Adding Caster with Gaz Coilovers

[sbridgey]

So i am trying to solve some slight handling issues with my 182 track car, @ZachB has kindly pointed out that i am running very little caster and that i have a couple of options to resolve it.

Top Mounts or Adjustable wishbones.

The only option i can find for adjustable top mounts are the BC racing ones, but they don't work with the Gaz coilovers i have so would require new springs... i have no idea what spring rate i would choose!?

I can't seem to find adjustable wishbones via google though i am sure they must exist?

Has anyone seen gaz compatible adjustable top mounts or can link me to adjustable wishbones (i'm guessing its the bushes i need?)?

Currently, i have PMS top mounts if that makes any difference?

 

[Usr117063]

You might have the older wishbones, if you can have a look at the lower bj bolts you can see which one you have. Blue is the new one but I dont think do as you have 1.5 on one side.

 

[Kev@KAM]

mucking around with wishbones will be more expensive than the £60 it would cost for a pair of metric springs.
The other way - modify your top mount position and move the mounting backwards

 

[sbridgey]

mucking around with wishbones will be more expensive than the £60 it would cost for a pair of metric springs.
The other way - modify your top mount position and move the mounting backwards

What spring rate would you recommend i go for? the car is trailered to the track and i think the coilvers are Gaz Gold - they are silver with an adjustment knob on the front if that helps

 

[sbridgey]

You might have the older wishbones, if you can have a look at the lower bj bolts you can see which one you have. Blue is the new one but I dont think do as you have 1.5 on one side.

Ah yes, i remember fitting cup wishbones to my 172 back in the day! seems like a good mod to do anyway if it's not done already!

 

[Usr117063]

mucking around with wishbones will be more expensive than the £60 it would cost for a pair of metric springs.
The other way - modify your top mount position and move the mounting backwards

I mean just the newer factory wishbones not modifying them, you sell them and someone left a review about them being increased caster

 

[Kev@KAM]

Ah ok. Monday I can get the printout of my car on newer dampers and max caster on the top mounts

 

[Kev@KAM]

What spring rate would you recommend i go for? the car is trailered to the track and i think the coilvers are Gaz Gold - they are silver with an adjustment knob on the front if that helps

I would say match it to whatever the dampers and springs are now. What springs are on the car currently

 

[sbridgey]

Or just say f**k it and buy new BC racing coilovers with adjustable top mounts

 

[Usr117063]

Ah ok. Monday I can get the printout of my car on newer dampers and max caster on the top mounts

What are you running now? Didnt you have some Tractive coilovers?

 

[Kev@KAM]

same Tractive setup but the top mounts are really similar.

 

[sbridgey]

Looks like my 182 has gained some non cup 172 wishbones at some point in its life, how strange!!

At least I can remove the poly bushes and just buy some knackered cup ones then refit my bushes I guess.

 

[Usr117063]

Can you source a manual rack? The wishbones and the rack should solve most of the problems.

 

[sbridgey]

Can you source a manual rack? The wishbones and the rack should solve most of the problems.

The car came with one, the previous owner just didn’t fit it!

Need to work out how to fit it now, the mounting points seem a little different?

 

[Usr117063]

It’s all the same mate

 

[sbridgey]

Bit of an update though a slightly disappointing one.

I replaced the steering rack, tre’s, ball joints, drivers side driveshaft and the wishbones with the advanced caster ones plus the pure motorsport subframe fixing washers/inserts.

I’ve managed to gain a bit of caster on the passenger side but the drivers side isn’t looking great

It’s on track at donnington tomorrow evening so I’ll find out how it feels then but I suspect I’m either going to need to swap the subframe or add adjustable top mounts.

 

[Usr117063]

Get another place to check it? Theres no way you could lose caster if you 100% swapped from the old wishbones to the new.

 

[sbridgey]

Yeah I put the ones from the for sale section on here with power flex black series bushes!

Will have to see how it handles at donnington then consider a alignment check somewhere else before tweaking other bits of the setup

 

[sbridgey]

Well the results are in and the changes made a huge difference!

The car is very happy turning both left and right plus the steering is a lot less vague with the manual rack fitted!

Only negative is I managed to knock the steering out of line somehow, probably need to be less aggressive on the kerbs [emoji56]

Thanks for the help along the way Zach it’s much appreciated.

 

[Usr117063]

Glad it worked out!