 A wheel with a negative camber angle Camber angle is the angle made by the wheel of an automobile; specifically, it is the angle between the vertical axis of the wheel and the vertical axis of the vehicle when viewed from the front or rear. It is used in the design of steering and suspension. If the top of the wheel is further out than the bottom (that is, away from the axle), it is called positive camber; if the bottom of the wheel is further out than the top, it is called negative camber. camber angle - drawn by the author File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
The force bearing on the axle has an eccentricity e with the point of contact to the rolling surface and exerts a moment about the contact point. ...
Steering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. ...
The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ...
Camber angle alters the handling qualities of a particular suspension design; in particular, negative camber improves grip when cornering. This is because it presents the tire, which is taking the greatest proportion of the cornering forces, at a more optimal angle to the road, increasing its contact patch and transmitting the forces through the vertical plane of the tire, rather than through a shear force across it. On the other hand, for maximum straight-line acceleration, obviously the greatest traction will be attained when the camber angle is zero and the tread is flat on the road. Proper management of camber angle is a major factor in suspension design, and must incorporate not only idealized geometric models, but also real-life behavior of the components; flex, distortion, elasticity, etc. What was once an art has now become much more scientific with the use of computers, which can juggle all the variables mathematically instead of relying on the designer's intuitive feel and experience, and as a result the handling of even low-priced automobiles has improved dramatically in recent years. Car handling and vehicle handling is a description of the way wheeled vehicles perform transverse to their direction of motion, particularly during cornering and swerving. ...
For a table of tire companies, see List of tire companies. ...
Contact patch is the name applied to the area of a vehicles tire that is in contact with the road surface. ...
In physics and mechanics, shear refers to a deformation that causes parallel surfaces to slide past one another (as opposed to compression and tension, which cause parallel surfaces to move towards or away from one another). ...
In older cars with double wishbone suspensions, camber angle was usually adjustable, but in newer models with McPherson strut suspensions it is normally fixed. While this may reduce maintenance requirements, if the car is lowered by use of shortened springs, this changes the caster angle (as described in McPherson strut) and can lead to increased tire wear and even impaired handling. For this reason, individuals who are serious about modifying their car for better handling will not only lower the body, but also modify the mounting point of the top of the struts to the body to allow some fore/aft movement for caster adjustment. Aftermarket plates with slots for strut mounts instead of just holes are available for most of the commonly modified models of cars. A double wishbone suspension is an automobile independent suspension design using two parallel wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. ...
A simple MacPherson strut suspension on the left front wheel of a rear-wheel drive vehicle. ...
Helical or coil springs designed for tension A spring is a flexible elastic object used to store mechanical energy. ...
θ is the caster angle, red line is the pivot line, grey area is the tire Caster (or castor) angle is the angular displacement from the vertical axis of the suspension of a steered wheel in a car or other vehicle, measured in the longitudinal direction. ...
A simple MacPherson strut suspension on the left front wheel of a rear-wheel drive vehicle. ...
Another reason for negative camber is that a rubber tire tends to roll on itself while cornering. If the tire had zero camber, the inside edge of the contact patch would begin to lift off of the ground, thereby reducing the contact patch. By applying negative camber, this effect is reduced, thereby maximizing the contact patch.
Positive camber is generally used in vehicles for Off-Road use, such as agricultural tractors. In such vehicles, the positive camber angle helps to achieve a lower steering effort.
See also
θ is the caster angle, red line is the pivot line, grey area is the tire Caster (or castor) angle is the angular displacement from the vertical axis of the suspension of a steered wheel in a car or other vehicle, measured in the longitudinal direction. ...
In automotive technology toe is the symmetric angle that each wheel makes with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as a function of static geometry, and kinematic and compliant effects. ...
External links - Camber and Race Car Suspension Tuning
- Camber, Caster, Toe - What does it all mean?
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