self centreing

[goldwill]

One of my BMW Sportster SVA fails was no self centre on steering, tried to get toe in/out, camber angle from Marlin, no success yet. Anybody else had this, solutions wellcome.

[Peterx]

Re: self centreing

Hi David,
sorry to hear of your SVA failure. I got my Sportster to self centre by trial and error and have no measuring equipment so cannot give you an exact setting. However, against all instincts i found you actally need some toe out to get a Sportster to self centre.
I set my front wheels parallel with the back wheels and then progressively wound the the track rods out by equal amounts and road tested to see the effect(mark the track rods with masking tape and marker pen). (You don't need to go far to feel the effect!) I think I settled on two complete track rod rotatations out each side to give the desired effect. My car passed SVA without any comment on this. You should also check your top wishbones are mounted the correct way round as this can give you the completely wrong camber angle.
good luck
Peter

[Peterx]

Re: self centreing

Also, I meant to add that you should pump your front tyres up to about 30psi to reduce any frction!

Peter

[goldwill]

Re: self centreing

Hello Peter, I will try that, many thanks
David

[Patrick]

Re: self centreing

Make sure your top wish bones are the right way up. I failed on self centering as well and that was part of the problem, see this photo it should be this way up: http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/p_sva031.jpg

As far as settings go I'm use 1.25 degrees negative camber and toe close to centre then toe in till it feels right. I've got an FAQ on my site here: http://www.msportster.co.uk/faq.asp?FAQ=24

Castor angle is set by putting 2 washers at the front 3 at the back in between chassis and top wishbone bushes.

Thanks, Patrick
www.msportster.co.uk

[Patrick]

Re: self centreing

Here's the links again, they've not come out right above:

http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/p_sva031.jpg

http://www.msportster.co.uk/faq.asp?FAQ=24

Thanks, Patrick

[peter.crowther4]

Re: self centreing

Sorry Patrick , still cannot pull up the links posted.
Please try again

Pete Crowther

[Patrick]

Re: self centreing

Hi Pete, heres the first one:

http://www.msportster.co.uk/faq.asp?FAQ=24

[Patrick]

Re: self centreing

and the picture:

http://www.msportster.co.uk/data/p_sva031.jpg