11-10-2019, 06:01 PM
Hi Gibbo
I’ve been following this thread with interest as I haven’t yet got the right castor angle on the special I am building. I have a 1930 RK and the steering on that is nigh perfect (well I think it is) but so too is the castor angle. So I have several thoughts on your predicament
1. Are you sure that this a “castor” problem? There are many more things that can cause wandering. I’ve rebuilt both the RK and special front axle with new shackles, kingpins, steering bushes etc. And I’ve rebuilt the steering box so I know that everything is as Austin intended.
2. Adding a wedge between the spring and nose piece may cause a reduction in castor angle, as can a too highly cambered spring. Basically you are increasing the distance between the nose piece and the axle. One reason for too little castor on the special is that there is no load on the spring (no engine installed).
3. One further (unlikely?) possibility is that the chassis has bowed. This tends to occur forward of the front cross member and would result in reduced castor (I think???). Does your bonnet fit well as a badly fitting bonnet is a sign of a bowed chassis.
4. If you are sure that everything on the front axle is perfect, the chassis is straight and you are still worried about castor then a small spacer behind the radius arm ball mounting plate may help things?
Hope this helps
Cheers
Howard
I’ve been following this thread with interest as I haven’t yet got the right castor angle on the special I am building. I have a 1930 RK and the steering on that is nigh perfect (well I think it is) but so too is the castor angle. So I have several thoughts on your predicament
1. Are you sure that this a “castor” problem? There are many more things that can cause wandering. I’ve rebuilt both the RK and special front axle with new shackles, kingpins, steering bushes etc. And I’ve rebuilt the steering box so I know that everything is as Austin intended.
2. Adding a wedge between the spring and nose piece may cause a reduction in castor angle, as can a too highly cambered spring. Basically you are increasing the distance between the nose piece and the axle. One reason for too little castor on the special is that there is no load on the spring (no engine installed).
3. One further (unlikely?) possibility is that the chassis has bowed. This tends to occur forward of the front cross member and would result in reduced castor (I think???). Does your bonnet fit well as a badly fitting bonnet is a sign of a bowed chassis.
4. If you are sure that everything on the front axle is perfect, the chassis is straight and you are still worried about castor then a small spacer behind the radius arm ball mounting plate may help things?
Hope this helps
Cheers
Howard