free castor mod?

spazegun2213 · 03-30-2006, 02:24 PM

So i was talking with clint from TiC today and he told me about this "free castor mod." That you reverse the mount for the control arm or something? and this will give you another .5 degree castor for "free."

I'm sure clint or someone can explain more, but i was just wondering if anyone had done this? I searched nasioc, here and googled it and found nothing (maybe I'm inept at searching). This sounds really cool and i would love to try it.

**Turninconcepts.com** · 03-30-2006, 02:53 PM

I'm borrowing this image from someone. I hope he doesn't mind my using it.

Take a look at where the bushing is on the upper point of the aluminum control arm. That's the rear mount for the CA. Notice how the stud that goes into the bushing is offset. You unbolt that stud, spin it 180* and bolt it back on.

What it does is move the rear of the control arm out a little bit. This makes the ball joint point (where it attaches to the knuckle) rotate forward thus giving you a little more caster.

-Clint

twgg · 03-30-2006, 03:22 PM

This obviously only works with STI aluminum control arms ?

**Turninconcepts.com** · 03-30-2006, 03:39 PM

or the SPT alum control arms. it will not work with the steel arms as the stud is integrated into the arm.

SpYdEr2723 · 03-30-2006, 04:45 PM

have you actually done this, and how hard was it to do?

Snax · 03-30-2006, 05:31 PM

Nice trick. Looks fairly simple and easy to me.

**Turninconcepts.com** · 03-30-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpYdEr2723

have you actually done this, and how hard was it to do?

It is simple to do, and Tony has researched it quite extensively. Believe me when I say I am fully confident of this one - heck it was brought to our attention by bigskywrx.

I have not done it yet as we found out about it literally the week after I got my car balanced and aligned for the start of the season, and the place I have do the alignment is not cheap.

Now, on that note we do have some new suspension parts we will be testing very soon hopefully (these are not a TiC goodie so I can't even begin to put a time frame on it). These new parts will require a new alignment. I will be doing this mod at that time to kill two birds with one alignment.

spazegun2213 · 03-30-2006, 06:30 PM

clint, how would you go about doing this? i have never really installed any suspension stuff.

senortighto · 03-30-2006, 07:35 PM

looks like you unbolt the two bolts there, turn the black part with the two holes for the bolts 180 degrees, and bolt it all back up.

**Turninconcepts.com** · 03-30-2006, 07:40 PM

What the senor ^^^ said.

spazegun2213 · 03-30-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by senortighto

looks like you unbolt the two bolts there, turn the black part with the two holes for the bolts 180 degrees, and bolt it all back up.

can you do it with the suspension under load? I mean once you unbolt them under load, wouldnt that break something?

wm07 · 03-30-2006, 11:27 PM

You don't want to do it with suspension under load.

Anyways, I have play with this free caster mod last year, but my front wheels got pushed toward the the back of the front bumper, rubbing the inside wheel wells. I was running 245-45-17 tires for autox. I put them back to stock configuration shortly after. It may not be an issue if you run some smaller tires, I am not sure. Oh, it may not be legal for autox too. :P

stinkfinger · 10-18-2006, 12:36 PM

Ressurecting this old thread...

Just wondering if there is any more feedback on this mod. How much does this change caster (degrees)? Driving impressions?

thrlskr · 10-18-2006, 12:45 PM

Isn't that bolt offset for a reason? If not why didn't subaru do this?

thrlskr · 11-07-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thrlskr

Isn't that bolt offset for a reason? If not why didn't subaru do this?

I thought I'd bump this back up for further discussion. Other than an increase in bump steer what are some other possible drawbacks of this?

03-30-2006, 02:24 PM	#1
spazegun2213 Poor Speed Racer Car: 96 328 Fav Mod: Race Car! Location: Northern VA Posts: 8,400 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	free castor mod? So i was talking with clint from TiC today and he told me about this "free castor mod." That you reverse the mount for the control arm or something? and this will give you another .5 degree castor for "free." I'm sure clint or someone can explain more, but i was just wondering if anyone had done this? I searched nasioc, here and googled it and found nothing (maybe I'm inept at searching). This sounds really cool and i would love to try it. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-30-2006, 02:53 PM	#2
Turninconcepts.com Authorized Vendor Posts: 4,820 Join Date: Jul 2003 Trader Rating: (50)	I'm borrowing this image from someone. I hope he doesn't mind my using it. Take a look at where the bushing is on the upper point of the aluminum control arm. That's the rear mount for the CA. Notice how the stud that goes into the bushing is offset. You unbolt that stud, spin it 180* and bolt it back on. What it does is move the rear of the control arm out a little bit. This makes the ball joint point (where it attaches to the knuckle) rotate forward thus giving you a little more caster. -Clint

03-30-2006, 03:22 PM	#3
twgg Lurker Car: 04 Forester STI Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	This obviously only works with STI aluminum control arms ?

03-30-2006, 03:39 PM	#4
Turninconcepts.com Authorized Vendor Posts: 4,820 Join Date: Jul 2003 Trader Rating: (50)	or the SPT alum control arms. it will not work with the steel arms as the stud is integrated into the arm.

03-30-2006, 04:45 PM	#5
SpYdEr2723 STI Driver Car: 04 WRX STi WRB/Gold Fav Mod: Race Seats Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 243 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (2)	have you actually done this, and how hard was it to do?

03-30-2006, 05:31 PM	#6
Snax Spec C Club Fav Mod: Stealth mode Location: Eugene, Oregon Posts: 1,154 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (2)	Nice trick. Looks fairly simple and easy to me.

03-30-2006, 06:30 PM	#8
spazegun2213 Poor Speed Racer Car: 96 328 Fav Mod: Race Car! Location: Northern VA Posts: 8,400 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	clint, how would you go about doing this? i have never really installed any suspension stuff.

03-30-2006, 07:35 PM	#9
senortighto Amateur STI Driver Car: 06 wrb STI Fav Mod: my matching shoes Location: teh oc Posts: 42 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	looks like you unbolt the two bolts there, turn the black part with the two holes for the bolts 180 degrees, and bolt it all back up.

03-30-2006, 07:40 PM	#10
Turninconcepts.com Authorized Vendor Posts: 4,820 Join Date: Jul 2003 Trader Rating: (50)	What the senor ^^^ said.

03-30-2006, 11:27 PM	#12
wm07 Amateur STI Driver Posts: 26 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	You don't want to do it with suspension under load. Anyways, I have play with this free caster mod last year, but my front wheels got pushed toward the the back of the front bumper, rubbing the inside wheel wells. I was running 245-45-17 tires for autox. I put them back to stock configuration shortly after. It may not be an issue if you run some smaller tires, I am not sure. Oh, it may not be legal for autox too. :P

10-18-2006, 12:36 PM	#13
stinkfinger Junior STI Driver Car: CJ-7, MR2, STI, WRX Fav Mod: The Aufderheide Location: Bend, OR Posts: 70 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Ressurecting this old thread... Just wondering if there is any more feedback on this mod. How much does this change caster (degrees)? Driving impressions?

10-18-2006, 12:45 PM	#14
thrlskr The Next Petter Solberg Car: 05 WRX STi Fav Mod: Seat Time Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 916 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (4)	Isn't that bolt offset for a reason? If not why didn't subaru do this?