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Todd Kageals
Joined: 15 Jun 2012
Posts: 271
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 Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 9:01 pm Post subject: Rear Tire Wear Normal? |
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Guys,
As I am making final prep. for my next track day (1 week from today), I have noticed that the rear tires on my older kart have worn inside edges. Is this normal? If not, any idea what might cause it? The kart handled terribly but I have since discovered that I had the front and rear way too narrow. My corner weights are also off in the front. They equalize with a very slight turn of the steering wheel. I believe the front alignment might be "off". Any instructions on how to align it????
Thanks,
Toddd |
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joseph hollinger
Joined: 12 Sep 2002
Posts: 9532
Location: United States, California, san francisco
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:37 pm Post subject: Re: Rear Tire Wear Normal? |
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| Todd Kageals wrote: | Guys,
As I am making final prep. for my next track day (1 week from today), I have noticed that the rear tires on my older kart have worn inside edges. Is this normal? If not, any idea what might cause it? The kart handled terribly but I have since discovered that I had the front and rear way too narrow. My corner weights are also off in the front. They equalize with a very slight turn of the steering wheel. I believe the front alignment might be "off". Any instructions on how to align it????
Thanks,
Toddd |
It is normal to see that sort of wear pattern on the rears.
As for the fronts: karts are designed so that the inside front tire lifts that corner of the chassis when you turn. So if you are turning left, the left front tire will lift the left front of the kart when you turn the steering wheel to the left. If you are turning right, the right front tire lifts the right front corner when you turn the steering wheel in that direction. So if you have an weight imbalance in the front, you can almost always "correct" it by turning the steering wheel. But it uncorrects itself as soon as you release the wheel.
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A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. -- Winston Churchill. |
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Matt Dixon
Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 587
Location: United States, California, Norcal
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Rear Tire Wear Normal? |
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| Todd Kageals wrote: | | I have noticed that the rear tires on my older kart have worn inside edges. Is this normal? |
Wheel spin. More rear grip...
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Matt Dixon
94y Energy Corse/Swedetech |
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Todd Kageals
Joined: 15 Jun 2012
Posts: 271
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| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 5:07 am Post subject: Re: Rear Tire Wear Normal? |
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It is normal to see that sort of wear pattern on the rears.
As for the fronts: karts are designed so that the inside front tire lifts that corner of the chassis when you turn. So if you are turning left, the left front tire will lift the left front of the kart when you turn the steering wheel to the left. If you are turning right, the right front tire lifts the right front corner when you turn the steering wheel in that direction. So if you have an weight imbalance in the front, you can almost always "correct" it by turning the steering wheel. But it uncorrects itself as soon as you release the wheel.[/quote]
Well....that seems WAY of for the weight imbalance (my GP is a perfect 42/42). How would I go about correcting it. I still think the alignment is off because it LOOKS off and one of the tie rod has a slight bend in it. Any way to measure without spending $300 on a laser kit? |
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Brian Degulis
Joined: 13 Aug 2012
Posts: 454
Location: United States, Florida,
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| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 5:47 am Post subject: |
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You can measure toe in/out using a straight edge clamped to the rear wheel pointing forward past the front. Center the steering wheel and lock it in place then measure from the straight edge to the front wheel. 1-2 MM of toe out is standard.
You can measure camber by leveling the chassis and using a level on the front wheels. Again the steering wheel must be locked center and toe in/out should be 0. It's best to do this with the kart on the ground and the driver plus gear in the kart.
Both methods aren't perfect but much better than just eye balling it.
Brian |
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Matt Dixon
Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 587
Location: United States, California, Norcal
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| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 8:46 am Post subject: Re: Rear Tire Wear Normal? |
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| Todd Kageals wrote: | | Any way to measure without spending $300 on a laser kit? |
A silver Sharpie and a tape measure.
Spin your front tire and draw a center line on tire, do the same with other.
Lock steering wheel straight, measure from inside of the rear rim to inside of front rim on both sides. Adjust tie rods.
Measure distance from silver line on front of tire and back of tire, adjust toe.
Measure distance from silver line on top of tire and on bottom of tire, adjust Camber.
That will get you close for $0.99
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Matt Dixon
94y Energy Corse/Swedetech |
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Todd Kageals
Joined: 15 Jun 2012
Posts: 271
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| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 6:09 pm Post subject: Re: Rear Tire Wear Normal? |
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| Matt Dixon wrote: | | Todd Kageals wrote: | | Any way to measure without spending $300 on a laser kit? |
A silver Sharpie and a tape measure.
Spin your front tire and draw a center line on tire, do the same with other.
Lock steering wheel straight, measure from inside of the rear rim to inside of front rim on both sides. Adjust tie rods.
Measure distance from silver line on front of tire and back of tire, adjust toe.
Measure distance from silver line on top of tire and on bottom of tire, adjust Camber.
That will get you close for $0.99 |
Both of these are great suggestions but I have a couple of questions.....If I used the lines, how do I measure the rear of the front tire as the tape would have to pass through the fuel tank/steering linkage etc.? How do I lock the steering in place. I don't believe the older kart I am working on has a locking collar.
Thanks for the help.
Todd |
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