Camber and Caster
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Patrick L.
Well-known member
I've not seen any camber specs specifically for the 'A',, but,, most straight axle cars of this era had camber settings of .5-1.0º+ .. Caster was generally in the 4-5º+ range with the 'A' set at 5º.. Early toe was set more aggressively than today.. Most were in the 3/16" range as was the Ford.. Once roads conditions started to improve that was found to be too much and most where reduced to the 1/16" range..
mkmskm
Senior Member
Caster is 5 deg and if you look in Les Andrew's book he shows an easy way to calculate it dropping a measurement to the ground from the axle, and then measuring to the ground along the axle angle to form the opposite and adjacent of a triangle. You then take the inverse tangent of that fraction to get the angle (I know Trigonometry is involved - sorry). Camber is 1 13/16" difference between the top and bottom.
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Well-known member
I actually answered you this morning on your other post. Click HERE for the measurements in degrees which is what you will probably need if you are using a front-end alignment machine.
Patrick L.
Well-known member
I went and looked my 'library' .. I'm missing most books of the late 20's and early 30's unfortunately.. The 1935 Motors book say caster should be 6.25º, camber +5/8º, toe 3/32"
The 1925 Dykes manual says, caster 5º, camber 2º, toe1/4"
The 1925 Dykes manual says, caster 5º, camber 2º, toe1/4"
Kurt in NJ
Well-known member
From the alignment specs in the 1936 service bulletins--( all specs in degrees)
caster, max;6-1/2, min;3-1/2 ,max varaition between wheels;1/2
camber,max;2, min;1/4, max variation1/4
camber plus side inclination,max;9, min;8-1/4
toe on turns--15 degree turn 20 degree turn
17 degrees 23-3/4 tolerance-1/2 degree
Toe in is set to 1/10 of total camber (if each wheel has 1 degree of camber ---add together (2), 1/10 of 2 degrees = 12 min total toe
for cars with less than 2-1/2 degrees caster higher toe is usually required.
caster, max;6-1/2, min;3-1/2 ,max varaition between wheels;1/2
camber,max;2, min;1/4, max variation1/4
camber plus side inclination,max;9, min;8-1/4
toe on turns--15 degree turn 20 degree turn
17 degrees 23-3/4 tolerance-1/2 degree
Toe in is set to 1/10 of total camber (if each wheel has 1 degree of camber ---add together (2), 1/10 of 2 degrees = 12 min total toe
for cars with less than 2-1/2 degrees caster higher toe is usually required.
Patrick L.
Well-known member
KPI .. This something is generally not checked unless someone thinks there has been some 'warpage' from a hard hit.. The 1925 Dykes book had no spec.. 1935 Motor manual had it at 8º .. All the specs I listed are about right and shows that not too much has changed over the years..
Kevin in NJ
Well-known member
The alignment is all hard set. You just need to make the axle like factory and have the wish bone set up properly and you will be right.
I wrote up how to check an axle off the car. Here is the link to my website:
Axle straightening
You need to go to a truck place to straighten the axle on the car. They have special tools to bend axles on the car.
I wrote up how to check an axle off the car. Here is the link to my website:
Axle straightening
You need to go to a truck place to straighten the axle on the car. They have special tools to bend axles on the car.