Achieving Better High Speed Steering
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 7,975
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It can. Two reasons manufacturers limit the amount of caster is so that steering is easier, and there is less wear on components. Because the wheels are forced to go straight due to high camber, it takes more effort to turn them, which puts higher stress on the power steering pump and gear box as well as tie rod ends. 9* is pretty high. I bet hands off it rides on rails as long as the road is smooth.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,336
Return to center will be much faster, truck will stay straighter longer, Downside is that it will tend to follow road camber because the wheels will want to stay straight, will take more effort on curves.
It can. Two reasons manufacturers limit the amount of caster is so that steering is easier, and there is less wear on components. Because the wheels are forced to go straight due to high camber, it takes more effort to turn them, which puts higher stress on the power steering pump and gear box as well as tie rod ends. 9* is pretty high. I bet hands off it rides on rails as long as the road is smooth.
It can. Two reasons manufacturers limit the amount of caster is so that steering is easier, and there is less wear on components. Because the wheels are forced to go straight due to high camber, it takes more effort to turn them, which puts higher stress on the power steering pump and gear box as well as tie rod ends. 9* is pretty high. I bet hands off it rides on rails as long as the road is smooth.
i can say that i think the 2-3° some people run can make the steering really light and for the most part there are lots of people running that but I think a few extra degrees is a nice balance in that 4-5° range
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 1,171
From: East TN
My truck drove crappy with just 5° of caster. I don't like constant correction on the Interstate and that is what I have been dealing with.
As far as added stress I'm going to go with it isn't enough to make a difference in the steering components lifespan. None of the joints are being articulated in an extreme manner and the only time the caster really affects the steering force required is when the truck is at speed. When the truck is at speed the amount of wheel movement needed to negotiate even a tight corner is very little. When parking, neighborhood driving, etc. it is impossible to tell how much caster the truck has.
I drove 95 miles at 70 - 80 MPH today. It was so much better than before. I did not notice the truck trying to follow any road imperfections, angles, etc. It tracks straight as an arrow and the tendency to wander is eliminated. I am still going to put the factory shims back in and see where I land at caster number-wise, as well as how it handles. If it ruins the tracking I will go back to how it is now.
As far as added stress I'm going to go with it isn't enough to make a difference in the steering components lifespan. None of the joints are being articulated in an extreme manner and the only time the caster really affects the steering force required is when the truck is at speed. When the truck is at speed the amount of wheel movement needed to negotiate even a tight corner is very little. When parking, neighborhood driving, etc. it is impossible to tell how much caster the truck has.
I drove 95 miles at 70 - 80 MPH today. It was so much better than before. I did not notice the truck trying to follow any road imperfections, angles, etc. It tracks straight as an arrow and the tendency to wander is eliminated. I am still going to put the factory shims back in and see where I land at caster number-wise, as well as how it handles. If it ruins the tracking I will go back to how it is now.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,336
My truck drove crappy with just 5° of caster. I don't like constant correction on the Interstate and that is what I have been dealing with.
As far as added stress I'm going to go with it isn't enough to make a difference in the steering components lifespan. None of the joints are being articulated in an extreme manner and the only time the caster really affects the steering force required is when the truck is at speed. When the truck is at speed the amount of wheel movement needed to negotiate even a tight corner is very little. When parking, neighborhood driving, etc. it is impossible to tell how much caster the truck has.
I drove 95 miles at 70 - 80 MPH today. It was so much better than before. I did not notice the truck trying to follow any road imperfections, angles, etc. It tracks straight as an arrow and the tendency to wander is eliminated. I am still going to put the factory shims back in and see where I land at caster number-wise, as well as how it handles. If it ruins the tracking I will go back to how it is now.
As far as added stress I'm going to go with it isn't enough to make a difference in the steering components lifespan. None of the joints are being articulated in an extreme manner and the only time the caster really affects the steering force required is when the truck is at speed. When the truck is at speed the amount of wheel movement needed to negotiate even a tight corner is very little. When parking, neighborhood driving, etc. it is impossible to tell how much caster the truck has.
I drove 95 miles at 70 - 80 MPH today. It was so much better than before. I did not notice the truck trying to follow any road imperfections, angles, etc. It tracks straight as an arrow and the tendency to wander is eliminated. I am still going to put the factory shims back in and see where I land at caster number-wise, as well as how it handles. If it ruins the tracking I will go back to how it is now.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 1,171
From: East TN
My truck drove crappy with just 5° of caster. I don't like constant correction on the Interstate and that is what I have been dealing with.
As far as added stress I'm going to go with it isn't enough to make a difference in the steering components lifespan. None of the joints are being articulated in an extreme manner and the only time the caster really affects the steering force required is when the truck is at speed. When the truck is at speed the amount of wheel movement needed to negotiate even a tight corner is very little. When parking, neighborhood driving, etc. it is impossible to tell how much caster the truck has.
I drove 95 miles at 70 - 80 MPH today. It was so much better than before. I did not notice the truck trying to follow any road imperfections, angles, etc. It tracks straight as an arrow and the tendency to wander is eliminated. I am still going to put the factory shims back in and see where I land at caster number-wise, as well as how it handles. If it ruins the tracking I will go back to how it is now.
As far as added stress I'm going to go with it isn't enough to make a difference in the steering components lifespan. None of the joints are being articulated in an extreme manner and the only time the caster really affects the steering force required is when the truck is at speed. When the truck is at speed the amount of wheel movement needed to negotiate even a tight corner is very little. When parking, neighborhood driving, etc. it is impossible to tell how much caster the truck has.
I drove 95 miles at 70 - 80 MPH today. It was so much better than before. I did not notice the truck trying to follow any road imperfections, angles, etc. It tracks straight as an arrow and the tendency to wander is eliminated. I am still going to put the factory shims back in and see where I land at caster number-wise, as well as how it handles. If it ruins the tracking I will go back to how it is now.
I installed SPC – 0.4° shims yesterday. Total caster at this point is 6.5° (Originally at 9.2° – the 2.3° shim I had installed + – 0.4° shim). I only drove the truck for 20 miles or so but it still feels nice and stable on the Interstate. Slow-speed driving does require less effort. I'm hoping this ends up being the sweet spot for my truck. Heading out on a several hundred mile trip soon so I should have a really good understanding of the performance when I return.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 1,171
From: East TN
I'm not familiar with a pinion arm drop kit.
I originally installed 2.3° bushings but the truck still wandered too much for my liking. I installed radius arm drop brackets and total caster went to 9.2°. I now have changed caster bushings to reduce the amount of total caster back to 6.5°.
I originally installed 2.3° bushings but the truck still wandered too much for my liking. I installed radius arm drop brackets and total caster went to 9.2°. I now have changed caster bushings to reduce the amount of total caster back to 6.5°.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 1,171
From: East TN
@Summers22 Sorry about the full Inbox. My Club FTE membership had expired. I renewed it and now I'm back in business.
As far as the 2.3° shims go, my neighbor with a F-250 wanted them for his rig so I gave them to him.
Rockauto.com has these MOOG K8979 2.25° bushings for a great price: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...choice=0-0-1-1
As far as the 2.3° shims go, my neighbor with a F-250 wanted them for his rig so I gave them to him.
Rockauto.com has these MOOG K8979 2.25° bushings for a great price: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...choice=0-0-1-1
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