The Cal-look Lounge
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
November 25, 2024, 21:11:01 pm

Login with username, password and session length
Thank you for your support!
Search:     Advanced search
351221 Posts in 28657 Topics by 6854 Members
Latest Member: 74meanmachine
* Home This Year's European Top 20 lists All Time European Top 20 lists Search Login Register
+  The Cal-look Lounge
|-+  Cal-look/High Performance
| |-+  Pure racing
| | |-+  Steering Dampers		 « previous next »
Pages: [1] Print
Author Topic: Steering Dampers  (Read 4760 times)
SteveW
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 539



WWW
« on: February 04, 2009, 06:43:41 am »
I came to fit a steering damper last night and I found I can't fit one because of where my fuel fittings are on the framehead, do I need to run a steering damper or can I get away without?

Thanks
Steve
Logged
Steve
1961 Oldspeed Beetle
1970 Stock Beetle.
Diederick/DVK
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 3692


They're never done till they're sold


WWW
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2009, 09:51:26 am »
i'm pretty sure you need one!
Logged
Diederick
 -
Proud member of:
DVK ~ Der Vollgas Kreuzers
Neil Davies
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 3438
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2009, 10:10:53 am »
Your '59 wouldn't have come with one from the factory with one...

I'd not worry too much about it - plenty of drag cars don't have them. Having said that, if I could find a way to fit one, I would. Doesn't really help much, does it! Cheesy
Logged
2007cc, 48IDFs, street car. 14.45@93 on pump fuel, treads, muffler and fanbelt. October 2017!
BeetleBug
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2836


Snabba grabben...
« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2009, 10:15:08 am »
One of my favourite street/race cars (#6 http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=alltimetopracers) do not have a steering damper or sway bar. Works for him.  
Logged
10.41 - 100ci - 1641ccm - 400hp
Martin
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 810


Cash Converter....


WWW
« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2009, 12:18:10 pm »
I have never used one, I find that if i need to 'oposit lock' the car i can do it much faster with out the damper, and so long as your running enough caster it shouldt be a problem

« Last Edit: February 04, 2009, 22:37:30 pm by Martin » Logged
Martin

9 sec street car, its just simply not fast enough

Swing axle to CV convertion is on the website now

www.taylormachine.co.uk

OFF/500
Roman
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 656
« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2009, 22:07:04 pm »
Quote from: BeetleBug on February 04, 2009, 10:15:08 am
One of my favourite street/race cars (#6 http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php?action=alltimetopracers) do not have a steering damper or sway bar. Works for him.  

#5 doesn't have a steering damper or a sway bar either.
Logged
Jonny Grigg
Full Member
***
Posts: 232
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2009, 21:01:08 pm »
Steve,

I agree with Martin. My car has double caster shims and no steering damper. My beam is narrowed 4" so couldn't fit one even if I wanted too....

 Smiley
Logged
No Compromise. O/FF111
Neil Davies
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 3438
« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2009, 23:46:40 pm »
Quote from: Jonny Grigg on February 05, 2009, 21:01:08 pm
Steve,

I agree with Martin. My car has double caster shims and no steering damper. My beam is narrowed 4" so couldn't fit one even if I wanted too....

 Smiley

You can - mine was narrowed 7 1/4" and i had one... Wink Just set half travel at straight ahead.
Logged
2007cc, 48IDFs, street car. 14.45@93 on pump fuel, treads, muffler and fanbelt. October 2017!
Jonny Grigg
Full Member
***
Posts: 232
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2009, 00:00:48 am »
Quote from: Neil Davies on February 05, 2009, 23:46:40 pm
Quote from: Jonny Grigg on February 05, 2009, 21:01:08 pm
Steve,

I agree with Martin. My car has double caster shims and no steering damper. My beam is narrowed 4" so couldn't fit one even if I wanted too....

 Smiley

You can - mine was narrowed 7 1/4" and i had one... Wink Just set half travel at straight ahead.

Ok, busted... I never tried! When the beam was narrowed the mount was cut off, and I thought I didn't need it anyway- extra weight  Wink
Logged
No Compromise. O/FF111
JamieL
Full Member
***
Posts: 109
« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2009, 09:06:19 am »
... or move the mount or source a shorter damper...  Wink
Logged
Mike Lawless
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 386



WWW
« Reply #10 on: February 06, 2009, 16:02:22 pm »
Unneeded extra weight Steve.

I haven't ran one on the blue car for years.
Logged
Winner, 2009 Bakersfield March Meet
2006 PRA Super Gas Champion
2002-2003 DRKC Champion
http://www.lawlessdesigns.com
SteveW
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 539



WWW
« Reply #11 on: February 06, 2009, 16:41:58 pm »
Cool thanks for all your replies guys  Smiley (I meant to reply sooner but any spare time I have is spent in the garage!)

So should I be running 1 or 2 sets of caster shims? At the moment i've got one pair installed as someone said to me you only needed 2 pairs if you run 'nose down'?

Thanks
Steve
Logged
Steve
1961 Oldspeed Beetle
1970 Stock Beetle.
Fastbrit
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 4731


Keep smiling...
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2009, 17:25:53 pm »
Run two pairs – increased caster angle makes a car run straight. Watch the front wheels of most old dragsters – they almost flop over when they turn, they had so much caster. Just MHO, of course... Smiley
Logged
Der Kleiner Panzers VW Club    
12.56sec street-driven Cal Looker in 1995
9.87sec No Mercy race car in 1994
Seems like a lifetime ago...
Mike Lawless
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 386



WWW
« Reply #13 on: February 07, 2009, 01:39:31 am »
Keith is on point there. Two sets, and you will need some 110mm long bolts for the bottom two beam bolts
Logged
Winner, 2009 Bakersfield March Meet
2006 PRA Super Gas Champion
2002-2003 DRKC Champion
http://www.lawlessdesigns.com
tikimadness
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 966
« Reply #14 on: February 07, 2009, 10:19:04 am »
Quote from: Fastbrit on February 06, 2009, 17:25:53 pm
Run two pairs – increased caster angle makes a car run straight. Watch the front wheels of most old dragsters – they almost flop over when they turn, they had so much caster. Just MHO, of course... Smiley

I thought they used to cut a pie shape piece out of the topside of the tunnel to bent it upwards to get more caster.

Michael
Logged
member of team YAC ; the guys who write history.

GASSER GARAGE  a few friends creating history.

NIDGAFWYT
james wotton
Full Member
***
Posts: 144
« Reply #15 on: February 08, 2009, 22:59:39 pm »
Quote from: tikimadness on February 07, 2009, 10:19:04 am
Quote from: Fastbrit on February 06, 2009, 17:25:53 pm
Run two pairs – increased caster angle makes a car run straight. Watch the front wheels of most old dragsters – they almost flop over when they turn, they had so much caster. Just MHO, of course... Smiley

I thought they used to cut a pie shape piece out of the topside of the tunnel to bent it upwards to get more caster.

Michael
this is what i did to my car it feels stable at 130 mph it does have a damper my axle lays back 9 deg in the car steering heavy and slow at slow speed.
Logged
9.91 @ 139.90
outlawflatfour 2010 and 2011 champion.
kev d
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1163
« Reply #16 on: February 08, 2009, 23:40:41 pm »
Hi James, noticed PPC ran a small pic of your car this month btw Cool
Logged
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body , but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy shit ... what a ride"
Pages: [1] Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!