Thread: Seventh Gear!
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Old 06-16-2010, 10:51 AM   #24 (permalink)
MechEngVT
Mechanical Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 190

The Truck - '02 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Sport
90 day: 13.32 mpg (US)

The Van 2 - '06 Honda Odyssey EX
90 day: 20.56 mpg (US)

GoKart - '14 Hyundai Elantra GT base 6MT
90 day: 30.24 mpg (US)

Godzilla - '21 Ford F350 XL
90 day: 8.69 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dave View Post
Zero toe-in and camber makes the truck a bit twitchy. It feels like a crosswind in dead calm.
That's why nominal toe is usually slightly toe-in for RWD vehicles. Sure, zero is "in-tolerance" but a slight static toe-in allows for dynamic loads and bushing compliance without losing the on-center feel.

A stiffer steering damper (if you even have one) won't reduce twitch due to inadequate toe-in as that feeling is a result of variations in tire grip from side to side pulling the truck in the direction of the tire, not due to motions within the steering linkage.

Higher caster angles (and stiffer dampers too) increase steering effort. More caster increases the return-to-center moment due to increased trail, but if your "center" is toed-out under driving load your twitchy handling may continue even if slightly diminished because your tires will still point away from center. As your weight shifts to the left the truck will pull left and vice-versa, plus it should follow road crowning pretty strongly.
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