Camber

29th September 2022

Article by
Motorsport & Performance

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Camber is an important aspect in vehicle suspension systems that determines the handling and performance of a vehicle. It refers to the angle between the wheel plane and the vertical plane. If the top of the wheel leans outwards, it’s considered positive camber, while if it leans inward, it’s referred to as negative camber.

There are three types of camber angle: negative, zero or neutral, and positive. Negative camber is utilized in applications where sharp turns are common, such as racing. This type of camber angle improves handling by reducing the grip of the inside contact patch of the wheel during lateral load transfer. On the other hand, zero or neutral camber is used in applications where sharp turns are not a regular occurrence, such as road vehicles and off-roading. This type of camber angle allows for full tire contact with the ground, which is useful for stability and improved acceleration. Positive camber is the least used of the three and is only seen in a few forms of motorsport or in the event of suspension damage. It’s mainly used in heavy-load applications such as trucks where the tires are set to positive camber when empty and settle to a neutral position when loaded.

The camber angle also affects camber thrust and slip angle. Camber thrust is influenced by various factors, including tire type, construction, shape, pressure, load, and camber and slip angles. For radial tires, camber stiffness may be small due to the lateral stiffness of the belt and the flexibility of the radial cord sidewall. However, for wide street and racing radial tires, camber forces tend to decrease at camber angles above 5 degrees. In terms of comparison, the lateral force produced by slip angle is greater than that produced by camber angle.

In conclusion, camber angle plays a crucial role in determining the handling and performance of a vehicle. It’s important to understand the different types of camber angle and their effects on camber thrust and slip angle in order to make informed decisions when adjusting suspension systems.

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