|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
13 May 2006, 19:29 (Ref:1608905) | #1 | |
Rookie
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 18
|
How do I find the centre line of my car?
I am trying to find the accurate centre line of my car in order to make some tracking bars.
The back of the car is pretty easy to sort as I can use the centre of the Hewland box as a center point for the rear end. The front however is a bit more tricky as there are no clear measuring points to use to centre the tracking bars from. I have dropped a plumb line down from the centre of the back of the gearbox, and also another one from a bolt on the underneath of the box which is in the centre. I have then aligned a laser beam using those two reference points under the car to a third plumb line off the front nosebox. However the reference point at the front of the car looks a couple of mm to one side. Am I missing something, or is there a better, more practical way to establish an accurate centre line? Surely if the back is square, then if the front is out, even by 1mm, the car will end up crabbing and handle like a pig? Any ideas folks? |
|
|
15 May 2006, 07:49 (Ref:1610239) | #2 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 871
|
I would measure half way between the front lower inboard wishbone pickups.
|
||
|
17 May 2006, 17:20 (Ref:1612739) | #3 | |
Rookie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 30
|
agree, bottom of inner pick-ups.
make sure you are using the centre of the laser beam.. I prefer to use fishermans braided line, it doesnt stretch like cat-gut and a laser can be fiddly at times if you are doing it on your own... Make sure the floor is pefectly level ( or atleast in left and right) when using plumb bobs otherwise the reference line wont be at the centre of the car. |
|
|
24 May 2006, 17:00 (Ref:1618045) | #4 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,704
|
If you look in some of the 1994 issues of Racecar theres a series of articles on setting up the car that covers this.
People often talk about making sure the patch is flat but rarely elaborate, use a spirit level to ensure all contact areas are even. |
||
__________________
Chase the horizon |
25 May 2006, 11:17 (Ref:1618559) | #5 | |
Rookie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 30
|
A spirit level on its own is not good enough IMHO..
I use one of these that i bought for £25 from B&Q - the tripod and rotating turn table is what you need. http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9iby5y...2520tripod.jpg The laser level on it wasn't accurate enough so I changed it (it cost me £125 for a good one). Used with a 6 foot spirit level with mm increments down the side. The laser level on it now is accurate to .2mm per meter so it gets the floor easily to within +/- 1mm. Last edited by glenn22481; 25 May 2006 at 11:24. |
|
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
roll centre | silente | Racing Technology | 35 | 6 Jan 2006 11:21 |
Vee Centre/Formula Vee BBQ | chezza | Marshals Forum | 10 | 31 Aug 2004 18:55 |
BRSCC NW Centre AGM | Walshy | Club Level Single Seaters | 15 | 1 Apr 2004 21:04 |
F1 Centre of Gravity | hhff | Racing Technology | 3 | 11 Jun 2002 09:01 |