Re: "Steer Ahead"

ChrisCoaster wrote:

On Jan 15, 4:12 pm, Ulf <a...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

spamTHIS...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

On Jan 14, 6:24 pm,ChrisCoaster<ckozi...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

Spec listed on the printout from my alignment shop. Measured in
degrees.
The printout also lists all the other usual specs - including Thrust
Angle, and Total Toe(front & rear) that have been around since square
wheels went out of style.

What does "Steer Ahead" signify?

-ChrisCoaster

The Hunter web site mentions it, but does not define it.

It's the relationship between the steering wheel and the wheels, ie. 0
deg's is when the steering wheel is centered the wheels point straight
ahead.




Dave

Ulf

________________
Thanks Ulf!

Actually, to keep my car pointing straight ahead, I need to "force"
the steering wheel to the right about the 1 o'clock position. This is
after two 4-wh alignments from what I consider the best wheel
alignment facility in Fairfield County.

If I let go, or just hold the steeringwheel loosely, so that it
returns(settles as a function of SAI) to high noon, the car will soon
cross the double yellow or drift into the interstate lane to my left.
I find this very dangerous although no one else(the shop, my wife,
etc.) who drove the car seemed to notice it.

BTW 2005 Malibu Epsilon-based, 3.5L V6. All alignment specs are well
within-close to the middle - of the ranges specified by GM, although
one spec(apparently not adjustable) caster - is 4/10th deg less
positive on the left than on the right. L Caster = 2.9deg, R Caster =
3.2deg. The thrust angle is positive +0.01deg(virtually straight),
and I think the steer ahead is positive +0.05(whatever that means
since this is the first time I've ever heard of it.)

The shop is reluctant to check for bent parts or to mess with the toe
because no one in the shop who drive the car feels this pull to the
left.

What else??


Continued "pulling" to one side or the other is usually a sign of a bad tire on a vehicle with a non-zero scrub radius. Depending on whether the scrub radius is positive or negative, the tire with the high rolling resistance can be on the side pulled toward, or the side pulled away from. Most cars have a positive scrub radius so they'll pull toward the tire with the high rolling resistance, but the usual test is to swap the front tires side-to-side and see if the pull disappears or switches sides, then replace the tires as a pair if it does.


.

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