[DeTomaso] Increasing Caster

[Charles Engles]

Dear Mike,

 

 

                 Hmm, I can't tell you precisely, but the front tires on
Pantera number one with four degrees caster  (BFG Comp TA KD) required about
twelve years and 25-30000 miles to wear out.    Pantera number two with five
degrees has already gone through one set of *rear* tires with minimal signs
of wear on the front.   So, my redneck tire wear indicator suggests that the
5 degrees of positive caster has a pretty minor effect on increasing tire
wear, IMHO.

 

 

                              Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles

 

 

 

From: michael at michaelshortt.com [mailto:michaelsavga at gmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2011 4:51 PM
To: Charles Engles
Cc: detomaso at realbig.com; JDeRyke at aol.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Increasing Caster

 

what is the effect on tire wear at 5 degrees ?

Michael Shortt

On Apr 30, 2011 9:31 AM, "Charles Engles" <cengles at cox.net> wrote:
> Dear Jack,
> 
> 
> You wrote:
> 
> "I personally find our car to be difficult to steer in traffic with more 
> than -4-1/2 degrees. Over -4-1/2 recommended only for power steering 
> conversions and really high speed use."
> 
> Ahem. While I can be accused of having Orangutan sized arms,
> which might affect my perception of steering effort, the difficulty of
> steering in traffic or on the highway is not perceptibly different between
> my Pantera with 4 degrees positive caster and the other one with 5
degrees.
> I would suggest that the 4 1/2 degree point does not mark a significant
> point of effort increase and that the relation between increasing positive
> caster and steering effort is probably incremental and proportional, IMHO.
> 
> 
> Mr. Positive Caster, Chuck Engles
> 
> PS: you're right that positive caster does keep the front end planted and
> stabilized at high speeds!
> 
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