DeTomaso Mailing List: May 2000, Message #17

Dear John,

        Ahh, you've discovered the weak spot in Pantera suspension set up,
not enough caster.
        Options: cheapest--live with it
                      cheap-----buy Pantera Performance Center's modified
bushings (or DIY) to gain about 2 1/2 to 3 degrees of
                                       valuable positive caster.  Cheap but
kind of a hassle unless you need new poly bushings or really
                                        crave the extra positive boost.
                       best and most expensive--- buy modified upper a arms
from Pat Mical at Future Auto in Massachusetts that
                                                                  give you 5
positive degrees of caster (same a arms are used on PONE's Pantera
from Hell, the PONE Express)  He charges about $400 for the modified Pantera
a arms.
                        my solution---custom arms that do the same thing as
Pat's.  They were supposed to cost less than his a arms, but that was not
the bottom line when finished, although I do like 5 1/2 degrees of positive
caster and its effect on handling.

                Some is good, more is better,   Chuck Engles




----- Original Message -----
From: John Bentley <jab@cisco.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <detomaso@realbig.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2000 4:29 PM
Subject: alignment (sorta)


> Well, I picked up my car from Custom Alignment today and got the bad
> news.  I have only 1.5 deg caster!!!  No wonder the car doesn't have good
> self centering properties.  This won't do.  Anybody have any advice on how
> I can get back to 3+ degrees?  I've heard about the offset bushings, but
> the alignment guy recommended possibly machining the rear surface of the
> block holding the upper ball joint (thus moving the top of the spindle
> towards the rear of the car) and adding shims to the front surface.  Any
> comments?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> JB
> John Bentley
> Wireless Systems
> Cisco Systems, Inc.
> 408.525.9336