Castor and Camber angle setting

[I-Wen Foo]

Hello all,
I've read that it's easier and preferable to set the front castor and camber angles (during a restoration project) before too many things are refitted to the car. It's not necessary to have the car loaded while doing so.
Would anyone have directions as to how to do this, or tell me where I can find out? The wprkshop manual procedure seems more relevant to completed cars...
Many thanks in advance!
Best regards, I-Wen

[mgcjag]

Hi......After talking to quite a few restoration companies at Silverstone last year I set my front caster/camber once the car was fully completed (to achive the mid laden position) using the instructions in the manual but without using the camber setting links.......there was quita a lot of discussion on other jag sites re adding weight to the engine to simulate load.but the people i spoke to said it was not nesessary.......it is quite awkward fitting the shims & you need the camber castor gauges & need to set the tracking.....but was worth doing & makes a great drive.....after driving the car for a few weeks i had the settings checked at a specialist & it was spot on.......Steve

[wwayman]

I set my front camber and caster before installing the torsion bars using links in place of the front shocks, set to ride height. Go for as much negative camber as you can get.

[abowie]

You can't correctly set the front steering geometry without the car being fully assembled and weighted.

[Tom W]

You can't correctly set the front steering geometry without the car being fully assembled and weighted.

You can, that’s how they did it in the factory. You need the car level, or at least you need to determine a level reference the measurements back to, and you need some weight taken on the hubs, so all the joints are loaded in the correct direction. The setting links in the manual will give the right ride height.

[abowie]

That's not been my experience. You can do an approximate setup with the setting links but it is rarely correct when the car is finished because there are a myriad of factors affecting it.

So then you still need to redo it with the complete car. And the client wants to know why he's paying for the alignment twice..

Pragmatically we don't bother, and do it once properly, when the car is complete.

[mgcjag]

Guys....you have started answering an 8 year old thread.......look at the posted dates....Steve

[abowie]

59 year old cars?

A mere eyeblink Grasshopper :-)