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Author Topic: Steering Dampers  (Read 4758 times)
SteveW
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« 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
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Steve
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Diederick/DVK
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« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2009, 09:51:26 am »
i'm pretty sure you need one!
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Neil Davies
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« 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
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BeetleBug
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« 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.  
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Martin
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« 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

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Roman
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« 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.
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Jonny Grigg
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« 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
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Neil Davies
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« 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.
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Jonny Grigg
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« 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
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JamieL
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« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2009, 09:06:19 am »
... or move the mount or source a shorter damper...  Wink
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Mike Lawless
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« 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.
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SteveW
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« 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
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Steve
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« 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
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Mike Lawless
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« 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
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tikimadness
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« 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
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james wotton
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« 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.
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kev d
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« 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
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