33 replies to this topic

[spennyy2k]

ok the ackerman wont be the same as with standard hubs and made my car feel a little twitchy

[mini13]

what steering arms were you running? mini or metro?

[spennyy2k]

iirc i used the mini ones, there was a reason for this but i cant remmeber what it was

[shaddy]

cheers for that i have found the ones i need to get so will pick some up tomorrow, i've got rose jointed bottom arms and adjustable tie bars fitted. i'm also fitting the metro steering arms. i also read somewhere to metro cv joints not mini i didn't think there was any differance.

[spennyy2k]

i thought the CVs were the same too, i know the metro driveshafts are slightly longer

[shaddy]

i thought the CVs were the same too, i know the metro driveshafts are slightly longer

that one do know, well i may find out about the cv's over weekend as i hoping to put the front subframe together.

[mini13]

the CV's are interchangable.

[glyn]

Hi pal do you have an update on this? i have just fitted some going to try and set the geometry up tomorrow. any tips would help thanks

[joe90]

I have metro hubs on my van with adj bottom arms + tie bars. caster 3.2, camber at 1.25
Handles very well apart from bump steers in a staight line on bumpy roads.
I have got mini hubs & was thinking of changing them
As for ackerman check this site out ,
http://www.rctek.com..._principle.html
Very good explination. I have asked around for ackerman angles for a van set up, being a longer wheel base & using the same set up as a standerd mini is not ideal in my eyes. As yet no one has any ideas.
Anyone????

[mini13]

Joe,

Are you using mini steering arms? if so try metro ones.

[joe90]

mini ones
I dont have metro ones to try

[mini13]

Definately get hold of some metro ones, it made a massive difference to mine

[Hunter2]

My 1973 Australian Van is on its way across the Pacific to Canada.  Have driven it some 25,000 miles/40,000 kms. in Australia, including the run from Queensland for 2 weeks in Tasmania a month ago.  It has Metro 8.4s - no issues with suspension/steering and does not have adjustable track rods or lower arms.  

[tiger99]

The problem is NOTHING to do with Ackerman, it is SCRUB RADIUS. Ackerman is relatively tolerant, and the van with longer wheelbase does not need different steering arms. Ackerman can be safely tweaked, within sensible limits, to improve high speed cornering, at the expense of tyre scrub in tight low speed turns. Almost no modern cars have true Ackerman geometry, indeed higher performance cars have little or even negative Ackerman at low steering angles. And, the Mini van handles even better than the saloon....

 

Scrub radius is totally unforgiving, if it is wrong, as it is with Metro hubs, or with wheels with incorrect offset, and will cause anything from twichiness to downright treacherous handling, and possible uncontrollability if a front tyre bursts, according to how wrong it is. And yes, a Mini with CORRECT geometry does remain controllable with a bursts tyre. I have had several, and no drama, unlike an Opel Rekord, which was borderline uncontrollable for a strong person, and would have crashed had a small person, or average woman, been driving.

[mini13]

Indeed, you just need to look at lotus's and ackerman.

 

the reason I say the metro steering arms are better is because they reduce the amount of bump steer, also they give more leverage from the steering wheel so help negate the twitchyness.