Skip to main content

Closed10 replies

Caster Shims

RichHeadleyRichHeadley

I have owned my 2003 VS for one month and have been very concerned with the way it handles at freeway speeds. After reading several comments in this forum, I installed a second set of caster shims. I drove the car last night for about 10 miles on the freeway at about 70-75 mph. The addition of the caster shims did help but I still noticed that the car has a tendency to wander. I was just wondering if the only limiting factor to how much caster you could have is your tolerance for hard steering while moving slowly or, if I'm just going to have to learn to live with it?

I have had professional alignment performed on both front and rear, installed an anti-sway bar, steering stabilizer, and rear camber compensator. I've also tightened the pitman arm pinch nut.

Thanks, Rich

RL Headley

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

RichHeadleyRichHeadley

I have owned my 2003 VS for one month and have been very concerned with the way it handles at freeway speeds. After reading several comments in this forum, I installed a second set of caster shims. I drove the car last night for about 10 miles on the freeway at about 70-75 mph. The addition of the caster shims did help but I still noticed that the car has a tendency to wander. I was just wondering if the only limiting factor to how much caster you could have is your tolerance for hard steering while moving slowly or, if I'm just going to have to learn to live with it?

I have had professional alignment performed on both front and rear, installed an anti-sway bar, steering stabilizer, and rear camber compensator. I've also tightened the pitman arm pinch nut.

Thanks, Rich
Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
After all you've done, I wonder if the remaining wandering is due to a tire issue. How old are they? Are they evenly worn? Have you set tire pressures properly? I use 22 up front and 29 in the rear. Others folks' cars are a bit different, but all have softer tires up front.

Also, some wandering is to be expected in some conditions, particularly crosswinds, as the front ends of these cars are very light.
RichHeadleyRichHeadley
When I purchased the car it had 35 psi in both front and rear. I have since reduced the front to 20 psi and the rear to 22 psi. The battery is in the front and the wandering happens with both a full and nearly empty tank and zero wind conditions. Tires are high quality and in good shape and the shocks were installed by VS in 2003. The shocks are KYB oil filled and since shocks are relatively inexpensive I think I'll change them out just to eliminate this possibility. After installing the new shocks I plan to take the car back to the alignment shop to have them re-check everything and increase the front toe-in from 1/32" to 1/8". This doesn't sound like much of a change but it seems, with these cars every little bit helps.

Rich
Lane AndersonLane AndersonMt. Pleasant, SC Supporting Member
I hope the brain trust will chime in as I am but an acolyte, but I think the increase in toe will help. Also, the common wisdom I've heard here is that fancy, gas-filled shocks are overkill for the light front end on these cars - not that I would expect that to cause this problem.

Regarding the air pressure, I am following advice from Gordon Nichols and others here. It seems to work as the car feels quite stable unless there's a significant cross wind OR a lot of truck-induced turbulance. I can definitely feel it when I am in the wake of a big truck. The car wanders quite a bit then.
FM Former Member
I've posted alignment spec's several times. You need 1/8" toe in, not 1/32

Tire tread pattern can cause the car to wander as will loose front wheel bearings, a light front end, bent or damaged components or lack of toe in and caster. Gas shocks probably won't cause the front end to wander and in my opinion are an asset but to each his own.
Post Content
Remove This Ad

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires a premium membership.

Supporting Member

Please help keep us running!

Supporting members have donated about $4.00 a month ($49.00 US per year) paid annually.

  • Priority support
  • Removal of inter-page (between thread) advertisements.
  • Access to Build Manuals
  • Access to Knowledge Base
  • Access to Supporting Members events.
  • Access to Leveraged Group Buying from site Merchants.

AUTO RENEW: You membership will auto-renew after 12 months. If you prefer not to auto-renew, you can cancel your premium membership at any time and it will remain in effect until the end of the 12 months. To cancel, sign in at SpeedsterOwners.com and navigate to: (Your User Name)  > Premium Membership.

PLEASE NOTE: Your credit card will receive a charge from CROWDSTACK PAY, the payment processor, not SpeedsterOwners.com.

$49.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×