Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Static angle of ball joint beam
Forum Index -> Performance/Engines/Transmissions Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Inter911
Samba Member


Joined: April 17, 2004
Posts: 3
Location: Niagara-on-the-lake, ON Canada
Inter911 is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:07 pm    Post subject: Static angle of ball joint beam Reply with quote

Can anyone tell me the correct, stock static angle of a front ball joint beam? The top is angled back and I have heard 3 degrees, 7 degrees or 10 degrees. Which is correct for a stock car? Thanks in advance.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
gorbur
Samba Member


Joined: October 10, 2010
Posts: 187
Location: West of Calgary
gorbur is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:59 pm    Post subject: Re: Static angle of ball joint beam Reply with quote

I have 3.5 degrees negative (top leans toward rear). From what i understand this should relate to a wheel caster of about the same if not more. Its stock suspension other than front/rear antisway bars. I'm getting close to having it ready for a alignment and will post the actual when i get it.
I also checked my ghia and its about the same.
_________________
73 - Ghia Cabriolet, currently under resto
76 - Type1, 1776, full restomod
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
raygreenwood
Samba Member


Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 21474
Location: Oklahoma City
raygreenwood is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 9:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Static angle of ball joint beam Reply with quote

Well...if this is for a Beetle...the castor (which is what you are asking about) from the "book" (without guesswork) lists 3° 20’ +/- 1°....and of course that is "positive castor"...so as mentioned that means looking from the side, the top of the beam rakes toward the rear.

But..from experience....I can tell you that the tolerance they list....a +/- of 1°...is to much allowable "minus". You would rather have a tolerance like this:

3° 20’ +1° -0°. You do not want castor less than 3°.

Ray
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Inter911
Samba Member


Joined: April 17, 2004
Posts: 3
Location: Niagara-on-the-lake, ON Canada
Inter911 is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 7:35 am    Post subject: Re: Static angle of ball joint beam Reply with quote

Thanks guys. That's what I was looking for.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
ALB
Samba Member


Joined: August 05, 2008
Posts: 3480
Location: beautiful suburban Wet Coast of Canada
ALB is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:28 am    Post subject: Re: Static angle of ball joint beam Reply with quote

For a safe car at highway speeds and above you need to increase caster. Lowering the front usually takes away caster so you have to be even more aware. 40 years ago, as a very young man my main transport was a Cal Look bug. Between the select a drop and 135's the front was lowered 4 1/2- 5"; even at 60 mph the car was a bit of a handful; I knew nothing about caster then. The 1 time I took it up to over 100 mph a side gust blew me half way into the next lane before I could react. Only stayed up there for a moment, and then never again.

I own a Speedster replica now, am active on SOC (Speedsterowners.com) and almost every car owner active on the forum runs more than stock caster, some as much as 6 or 7 degrees. If you're going to drive this car (and by drive I mean not just to the show field and back home) at all, increase caster to 4-5 degrees. The caster shims made by Berg (and others) are cheap and easy to install.
http://www.geneberg.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=caster&x=7&y=8


As usual, just my 2 1/2 cents (I'm Canadian, eh). Al

Edit- Gene has more to say in his catalogs but here's what I found online-
http://www.geneberg.com/cat.php?cPath=12_384_2917
_________________
On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
NJ John
Samba Member


Joined: September 21, 2007
Posts: 2166
Location: HdG, MD & NJ
NJ John is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 6:46 am    Post subject: Re: Static angle of ball joint beam Reply with quote

When I first built my drag buggy. I built a beam and installed adjusters. Slammed the front as low as it would go and installed one set of shims. Never measured or knew about caster. After doing a 80mph 180 on the track. I found I was at zero degrees of caster.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Dale M.
Samba Member


Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20365
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
Dale M. is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 8:44 am    Post subject: Re: Static angle of ball joint beam Reply with quote

From the book "Chassis Engineering" by Herb Adams.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


With dune buggies (I know, not stock beetle) we find up to 7° of positive caster helps driving/handling immensely... specially with shortened and lowered chassis...

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
NJ John
Samba Member


Joined: September 21, 2007
Posts: 2166
Location: HdG, MD & NJ
NJ John is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 9:01 am    Post subject: Re: Static angle of ball joint beam Reply with quote

I modified the frame head to give me 14 degrees. I could do 115mph with one hand.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Performance/Engines/Transmissions All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.