Are you into custom rides like Chopper motorcycles or dragsters? Are you so into them that you know about fine-tuning and adjusting all of their specs? Well, then you probably already know about caster and camber angles. If you're new to the game, read on to find out all about these functional and flashy design variables.
The Camber Angle
The camber angle is the angle the wheels of your vehicle make in relation to the road. If the tops of your wheels are farther out than the bottom, the car is said to have a positive camber angle. If the bottoms of your wheels are sticking out far, with the tops sucked in, the car is said to have a negative angle. Changing the camber angle of your vehicle affects performance attributes. Cars with high negative angles are said to have better gripping abilities when cornering around turns. A zero camber angle (your tires are perfectly vertical) allows for maximum straightaway acceleration, while a positive one is traditionally only seen on off-road vehicles because it helps with steering on rough terrain.
The Caster Angle
The caster angle affects the steered wheel in a car or motorcycle, and by loose definition, is the degree of displacement of the angle from the vertical axis of a said vehicle's suspension. Ready for the layman's terms? Imagine a straight line running perfectly vertical up the wheel of your car. Now, imagine a line at the precise angle your suspension connects to your wheel. The angle between those two lines you are imagining is called the caster angle. When you're talking about bicycle and/or motorcycles, this is more commonly referred to as rake and trail. And you will be talking about this when you're talking bikes, as the most popular and visually clarifying example of an extreme caster angle is the chopper motorcycle. You know those motorcycles with the high handlebars and the jutting front ends? Those have an extreme caster angle. Switching up the caster angle on your vehicle is normally a matter of aesthetics, but fine tuning of caster angles can help balance a suspension.
Top Sellers
These tools will help you gauge, repair and adjust the caster and camber angles of your vehicle.
