLorean steering

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Caster: Looking from side -- whole steering knuckle tilted \ (upper
ball joint in front of the lower one) or / (upper ball joint behind
the lower one). This isn't adjustable on a DeLo. I'd imagine severe
caster variation indicates damaged suspension components.

Camber: Looking from front -- /\ (negative -- tires closer together at
the top) or \/ (positive -- tires closer together at the bottom). Most
cars have negative camber at rest because the natural tendency of a
suspension is to increase camber as the steering knuckle moves up
(over bumps, etc). Also, positive cambering is harder to control (try
walking on inside and outside edges of your shoes to see the
difference). Again, this isn't adjustable on a DeLo (cars with
adjustable camber usually have threaded vertical rods between the
lower control arms and other suspension components).

Toe: Looking from above -- /\ (tires closer together at the front --
toe'd in) or \/ (tires closer together at the rear -- toe'd out). This
is the only adjustment available on a DeLo, changed by turnbuckles
between the tie rod ends and steering linkage. Incorrectly toe'd cars
have a tendency to "gallop", creating wavy wear patterns on the edges
of the tires.

Hope this helps.

Bill Robertson
#5939

>--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "cruznmd" <racuti1@xxxx> wrote:
> Someone please explain DeLorean steering geometry to me. I am 
> familiar with some terms: Toe, caster and camber.
> 
> Due to the wear on the inner edges of my tires, I suspect they are 
> pointed like this:   //  \\  (If you're looking at the car head-on)
> 
> Instead of: ||   ||  (Ditto)
> 
> Which of the above 3 is responsible for this, and is it adjustable in 
> the DeLorean? On the front end, are any of the 3 NOT adjustable?
> 
> My new tie-rod ends will be here soon and I'm going to take it to the 
> alignment joint up the road Friday morning. Before I do, I want to 
> know if I have something else that's really wrong. I hope I don't. 
> How bad could it be? It took several months of driving for the 
> abnormal wear pattern to even show up.
> 
> I have read the tech section of DMC news and a few other places and 
> find the explanations lacking. 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Rich A.
> #5335



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