Sparta

My 2001 S2000 drifts to the right, depending on the crown in the road. It is very subtle, but it didn't exist before I recently had the wheels aligned. The easy answer is to have the shop set it back the way it was. However, the way it was, was apparently out of spec. Now it's within spec range, but drifts to the right when the crown is more than very slight. On a flat road it tracks dead on straight.

What exactly is the variable that affects this part of the car's handling characteristic? I'm told (by the shop that did the alignment) that it's Caster, and that you want slightly higher Caster on the right side to compensate for the crown in the road. Is this correct? Maybe it should be the other way around?? My Front Caster readings are currently Left 5.95, and Right 6.21.


Anybody know this stuff well enough to make comment?

alexf20c

Well, you want more positive caster (and/or more negative camber) on the passenger side, if you want it to track straight on a crowned road.

I'd rather have it track straight on a flat road, and just live with a slight pull on a crowned road.




With your caster measurements the car should pull to the left, but that is only if your toe/camber adjustments are within spec as well.

alexf20c

Have you wiped out recently? Whacked a curb? Gone agricultural? Hit a speed bump a little too fast?