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MG MGF Technical - Caster alignment

I am having trouble with the stability of my MGF. I beleive this is due to a negative caster. Is this an easy correction or is it a job for a garage? If the latter does anyone know how much it is likely to cost to have rectified?
Darren

>>I beleive this is due to a negative caster<<
This should be about PLUS 5.0 degrees, plus/minus about 1 degree. If you really do have negative caster then I imagine you do have problems !
AFAIK this is not adjustable on the F - the suspension (and subframe) will need to be realigned - even rebuilt.

What sort of figures have you got for caster ?

Both Camber and Toe should be slightly negative
Steve

Darren, this instability , is it tramlining on country roads, this could be due to a variety of things, check the archives for more info on toe in/out angles, not caster/camber, also tyre size can play a part.
HTH
Mike
Mike

Darren, I am a little surprised that you are jumping at a potential problem, as I am sure you know, poor chassis stability can be attributed to a variety of other geometry problems.

Do you have the tracking alignment data for your car?

(In case you haven't got the standard figures, these are summarised on http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/facts_and_figures/tracking_data.htm )

Other areas to serious consider looking at (and are areas that can be easily attended too - unlike the caster which as Steve rightly says would necessitate a whole-sale rebuild of the front suspension) would be both toe-angle and camber - excessive settings on either of these would readily lead to steering instability and tramlining (more on this at http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/tracking.htm ).

Do you have standard wheels? What tyre widths are you using? If the scrub radius is increased, then again, poor steering stability can ensue. (Standard wheel figures on http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/wheel_options_for_the_mgf.htm )

Hope you get to the bottom of the problem Darren.
Rob Bell

Darren,

Negative caster means a very unstable car to drive.
That's like riding a bycicle with the front fork inverted!
That's almost letal... Follow Rob's advice, check the easier and cheaper things first.

Cheers, Valter.
Valter

Darran...what specific model are you driving??
SimonKE

This thread was discussed between 16/01/2003 and 18/01/2003

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