46 replies to this topic

[The Matt]

When it's only used on the road, I'd pretty much stick with 0.5 degrees max. negative camber on 13 x 7s. But obviously it's your choice.

[minilee94]

I'm not arguing at all

But how come so many people fit 1.5

[The Matt]

Because they go for a look, rather than an actual improvement.

[valve bounce]

I'm not arguing at all

But how come so many people fit 1.5

i really don't know why you start topics because on everyone of them ive read you just ignore or argue with everyone, you obviously know much more than all the experts combined on here.

[MRA]

Im going to guess that the OP is still quite young, and unfortunately it is all too easy to assume that the questions they put on a forum are argumentative, if you think in terms of this person is trying to get the knowledge that some of you take for granted then may be all would be well :)

Also...

ride height willl reduce camber too.

That depends on whether you raise or lower the Mini

13" wheels and tyres on todays roads are a good idea, 10" are far too dated to cope with today's conditions, however trying the get the 70's look of loads of camber is not good on 13" they don't need as much, however more importantly it could be dangerous and absolutely rubbish to drive..

1.5 degree is the absolute maximum I'd add to the camber angle.

Even less if you have rose jointed bottom arms and less still if you then fit rose jointed tie bars.

Edited by mra-minis.co.uk, 18 February 2013 - 01:07 AM.

[minilee94]

Valve bounce - well don't read my threads then

And all I was doing is asking what camber to do mainly for looks but I don't want to fit neg camber if its guna mess my tyres up and I head 1.5 gives you equal tyre wears so that's why I'm asking should I do it

[mrducati]

1.5 degree is the absolute maximum I'd add to the camber angle.

Even less if you have rose jointed bottom arms and less still if you then fit rose jointed tie bars.

Interesting point about rose jointed arms. Makes sense since cornering forces won't change camber due to rubber deflection.

[MRA]

Yes it willincrease your tyre wear, this is because tyre to road contact will be reduced whilst driving in a straight line.

[Bungle]

you do know that 1.5 arms don't give you 1.5 degrees of negative camber don't you ?

the 1.5 arms will take 1.5 degrees off what you already have

the only way to know what to buy is measure what your starting with

[MRA]

It is somewhere in this post already Bungle ;) however it doesn't hurt to repeat this information :)

[tiger99]

Why does anyone mess about with camber, just for looks? It is every bit as daft and dangerous as the slammers, whose cars, fortunately for those of us who want to be safe on the road, will not be able to leave their own streets without getting stuck on the first bump. Suspension geometry and ride height were all worked out long ago by Issigonis, who was cleverer than most of us, and degrading it is just plain pointless. There are plenty of safe, harmless and even rather attractive things to do to a Mini, which do not impair its function. Mucking about with critical functionality for the sake of appearance is very 1970s, as it belongs with the idiotic hot-rodders and jacked up rear end (simulated dragster, often only a Dagenham Dustbin) brigade, most of whom have been forced off the road by the law.

[KRM_Simon]

Now an answer from someone who certainly isnt an expert but has had a go. My last mini was fitted with 13x7s and I was always slightly unimpressed by the handling so i did some reading on here and other places and asked questions, I'm not sure what I actually started with but one front wheel always looked to have slightly more positive camber than the other so in the end I went with fully adjustable.
I set the fronts to -0.5 degrees camber and 3 degrees castor and a very small amount of toe-out, it really did transform the handling of the car, probably the best money I spent on it. No-one commented on my negative camber looking awesome because you could hardly tell, but it did look 'right'. Also in the end I decided to go with the rear wheels vertical and pointing straight forward.

[minilee94]

But fitting 1.5 neg arms will give me equal tyre wear won't it

[Skortchio]

The point that guys have been making and seems to be missed, is that -1.5° arms won't give you negative camber par se.
What it will do is reduce your current camber by 1.5°. Without knowing if your tyres are equal or currently + camber, there is no way to say what it will do to your tyres.

If you want correct geometry, then the only real solution is to fit / have fitted an adjustable kit and get the elements set up correctly, as bigs says.

That or measure your current camber and toe, then buy the parts to adjust it accordingly.

Hope that clarifies things a touch.

[minilee94]

Yeah I under stand that it won't give me neg camber and okay il order some adjustables but more expensive but as you said then I can adjust and have it set up peoperly