Camber on rear wheels

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rwd-pog
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Camber on rear wheels

Post by rwd-pog » 09 Nov 2009 09:03 pm

I'v just starting building a cheap and cheerful drift car, and i am used to using cars with adjustable suspension to allow camber adjustments.

Just curious if anyone has altered (bent) the rear beam to introduce a small amount of negative camber.

Any information or feedback welcome. Cheers guys.

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340GLT
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by 340GLT » 09 Nov 2009 11:00 pm

They have negative as standard. Just wondering why you want more?
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rwd-pog
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by rwd-pog » 11 Nov 2009 10:34 pm

I didn't realise they had camber as standard i was thinking that around 2 to 2.5 degrees camber could improve the cars drifting ability and would be fairly easy to do. But now i see in the haynes manual the car has -2 degrees from the factory,
thanks for the reply.

Ride_on
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by Ride_on » 12 Nov 2009 08:35 pm

It starts at -2 and then gets bigger, aswell as developing uneven toe-in which is very undesirable. Don't think anyone has made a solution as yet, but I do intend to straighten an axle back to factory specs, some info in http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... 6&start=15.

Unlike many of the younger lads on here I have had the pleasure of driving brand new GLTs (borrowed from the dealers while parents car was in for service/crash repair..oops), it was pretty impressive. It is a testament to the 360s that they handle so well with such bent rear axles.

Although I have to say my first 345 took the full brunt of my younger driving and the axle became so bent it was dangerous in the wet, when you hit a puddle straight-on at say 50 on a good dual carriageway, the car nearly spun. I'm not sure if the later cars axles are stronger or if I just calmed down.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

Ride_on
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by Ride_on » 12 Nov 2009 11:48 pm

Actually just measured mine, seems to be -1deg both sides.

Does anyone know how toe-in is measured in mm? (+/-3mm according to Haynes)
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

rwd-pog
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Joined: 17 May 2009 11:17 pm

Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by rwd-pog » 13 Nov 2009 08:18 pm

If they bend that much over time i might consider trying to get the setting back to standard and then add some strenghthening bars to stop it deflecting under the strain of drifting. Thanks for all the help i really apprieciate it.

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volvodspec
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by volvodspec » 13 Nov 2009 09:30 pm

it doesn't suffer from drifting itself, tyreskidding on the rear = less force from the tarmac = easyer sideway load on the wheel

hitting something like a curbstone in a drift is the real killer, if you overdo that you can even get positive camber on a rear wheel :roll:

the beam itself is quite easy to reinforce actually

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ty360volvo
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by ty360volvo » 14 May 2010 12:54 pm

hey guys just read this and wondered how to measure the camber on my 360?
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Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... That's what gets you.

mat_91
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by mat_91 » 14 May 2010 01:42 pm

old thread lol
and to answer you Q get the car on a four wheel tracking device
should tell you everything well at least the one at college does and you can print it out
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ty360volvo
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by ty360volvo » 14 May 2010 11:50 pm

thanks, I don't suppose there is a ruff home style test?
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Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... That's what gets you.

Ride_on
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by Ride_on » 15 May 2010 12:27 am

There is a cheapish solution, I used a camber gauge, £30 from frosts

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp? ... er%20Gauge

I guess you could make something up with a suitable spirit level and angle gauge.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

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ty360volvo
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Location: Melbourne VIC Australia

Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by ty360volvo » 17 May 2010 03:27 am

well ill give it a shot with my squer level, and see how it goes but ill get it done proply when i take the car in to get new tyres,

ill let you know how it goes
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Speed has never killed anyone, suddenly becoming stationary... That's what gets you.

crazycat
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by crazycat » 23 Jun 2010 04:28 pm

Is there a way to reduce the negative camber on rear wheels?

The camber gets bigger when the springs rebound, right?

mat_91
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by mat_91 » 23 Jun 2010 04:54 pm

the camber shouldnt move about if the axles were strong enough
with it being one long bar basically
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Ride_on
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Re: Camber on rear wheels

Post by Ride_on » 25 Jun 2010 07:03 pm

Yes the camber is fixed by the axle. I've been looking at mine with a view to fixing toe-in recently. I notice the axle is oval (longer vertically) more so in the middle. I guess this is a as a result of the stamp/forming to press out the curve for the diff clearance. This means the axle is weaker in the toe-in resisting axis, and particularly in the middle. Once I have this straightened I intend to cut a horizontal slot right through the axle (hopefully big angle grinder will do the job), in the middle 1/3 or so, and put a 2mm plate slightly wider than axle then seam weld. The edges of the slot will probably need bevelled (or V shaped) and progressively welded to fill the gap. Think I need more than my 100A mig though.

This should make the axle stronger mostly in the toe-in direction without increasing the size much, it can also be trimmed down if diff clearance is close. It should also add strength in the camber direction aswell.
1980 345 DL_______1987 360 GLE (project car restored to GLT spec and B230FT'd)
1984 360 GLT______1987 360 GLT
1983 360 GLS______1989 360 GLE
1985 340 GL_______1986 340 1.4
1985 360 GLS______1995 940 SE 2.3 Turbo Estate (daily)
1987 340 GL 1.7

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