[BDR1979]

I race a ford escort and am trying to get enough camber in the front right to be competitive with the neons who can get 8 degrees. Is it legal for me to heat and bend the nuckle for the shock mount so I can also get the same 8 degrees of camber? Right now I get maybe 3 to 4 degrees.

[Mopar93]

Whether or not you are allowed to make a modification to increase your camber, I would refrain from doing so. It would be easy to upset the steering and/or suspension geometry in a way that would make the car handle worse.

I don't think you need as much camber on your Escort as some of the other cars do. Just put as much as the factory allows which from the sounds of it is about 4 degrees. Then focus on other things such as good tire management and driver skills.

I don't want to discourage you, but the Escort will have a hard time competing with the faster Neons. Instead, focus on making this car a very good B-Main car. It's capable of low 17's and that is just about right. It might even tap into the high 16's if everything is right and it has the right driver behind the wheel. Eliminate as much unnecessary weight as you can and add the weight back to the left and down low. You won't have much trouble with left front tire spin on the Escort, so you can probably aim more at getting a good balance on your weight for handling while in the corner.

-Maurice

[schinde]

BDR179,

What Maurice says, you can trust. Also, please read the below:

"D. SUSPENSION:
a) Must be factory stock and in stock location with no alterations and must match year, make and model. Camber RF maximum 8 degrees, all other corners maximum 2 degrees.
b) No modifications are allowed to any front or rear suspension part including (but not limited to) axle assemblies, k-frames or frame crossmembers, control arms, struts, and spindles. Control arm mounting points, k-frame and crossmember mounting points may not be modified or relocated.

c) Removal of stabilizer bars are allowed. Addition of stabilizer bars are allowed only if original factory equipment. If stabilizer bars are used, stock unaltered mountings and mounting parts must be used.

d) Stock appearing springs front and rear must be used. Extra heavy duty, aftermarket racing or performance springs are not allowed. Left and right must be equal, including number of coils, free length, etc. Only original factory rubber spacers may be used on top or bottom of springs. If spacers are used, left and right must match. No spacers of any kind are allowed between the coils. Spring coils must not be close to binding at a standstill. Vehicle must sit reasonably level, left to right, at a standstill.

e) Stock-type shocks and struts must be used. No aftermarket racing or performance struts or shocks allowed. Modifications to shocks, struts, mounting points, and upper and lower spring mounts are not allowed. Shocks and struts must be allowed to have full free travel up and down without binding. Mounting points must be stock."


So, your answer is, no you can not intentionally bend the knuckle to attain a higher degree of camber.

have a good day,

schinde
_________________
Short track racing is more fun than a human being ought to be allowed to have!

[BDR1979]

Being a rookie this year and not knowing the track dont help. I got down to 18.5 with no camber and just trial and error. I do need to adjust tire pressure also to help out. I noticed KNM air filters on most cars. Isnt that after market? Last time I checked those came out way after most of these cars was made.

[schinde]

BDR1979,

Believe me, every single person that has driven at that track as a rookie driver has felt exactly like you are feeling right now, no matter the division.

Spartan is a very tricky track to drive quickly, and it takes a lot of laps to get the feeling and to find the groove where your car will handle it's best, and even that groove will change with the weather.

Keep at it, take the advice of people like Goingincircles, (John Ward) or Mopar93, (Maurice Randall), two people very, very knowledgeable with that class and they will not steer you wrong. Feel free to look up Mike Stenberg (Maddmike) or myself, Matt Schindewolf (schinde) at the track (we are techs for Spartan this year) on Friday's and either of us will be more than happy to answer any questions you have, or get you the necessary answers.

The season has just started, it won't be long before you get your car and yourself dialed in. And, please do not be afraid to ask any other driver for help either, most racers will be more than willing to help you until you beat them. Then, you are on your own.............

have a good day,

schinde
_________________
Short track racing is more fun than a human being ought to be allowed to have!

[Jim B]

Add to all that, I treated the track today. Not sure what that does for traction with a Pony. Others may have some insight on that.

[BDR1979]

What about placing a bracket on top of the shock tower which will allow me to increase the camber by slotting the bolts over more. Im at the max now because of the way the shocktower is

[lansingsportsrage.com]

BDR - Not one of those Neons with the wheels sticking out at 8 degrees is stock.. don't let Maurice or Schinde tell you so.

If they are sticking to the letter of rule.. which they are quoting..

Must be factory stock and in stock location with no alterations

Then every Neon out there which as drilled out and slotted their knuckles or are using smaller sized bolts or have welded in extenders are illegal.

They are flat lying to you about this.. and since they will not be forcing these guys to fix their cars, you should be getting with someone who can get you out to 10 degrees..

I think you'll find that ZX2 comes with struts which have knuckles which are adjustable the way the Neons are.. otherwise.. heat and bend it like you said or even extend the lower control arm..

[MaddMike]

Just a few comments on this.

First off, we are aware of the issue here and working with the driver to come up with a solution. I can't see a safe way to come up with all 8 degrees though...not even close.

There isn't going to be any bending of anything, especially the knuckle.

I don't think there is anyone here or anywhere that could say that it would give the car an un-fair advantage to allow a minor change though. It's all out in the open and if anyone has any comments or questions about what might be allowed to happen here, please approach me or contact me in any way.

As for the grinding and slotting of struts on Neons or other cars of that type of design- Although it is taken further than norm, this slotting and grinding is a part of doing a typical alignment corrrection on a road driven car. These are approved procedures performed in shops every day, however on a lesser degree... But the bottom line is that most of these cars come from the factory as 'non-adjustable'...and with guidelines for the procedure to adjust them via modification.

In summary of the entire camber discussion...The way I see it, the rule allows 8 degrees on the RF for a reason. I do not know of ANY factory fwd car that could get 8 degrees static camber without a modification...SO...the dilemna is...how to make it fair for as many cars as possible without giving an unfair advantage to any of them?

Mike

[BDR1979]

I am working each week to adjust the camber so its closer to the 8 degrees. Right now I am at a stand still until I can find a way to increase it from below.

[MaddMike]

[Mopar93]