[DeTomaso] Caster on 5332

[Stephen]

I'm revisiting a discussion from earlier this year.  I just checked the alignment on 5332 after putting in offset poly bushing on both upper and lower a-arms.  Came up with 5 degrees on the passenger side, 4 degrees on the drivers.  I recall hearing one time that the driver's side caster should be a bit less than the passengers to compensate for the crown on roads.  I don't have a lot of room to maneuver when it comes to shims on the ball joints.  All the shims are in front of the driver's side top ball joint, so can't increase it any just by moving shims.  On the passenger side, there is one thin shim (0.9 mm) on the front of the ball joint, so I could move it to the back, thereby reducing the 5 degrees to around 4.8. 

Found one website that stated " to offset road crown, the top left steering knuckle is always leading the right; the right side has more positive caster."

So, the question is, how much less caster is desirable to compensate for road crown?  The web suggests 0.5 degrees max.  Any comments from those who have played with caster?

Oh, I also installed the camber lock devices that Pantera Performance markets.  Camber is set at 0.

Stephen Nelson


-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf Of cengles at cox.net
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 1:46 PM
To: kenn_green at yahoo.com
Cc: detomaso at poca.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Any experience with Marino's offset control arm bushings to increase caster?


Dear Ken and Dave,

              About twenty years ago, Dennis Quella told me about the offset bushings.  At that time in the Pre-Cambrian Era there were no 
"factory" off set bushings and you had to make your own.   The first set 
I did went on Pantera No. One and I got about 3 degrees positive caster. 
I wasn't happy with that and pulled then off and had a custom upper A arm fabricated for more caster.

              I liked the caster benefits so much that I decided I would convert the old tired rubber bushings on Pantera No. Two to the poly bushings and I would apply the hacksaw to the the poly with more vigor. 
One cuts off as much of the thick end as you dare and then make up the difference on the other end with appropriately sized fender washers. 
Apparently, I hit it on the nose and the alignment shop documented an impressive positive five degrees caster.  Despite the rather aggressive modification of the bushing into a really serious offset bushing, it has held up over twenty years and thousands of miles.

              One caveat: with positive caster of 4 to 5 degrees positive and wide tires and stock Pantera fenders, it *is* possible to have the tire kiss the outer front fender lip.....with unpleasant results.  If you go for the big caster and big tires, then be sure you roll the fender lip and an early visit to a body man for some very discrete and gentle fender edge "adjustment" is advised.

                           The Positive Castor Ambassador,  Chuck Engles


On Wed, Apr 2, 2014 at 2:29 PM, Ken Green wrote:


Chuck,

     Marino said they only provide maybe one additional degree of caster.  Did you do something more than just make one end thinner? 
Seems like you can only get maybe 1/8 inch (1/4 inch total) of shifting? 
I'm not sure what the separation between ball joints is, but that looks like less than 2 degrees of added caster?

Ken

From: "cengles at cox.net" <cengles at cox.net>
To: kenn_green at yahoo.com
Cc: detomaso at poca.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 11:33 AM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Any experience with Marino's offset control arm bushings to increase caster?

    Dear Ken,

                1) no experience with Marino's offset bushings

               2)  The offset homemade bushings I have provide 5 degrees of
    positive caster with major improvement in handling and high speed
    stability.  Highly recommended

                3)   Marino is a good guy and a reliable, reputable 
vendor
    in my opinion.

                                 Go buy'em,   Chuck Engles

    On Wed, Apr 2, 2014 at 1:12 PM, Ken Green wrote:

    > Can anyone comment of the benefitA and durability ofA Marino's offset
    front control armA bushings?A

    >

    > Thanks,

    >

    > Ken

    >

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