Front Tyre Size / Camber With Dropped Spindles

All,

After a year of running my Chesil with a lowered front beam and shocking ride quality, I've finally got around to fitting a set of dropped spindles.

The good news is that with the beam raised, I've got my ride quality back, but it's given me another problem....

With the ride height set to an acceptable level (i.e. not too low & not waving it's nose in the air!), I don't have enough steering lock - the front wheels catching on the arches. I believe this is party to do with the dropped spindles adding 1.5cm to the track on each side, pushing the wheels out that little bit too much.

I'm running 195/60/15 tyres on the front and was wondering whether going for a narrower tyre would solve the issue? Has anyone ever had the same problem? How did you sort it?

I was also wonering about the camber at the front.... currently, the car is setup completly as per Chesil's specs, however, I notice that Machine 7 sell a camber compensator. If I fitted some of these and tucked the tops of the tyres in a bit, would that help?

Any ideas would be welcomed! I have my MOT in 2 weeks time and need to sort it by then, or I'm not going to be road worthy :-(

Thanks!

Mark

Mark,

I have a CMC with classic speedster body (Non-Flared) and have limited tire clearance as well.

I utiize 165SR15's. I have minimial clearance with this tire as well; however some individuals run 135's on the front and wider tires on the rear. With the Torsion Bar Front suspension you are limited to "Camber" adjustment as well as "Caster".

If you have a "Swing Axel" you can gain some clearance with "De-cambering" the rear however this could cause an inside clearance problem if you go too far.

I've got drop spindles on the front and the car has been lowered as much as I can (IRS). I like the ride height but this has effected the tire selection.

Jack

Cheer Jack.

I'm quite surprised to hear you've got clearance probs with 165 tyres! I guess my 195s won't stand a chanceon your car!!

I've spoken with Machine 7 in the UK and they've recommended some camber adjusters for the front. Aside from being able to pull the top of the tyre in towards the car's centre, it'll also allow some better adjustment of the car's geometry and will hopefully improve turn in a bit....

We'll see on Friday when I fit them.

Mark

Mark,

Good Morning!

Does your Chesil have a Link Pin or Ball Joint Front Suspension and for the Rear is it a Swing Axel or IRS?

As mentioned earlier, I've lowered my cars ride height as low as I can without "Bottoming" out the rear suspension however the handling with the current "Set-up" is superb. Only complaint is "Pan Flex" during decreasing radius off camber turns at speed.

I've had the vehicle on a chassis alignment frame jig to adjust the suspension:

Camber
Toe
F/R Wheel Base Alignment/Square
Rear Bump Steer

Monitored the F/R weight distribution with chassis scales in an attempt to compensate for rear weight bias / oversteer tendacy.

I've checked the Front Bump Steer and haven't altered the current setting at this time.

My CMC as well as other "Recreations" may differ in configeration where as outer body / wheel clearance could be less then equil or inconsistant. My Rear Suspension is an IRS and so the suspension travel is compensated with the CV Joints that "Maintain" the compression arc of the rear suspension under "Suspension Load/Unload." The Swing Axel Rear Suspension is adjustable where as you can add Negative/Positive Camber to the rear wheel/suspension travel. The Negative Camber would allow for more outer wheel clearance by angling the top of the rear wheel in.

The front suspension would be somewhat limited regardles the type of front suspension utilized unless you replaced the standard torsion-bar front end and went to an aftermark modified design.

I currently have 5/8" of outer tire to body clearance and this is with the 165's. With the Fiberglass body I don't wish to start "Rubbing" and damage the body with larger tires/wheels.

I would like Wider Tires/Wheels but with the concerns that would surface with this car.

I personally prefer the "Classic Design" of the Speedster and the engineering Porsche implemented. If I wanted a Miata or someother type of current "Sports Car" I could obtain whatever I wanted. I've done the Porsche 911, Lotus, Corvette, SCCA Semi-Pro Road Racing and NASCAR Stock Car Racing venues already and have came back to the Speedster. Biggest Bang for the Buck and Most Fun.

Anyway; good luck and if you ever make it to California, Sierra Nevada Mountains give me a ring and we'll tip a Pint!

Jack