TR6 negative camber - 74-tr6

[benjaminabby04]

I just got my 74-tr6 back from a local british mechanic that I have the greatest amt of trust in. I took my car in to resolve the negative camber in the rear. I had him install new shocks and new springs. I was hoping this would suffice. After the installation, there still is a slight tilt inwards at the top of the tires. He checked the bushes - no play, no apprant frame issue. He states that this is very common in these cars, and not to worry. Is this true? Can I do anything else? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF

thanks Don

 

[Guest]

Don,
In spite of what many will say, visible negative camber in the rear of a TR6 is not "normal". Yes, there are a number of things you can do. One, are the spings he installed the correct ones? All TR6 springs are not the same. For instance, the competition springs you would get currently from TRF are a bit taller than normal, and will compensate for negative camber. The competition springs from Brit Parts North West are slightly shorter and give a more normal alignment (the ones I ended up using). Shocks of course have nothing to do with alignment. You can also put aluminum spacers along with the springs to increase the length to correct the camber. I would suggest that you bring the car to a good alignment shop and have them check out the shims that are in front of the swing arm. There are a zillion combinations of shims that can correct many alignment problems, and they don't have to be done with "Triumph parts". So, assuming that your hubs are in good shape, think about changing out the springs (really easy to do yourself on the rear with simple hand tools). "Triumph Sag" is a sign of really worn spings and is fixable. Don't settle for BS from someone that didn't do the job correctly.

Bill

 

[Webb Sledge]

We just did a rear end job on a GT6 which needed a camber adjustment. On the GT6 there is a bolt that can be tightened or untightened so as to lengthen the rod which connects to the hub in some way (I didn't look very closely). However, I hear that is not the way to works on 6s. I think the best way to solve your problem is to put some slightly different shims in, assuming the shocks are set up correctly.

I somewhat disagree with Dr. Bill on the issue of negative camber. Neg camber is ok if it really is neg camber. Sag and camber are 2 different things. Negative camber also improves handling, though it may wear out your tire a bit faster.

 

[Guest]

Webb,
You are correct in stating that some negative camber is good. The TR6 should be set for about +/- 1 degrees of negative camber, practically invisible to the naked eye. Notice I said "visible" negative camber. Any heavy weight in the back of a TR6 increases it's negative camber. "Triumph Squat" upon hard acceration increase this negative camber. Whenever you see a 6 in a static position with visible wheel tilt, something is wrong: alignment, sagging springs, carrying a lot of dope in the trunk, etc. We are on the same page, just a matter of semantics.

Bill

 

[piman]

Hello all,
I must disagree slightly with Dr. Bill, you should be able to see some negative camber by eye. I don't have the specifications for a TR6, but my similar 2000 sedan (as far as rear suspension goes) the specification is -3 degrees, this is discernible by eye. (Also note not +\-) Definitely, having a + camber will give poor handling, remember that a car rolls when cornering which makes the camber go in a positive direction as it rolls. The negative static setting compensates for that.
Also the shims refered to only adjust the toe in\out of the rear wheels, not camber.

Alec /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif

 

[Guest]

Hey fellas,
Nelson Riedel has a couple of great tech articles on aligning the rear of the TR6 @ buckeyetriumphs.org. If you ask Nelson the time he will tell you how to make a watch.
He is a retired Bell Labs scientist with a wealth of knowledge and fun to talk to.

Bill