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Re: Swing spring / camber compensator

To: bill.birney@bigpond.com, spitlist@gte.net
Subject: Re: Swing spring / camber compensator
From: "Nolan Penney" <npenney@mde.state.md.us>
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 06:27:58 -0400


>>> Joe Curry <spitlist@gte.net> 06/12 8:01 PM >>>

>Drooping is a passive thing the active part of wheel tuck is the motion of the 
>loaded wheel being forced up into 
>the bodywork.  

If the wheels simply went up into the fender wells (bottom out, maximum 
negative camber) there would be no need for a camber compensator as this is 
what is desired.  But it doesn't work that way always, instead, the wheel 
extends out from the wheel well (tops out, maximum positive camber), tucking 
under the car, lifting the rear end up, spinning out of control, sliding on the 
sidewall of the tire and the hubcap.

>But the rear anti sway bar also performs somewhat the same function.  The 
>loaded wheel forces the sway bar up >as well and carries the unloaded wheel 
>with it.  The down side of this action is the unloaded wheel doesn't have >an 
>opportunity to drop and thus loses adhesion.  So while it doesn't work as well 
>as a camber compensator, it >does perform somewhat the same function.

Good lord Joe, you're not even close!  The camber compensator works *EXACTLY 
OPOSITE* of a sway bar!  The unloaded wheel is forced DOWN with the camber 
compensator, and is forced UP with a sway bar!  Totally OPPOSITE actions!

>But to do their job they need to be preloaded with a fairly significant amount 
>of force.  That makes their 
>installation somewhat precarious.

A z-bar needs no more preloading to work then a camber compensator does.  The 
two are doing the same job.




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