adjustable spring plates.are they worth it!

gizzo Casual Dubber

24 posts · joined Sep 2010 · 6 Feb 2011, 2:59 pm

#825077

just wondering if adjustable spring plates are worth considering,so i can get my 1.5deg camber spot on.or do i
keep persisting with turning torsion bars and stuffing around to i acheive it . its type 3 irs on a baja bug and is
used for mild off road & road work.what do you think?

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 6 Feb 2011, 8:35 pm

#825144

IMHO the answer is yes and no.

The yes part...they will make small adjustments to your ride height nice and simple compared to the normal process. Minutes instead of hours. If you can find a set they're also not normally all that expensive... $150 or so seems about the norm.

The no part is that they really won't directly affect camber... just ride height, and the camber you want may not be at the same ride height that you want.

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gizzo Casual Dubber

24 posts · joined Sep 2010 · 6 Feb 2011, 9:59 pm

#825167

thanks for the info,when i lift it up with a jack to reach my 1degree camber, the car is sitting pretty good & i have still got 2 degrees caster at the front. and the ride hieght is good being a baja .sounds like they might be the go. any other comments appreciated

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 8 Feb 2011, 8:11 am

#825352

You could try some castor shims to increase your castor to about 4 degrees, as you adjust the rear height the camber will change, thats the nature of the diagonal link trailing arm rear end.

gizzo Casual Dubber

24 posts · joined Sep 2010 · 8 Feb 2011, 8:54 pm

#825483

thanks for that. i,l set the rear end to 1 degree neg camber. there about 2 deg at the moment ,their leaning
in a fair bit , then il put the protractor on the front end and see what it reads , then shim it to 4 degrees and go for a test run.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 9 Feb 2011, 7:59 am

#825518

vwo60 wrote:You could try some castor shims to increase your castor to about 4 degrees, as you adjust the rear height the camber will change, thats the nature of the diagonal link trailing arm rear end.

Com'on dude, it's the nature of any rear end......

As for adj. spring plates, they are great for adjusting the rear height, BUT (IMO) they are only so so for a baja. Generally if you only have a stock or similar engine and only mild off roading they will be ok, but any real serious off-roading and they may fail/bend.

Yes get the caster right, but it is the vehicle rake that effects the caster, so set the rear ride height first.

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gizzo Casual Dubber

24 posts · joined Sep 2010 · 13 Feb 2011, 12:15 pm

#826152

thanks,the car has a subaru motor in it and will see a few
back tracks. so i,l just keep adjusting them to i get it right,ive got a hoist which makes it easy to do this job.
i,l probaly take 5 ml of the inside spring plate so it doesnt top out on the lower stop.this will give meabout 12m springplate to lower stop clearance