Suspension Road Camber Effect

Green Hornet · 15th February 2008, 19:25

Why do manufacturers not set up cars to compensate for camber on the road? I've had 4 Honda's in a row and there has always been a gentle drift to the left which can get tiring over a long journey. I presume all manufacturers are the same?

civicfan · 15th February 2008, 19:34

Could be a bit hard to do with every country having slightly diffrernt road building norms, would also be a problem if you go from Britain to "continental" Europe etc. I got so used to it that I barely notice it any more. This effect is present, yes, but was by far more noticeable on my previous (mainly French) cars

LNT · 15th February 2008, 21:25

The simple answer is drive in the middle of the road...

Pottsy · 15th February 2008, 21:33

All cars fall down the camber - Newton made sure of that. Imagine you are driving in a straight line but the camber is a mad 45 degrees, you will quickly veer off downhill into the verge.

Some cars translate a small camber into a significant effort at the steering wheel - this is normally cars with precise and quick ratio steering. You can reduce the camber effect but then the steering feels dead...

Dialling it out is not an option - if the camber is reversed or you drive on the continent, then the pull will be twice as bad!

Green Hornet · 15th February 2008, 23:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pottsy

All cars fall down the camber - Newton made sure of that. Imagine you are driving in a straight line but the camber is a mad 45 degrees, you will quickly veer off downhill into the verge.

Some cars translate a small camber into a significant effort at the steering wheel - this is normally cars with precise and quick ratio steering. You can reduce the camber effect but then the steering feels dead...

At least I know its in all cars. Often kinda wondered was it just a Honda thing or was it in my head! If I bought a second hand car I used to convince myself that the car had been crashed.

lippy · 15th February 2008, 23:56

I don't really notice it now but when my other half drove the car last week (he doesn't normally - its MY car....) he thought it was quite bad but then he drives a big van (a big renault traffic) for work everyday and never notices the camber in that.

If you think the camber is bad here just try driving in Florida - the camber can be a lot worse to help with drainage. Found ourselves going 'slightly' off road at times....

civicfan · 16th February 2008, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by LNT

The simple answer is drive in the middle of the road...

But only on wide roads to give everybody a fair chance to escape

random_monkey · 24th February 2008, 23:37

I'd always been told that it was a safety measure, to stop you driving into oncoming traffic if you fall asleep at the wheel or whatever

Pottsy · 25th February 2008, 07:44

Random Monkey, that's a great spin normally given by salesmen, turning an undesirable trait into a safety feature. Of course, if such a feature really was engineered, it would be to send the car straight on to avoid stuff on both sides of the road.

rallakias · 25th February 2008, 08:18

On Greek roads you don't have to ajust camber, you have to install roll-cage, wear helmet and pray!

GHGH · 25th February 2008, 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by random_monkey

I'd always been told that it was a safety measure, to stop you driving into oncoming traffic if you fall asleep at the wheel or whatever

Road handling also tends to get a bit more nervous with wide tyres (wide, short contact patch shape).

PaulHod · 22nd May 2008, 14:16

mine pulls slightly to the right on motorways is this just a british thing?

GHGH · 24th May 2008, 21:32

Could be, but have it checked.

Had mine realigned twice (225/45-17 summer wheels).
Had slightly toe-out and a bit negative camber, happy with that until I noticed inner tyre wear on my summer tyres.
Got the car realigned - a few minutes toe-in - the handling went stiff and "unpleasant".
Realigned once more - neutral (well a couple of minutes toe-out) and now I like the handling. Maybe a bit nervous at low speed due to the wide tyres but a good compromise.
Amazing how small changes needed to feel the difference.

15th February 2008, 19:25	#1 (permalink)
Green Hornet Wheelnut Join Date: 12th January 2008 Location: Waterford, Ireland Posts: 52 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Road Camber Effect Why do manufacturers not set up cars to compensate for camber on the road? I've had 4 Honda's in a row and there has always been a gentle drift to the left which can get tiring over a long journey. I presume all manufacturers are the same?

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This thread is about: Road Camber Effect, it's in Wheels, Tyres, Suspension and Brakes at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Why do manufacturers not set up cars to compensate for camber on the road? I've had 4 Honda's in a row and there has always ...

15th February 2008, 19:34	#2 (permalink)
civicfan Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 13th September 2007 Posts: 754 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Could be a bit hard to do with every country having slightly diffrernt road building norms, would also be a problem if you go from Britain to "continental" Europe etc. I got so used to it that I barely notice it any more. This effect is present, yes, but was by far more noticeable on my previous (mainly French) cars

15th February 2008, 21:25	#3 (permalink)
LNT Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 24th March 2007 Location: England Posts: 217 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The simple answer is drive in the middle of the road...

15th February 2008, 21:33	#4 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,039 Thanks: 13 Thanked 96 Times in 51 Posts	All cars fall down the camber - Newton made sure of that. Imagine you are driving in a straight line but the camber is a mad 45 degrees, you will quickly veer off downhill into the verge. Some cars translate a small camber into a significant effort at the steering wheel - this is normally cars with precise and quick ratio steering. You can reduce the camber effect but then the steering feels dead... Dialling it out is not an option - if the camber is reversed or you drive on the continent, then the pull will be twice as bad!

15th February 2008, 23:56	#6 (permalink)
lippy Bournemouth Belle Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 10th January 2007 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 414 Thanks: 1 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	I don't really notice it now but when my other half drove the car last week (he doesn't normally - its MY car....) he thought it was quite bad but then he drives a big van (a big renault traffic) for work everyday and never notices the camber in that. If you think the camber is bad here just try driving in Florida - the camber can be a lot worse to help with drainage. Found ourselves going 'slightly' off road at times....

24th February 2008, 23:37	#8 (permalink)
random_monkey Valve Cap Join Date: 29th May 2007 Location: Burton, Midlands Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'd always been told that it was a safety measure, to stop you driving into oncoming traffic if you fall asleep at the wheel or whatever

25th February 2008, 07:44	#9 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo master Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 5,039 Thanks: 13 Thanked 96 Times in 51 Posts	Random Monkey, that's a great spin normally given by salesmen, turning an undesirable trait into a safety feature. Of course, if such a feature really was engineered, it would be to send the car straight on to avoid stuff on both sides of the road.

25th February 2008, 08:18	#10 (permalink)
rallakias Souvlaki Drifter ! Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 31st October 2007 Location: Athens, Marousi GREECE Posts: 674 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	On Greek roads you don't have to ajust camber, you have to install roll-cage, wear helmet and pray!

22nd May 2008, 14:16	#12 (permalink)
PaulHod Supporter Valve Cap Join Date: 31st March 2008 Location: Manchester,UK Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	mine pulls slightly to the right on motorways is this just a british thing?

24th May 2008, 21:32	#13 (permalink)
GHGH Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 13th March 2007 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 941 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Could be, but have it checked. Had mine realigned twice (225/45-17 summer wheels). Had slightly toe-out and a bit negative camber, happy with that until I noticed inner tyre wear on my summer tyres. Got the car realigned - a few minutes toe-in - the handling went stiff and "unpleasant". Realigned once more - neutral (well a couple of minutes toe-out) and now I like the handling. Maybe a bit nervous at low speed due to the wide tyres but a good compromise. Amazing how small changes needed to feel the difference.