Car set up descriptions
1. Camber Adjustment
Description:
Camber refers to the angle of the wheels in relation to the vertical axis when viewed from the front or back of the vehicle. A properly set camber angle can significantly enhance tire grip and cornering performance. Negative camber is often used in racing to increase the tire's contact patch during hard cornering. as the car transfers its weight to the outside tires the tire effectively leans over, negative camber allows the wheel and tire to lean over and if set correctly for that particular load the tire will end up with a full contact patch with the track. Tools for camber adjustment help racers fine-tune this angle for optimal handling and tire wear balance.
2. Caster Adjustment
Description:
Caster is the angle created by the steering pivot point relative to the vertical axis of the wheel. It affects the vehicle's straight-line stability and steering responsiveness. A properly adjusted caster angle ensures smooth handling and increased front-end grip during high-speed turns but also makes the steering heavier and less responsive, on many production cars castor isn’t adjustable and castor plates or adjustable suspension arms need to be fitted to allow it.
3. Toe Alignment
Description:
Toe alignment refers to the angle of the wheels when viewed from above, it is often referred to as tracking. It can be toe-in (wheels pointing inward) or toe-out (wheels pointing outward). Precise toe settings are crucial for minimizing tire drag and improving cornering stability. High-quality toe alignment tools help racers achieve consistent and reliable settings for maximum track performance. the simplest of which would be our Tracking bar, but it can also be set using a string alignment kit or tracking gauges.
4. Ride Height
Description:
Ride height is the distance between the car’s underbody and the ground, or often measured on road cars from the wheel arch lip, Lowering the ride height reduces aerodynamic drag and lowers the centre of gravity which can be good but may compromise suspension travel and have a negative effect on roll centres, it also often looks great when your reduce the wheel arch gap of a stock height road car,
5. Corner Weighting and Balancing
Description:
Corner weighting involves balancing the car's weight across all four wheels to optimize handling and traction. Using precision scales, racers can achieve an even distribution that ensures predictable performance under braking, acceleration, and cornering. This is a critical aspect of competitive race car setups, you can apply these techniques to non race cars but generally you are limited to what you can achieve without relocating components or compromising aerodynamics and maintaining even ride heights.
6. Suspension Geometry
Description:
Suspension geometry refers to the complex relationship between suspension components, wheel positioning, and movement. Proper geometry tuning enhances traction, stability, and responsiveness, offering a competitive edge. Tools for suspension geometry allow for precision measurements and adjustments to maximize performance. although camber, caster and toe are a part of suspension geometry, what we are referring to here is the change of these throughout the the travel of the suspension as well as other elements such as Ackerman angle, scrub radius and roll centres.
7. Tire Pressure and Temperature Monitoring
Description:
Maintaining optimal tire pressure and temperature is critical for consistent grip and tire longevity. Specialized gauges and pyrometers help racers monitor these factors, allowing for precise adjustments during testing and competition. monitoring tire temperatures across the tire can also give clues to where alignment can be improved.