Anybody tried 35deg overall caster on the 22?

[Chris Elworthy]

Hi lads,

Just wondering whether anybody has tried 35deg overall caster on their 22s?
I'm currently running the car in 25deg kickup with the 5deg caster block but the car still feels a little too aggressive off power on a very high traction astro track. Would using the 10deg block with the 25deg kick shims calm down the front end on corner entry and make it less aggressive?
The car is quick around the track but doesn't feel consistent enough for me due to the aggressive nature of the front end. Similarly I'd be interested in whether there are any problems to running the 25/10 setup on the 22?

All help would be great


Chris

[Delves]

Hi

I haven't tried this but from my understanding this increased caster would take away initial turn in but increase your mid to exit steering, which might make it feel more 'snatchy' to drive on exit.

If you are looking to calm the car down, have you tried the 4mm trailing axles? For me this smooths the car out and makes it more consistent to drive.

HTH

[Chris Elworthy]

I was just curious of the effect of the caster before I get the 4mm trailing axles. As I said I have been using the 25/5 deg setup as supposed to the stock 20/10 setup and the car does feel better and more planted on power as it increases rear weight transfer? Is this right?
I have been thinking about the caster separately to the overall caster combined with the kick and was wondering whether using the 25/5 setup over the 20/10 setup actually makes the car more aggressive as the caster itself (not combined with the kick) is smaller or does this not matter as its the overall value that will effect handling?
I certainly feel the 25deg kick angle gives a sense of more rear grip but was wondering if the increased weight transfer this gives you was causing the car to feel aggressive off power on the high grip astro.


Chris

[Gnarly Old Dog]

I've run 25/10 on my 22 and I still use it in slick conditions as a tuning aid.

From what I understand, you're right to be trying to separate the kick from the caster as 20/10 or 25/5 or 30/0 will all behave subtly different.

Increasing the kick angle will exaggerate wheelbase change during compression. Again, from what I understand, increasing kick will also enable greater weight transfer - but it will resist any initial transfer longer.

So in theory, 20 deg kick will produce the least amount of weight transfer but it will initiate the transfer earlier.

It's always worth re-visiting geometry choices and objectively testing them back to back to decide if the original decision is still the best one. Our setups always evolve. As Delves has said, he likes the 4mm trailing and that is certainly an effective mechanism to reduce the front end aggression. Personally, i can't get on with the 4mm myself so I continue with the 2mm.

But its also true to say that since everything affects everything else, simply changing one aspect may not always yield the best result and can give a false impression. You may need to alter other aspects of the set up to yield an overall improvement and failure to do this will otherwise lead you to thinking that the single change was not worthwhile.

HTH

[Chris Elworthy]

So just to clarify, using 20deg kickup in theory would reduce weight transfer rearward compared with the 25deg? And would feel a little more aggressive? I tend to research a certain tuning aspect one at a time so am trying to get my head around weight transfer at the moment.
As for the 4mm trailing spindles, I do intend to get these ASAP but what are the benefits and disadvantages over 2mm, in which conditions should they help or are they something that give a different 'feel' that some drivers would prefer but you would always use them with your setup regardless of track type and grip levels?


Chris

[Gnarly Old Dog]

That's pretty much as I understand it Chris yes.

Here's a couple of useful articles that the Team Losi Racing guys posted on their blog a while back that might help you.

4mm Trailing Spindle explanation - click here

Kick Angle explanation - click here

HTH