Need help adjusting front wheel camber

[jmandawg]

HI all,

Another Coleman kt196 problems, the camber on one side is slightly off causing the kart to pull hard to the right. Anyone know how i could adjust the camber? You can see how the bolt kinda droops down a little.

Thanks.

 

[TT540]

It would help to see it under load. Stack some wood under that lower control arm about as high as the tire would make the spindle sit. Then, sit in it while someone takes. Picture. If you can, put a level on the spindle. Lift the level until the bubble is in the middle that gap will show the amount of error.

That Upper control arm mounting point on the frame. Is the washer just oversized and sticking out to one side, or do you have a cammed bolt that would allow you to bring the upper control arm "toward the frame".

Or, you can always bend it back. Lol

 

[jmandawg]

Yeah, i think i'm about to the point where i just want to bend it, but i only have a propane torch, i don't think it will get it hot enough.

I've taken the shock out and no matter how high or low i raise the axel it stays at the same slanted level. I've compared it to the one on the driver side and all the angles seems the same, so not sure what is going on.

 

[mckutzy]

Maybe you could check out the top bolt hole on the loop where the spindle connects to... (Upper Control arm I think it's called...)I could see if the bolt hole was elongated the axle itself would tilt down... Equally speaking maybe if it isn't, you could make it slotted a bit, find the correct angle, tack in a washer for the new position...

 

[TT540]

^ What he said would be my approach to fixing it. Because of the natural "inward" force of that spindles upper portion where it connects to the upper control arm, it will push against the new cleared away area that you drill/grind off of the control arm. So that new gap left on the outside (the hole as it currently is) will not see a force unless you drive into a rock/curb hard. My only concern would be the new angle of that bolt/but might not be flush with the control arms surface. But I do not think it will be terrible. I would go this way before banging on and bending that spindle.

 

[mckutzy]

Another thing, maybe "joe-welder" overyonder in china.... Made the upper control arm a tad bit bigger, thus pushing out farther, like wise the boss mounts might be off aswell causing the same... This of course is assuming that the whole front end is square and correct... And hasn't been abruptly stopped at speed via a tree and/or rock...

Get out the tape and a few squares, measure all major points for symmetry...

Could we get a few other pics of the ride aswell???

 

[jmandawg]

Here's some more pics. She did hit some landscaping bricks a few months ago and that bent up the old steering knuckle on the passenger side. I've basically replaces the whole steering system on the passenger side. I don't see anywhere the frame is bent though. But no matter what i do the kart veers hard to the right(passenger side)

 

[mckutzy]

I've been looking at this for a bit now.. Something about the boss for R- upper control arm, it seems bent or tweaked a bit.
I reckon that is the problem...

 

[ezcome-ezgo]

Have you removed both spindles and compared them side by side?

Here's a mashup of the first 2 pictures for comparison:

 

[mckutzy]

If it didnt move from a hit... Then it was like that from the beginning

 

[TT540]

And your front tires are on the wrong sides. but maybe you do that because of the wear.

 

[jmandawg]

Thanks everyone I took McKutzy's advice and elongated the hole in the upper control arm, found the sweet spot, and tack welded a washer there. It still goes slightly to the right (at this point i have no clue why), but nothing like before.

I also tried straightened out the upper control arms some, just in case that was the problem. While i was there i drilled some new holes in the control arms and moved them back around an inch to get a better turning radius, now i can actually do circles in the street without going up into the neighbors yard.

i will try to post some pics tomorrow. Thanks again!

 

[jmandawg]

Here's the pics, I tack welded (more like mess welded) the washer onto the upper arm support. You can see the how I drilled new holes on the control arms moving the steering rods back around an inch. This has greatly reduced the turning radius, and a huge improvement to what it was like out of the box.

Also if i try to toe the wheels in even slightly, it drives crazy, like just bumping the steering wheel a little will shoot you across the road sideways. It only drives normal when the wheels are towed out slightly like in the pic.

for some reason it still veers to the right a little... Is there anything else i can try? I don't know what else could be causing the pull. But it's definitely less pulling now that the camber is fixed.

 

[jmandawg]

I think i may have found the problem, this ball joint is a little smashed. it seems like it sticks a little more than the other side.