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Self Centre - Springs
phil m - 19/10/08 at 05:54 PM

I know this has been done to death !!!!!
and yes I have read all the posts (my locost passed easily as I made up wide brackets that could be shimmed)

Can't get the thing to centre as the SVA wants !!!

How do I put the valve springs on as some have done ?? Really hacked off now

phoenix70 - 19/10/08 at 06:15 PM

you need to get a hold of a four old valve springs.

Take off the steering arms off and put two on each side of the rack, you may have to make up a washer to stop them going into the rack. Fairly easy to do, but limits the rack a lot. I took one out each side after I passed the SVA and left one it.

Also two in each may be too much so you might have to cut a couple of coils off.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Scott

[Edited on 19/10/08 by phoenix70]

[Edited on 19/10/08 by phoenix70]

nitram38 - 19/10/08 at 06:19 PM

It's your life.............
Took me about 2 hrs to remake my top bones. Probably as long as it takes to faf about with your rack. Car feels good to drive to.......it's your life..............

phil m - 19/10/08 at 06:34 PM

Ta gents - really dont want to do the spring thing but maybe need to

mookaloid - 19/10/08 at 07:10 PM

If you get the goemetry right you wont need to do this bodge.

The SVA test is there for safety reasons and if you bodge something like steering to get through then undo the bodge later cos it's horrible to drive with with 'a spring loaded steering rack' then it could well be a danger to you and opther road users.

mad-butcher - 20/10/08 at 08:08 AM

whilst in total agreement with mookaloid, I cannot see how springs under normal use can do anything to assist self centering. unless doing donuts or going round a hairpin bend when do you have enough lock on for the springs to come into play

nitram38 - 20/10/08 at 09:55 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mad-butcher
whilst in total agreement with mookaloid, I cannot see how springs under normal use can do anything to assist self centering. unless doing donuts or going round a hairpin bend when do you have enough lock on for the springs to come into play


Because castor helps to stop your car wandering all over the road, helps with unwinding through corners and makes your steering feedback so that you can anticipate what is going on.
It is also a lot less tiring when your wheels straighten out after bends, otherwise you are constantly working the wheel even in a straight line.
They wouldn't make it an sva requirement unless it was on the grounds of safety either.

nitram38 - 20/10/08 at 09:55 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mad-butcher
whilst in total agreement with mookaloid, I cannot see how springs under normal use can do anything to assist self centering. unless doing donuts or going round a hairpin bend when do you have enough lock on for the springs to come into play


Because castor helps to stop your car wandering all over the road, helps with unwinding through corners and makes your steering feedback so that you can anticipate what is going on.
It is also a lot less tiring when your wheels straighten out after bends, otherwise you are constantly working the wheel even in a straight line.
They wouldn't make it an sva requirement unless it was on the grounds of safety either.
I have driven my F1-2 with and without the correct castor and without if felt vague and dangerous. With, it feels tight and controllable.
I also think that putting the springs on will leave you fighting your steering in bends plus it reduces your turning circle.....alot.

[Edited on 20/10/2008 by nitram38]

simonk - 20/10/08 at 11:32 AM

My Viento didn't self centre well - and still doesn't around straight-ahead, but I dropped the mushrooms back as far as I could to get more trail, dialled out most of the negative camber and dialled out the toe-in - it's now toe out a little but not so much that you can see. It unwinds itself coming out of junctions now and was enough to pass the SVA. Could do with more to feel better I think, but I was able to get it to pass OK.

Simon