Caster and Camber interaction?

[PotvinGuy]

On a typical front tube axle suspension, do caster and camber have any interaction? If we change caster will the camber be affected, and vice-versa? If so, can we express the relationship between the two and calculate the change in one caused by a change in the other?

 

[Golly]

Yes, but only when the wheels are turned in to a corner. The more caster (laying the axle back) will lean the wheels over when you turn. But more caster makes the car want to drive nice and straight and nice at speed and close to a straight line (hence like the front wheels on a dragster) But it makes the steering effort heavier also, but will help the front end "self center" , back to straight again. . Late model luxury cars have a ton of caster so they drive nice, that's why the wheels have a lot of camber on them at full lock.

 

[meangreen]

Yes, but only when the wheels are turned in to a corner. The more caster (laying the axle back) will lean the wheels over when you turn. But more caster makes the car want to drive nice and straight and nice at speed and close to a straight line (hence like the front wheels on a dragster) But it makes the steering effort heavier also, but will help the front end "self center" , back to straight again. . Late model luxury cars have a ton of caster so they drive nice, that's why the wheels have a lot of camber on them at full lock.

 

[meangreen]

Sorry for the blank post - my laptop is doing stupid things. On my desktop now...

Anyway, Golly is correct. Also, kinpin inclination also has some effect on caster/camber change when the wheels are turned into or out of a corner. Typically, in a turn, positive caster (axle laid back) causes the inside wheel to gain positive camber (wheel tilted outward at the top) while the outside wheel loses camber or may even go to negative camber (wheel tilted inward at the top). Kingpin inclination combines with caster to affect how much and how qhickly the change occurs.