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Apr 14, 2020 21:27:07 GMT
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Guys, I'd like to get a Camber Gauge. I've seen several types over the years and there seems to be many more different one's available now. I've ordered a very basic bubble gauge just to try it out but I'm guessing these are not very accurate? So, ideally which one should I buy even if I only use it a couple of times a year? This is the one I've ordered: s-l400 by Johnny Slow, on Flickr
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Last Edit: Apr 14, 2020 22:38:04 GMT by Woofwoof
Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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thomfr
Part of things
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Trying to assemble the Duett again..
Posts: 659
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Apr 14, 2020 21:30:22 GMT
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I bought one a few years ago but did not come to use it so I bookmarked this one. Thom
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73' Alfa Giulia Super 64' Volvo Duett 65' Volvo Duett 67' Volvo Amazon 123GT 09' Ford Focus 1.8 20' VW ID4
71' Benelli Motorella 65' Cyrus Speciaal
The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys
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I've borrowed one like this a few times: www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p/dunlop-camber-gauge-done-cg4The only issue I have on the modern is that the tyres have rim protectors on them, which means the gauge doesn't sit quite right unless you have spacers top and bottom, which in turn have to be the same thickness. For my uses, it's close enough. I'd think with the one in the first post, the issue would be potential inaccuracy due to the base not being very wide. If you use it on a road wheel, you'd need to figure out which part of the wheel is properly parallel to the hub. Or you could bond it to a suitable straight piece of alloy or steel, and use that to bridge the top and bottom of the wheelrim. Using it on the disc (as in the illustration) suggests the car would be jacked up, which surely will alter spirit level readings? Oh, and find a bit of your shed / drive floor that is properly level, otherwise the readings will be off.
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I have similar/same one which I used on my '88 Scirocco 16V. It is accurate enough to give a reasonable baseline but I always took it to a Hunter equipped place to get full alignment done afterwards. It was close to where it should be but not spot on, too many variables. I attached it at the centre of the wheel on the grease cap which was flattened out, mainly because I'm ham fisted with a BFH.
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Needs a bigger hammer mate.......
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Double post
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2020 9:30:20 GMT by keithyboy
Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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I have one of those. It came without instructions. A lot of stuff on the net suggested using it with the wheels off and the suspension on full droop. This worked for me because there was an issue on my car with damage on one side so I used the other as reference and got them to match. I jacked the car up on 2 jacks, took the wheels off, and levelled it with a spirit level on the slam panel first.
There is nowhere flat to put it with the wheels on on my car so if I was using it to set the camber on both sides I'd use a piece of angle with spacers to connect to the rim edge I think. The base is magnetic and quite strong.
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2020 9:29:25 GMT by keithyboy
Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
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Apr 15, 2020 10:00:54 GMT
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I have exactly the one shown in the first post. I used it when I changed the top strut mounts. Before disassembling, I set it to zero. I took the struts out, changed the top mounts and when reassembling, I adjusted the camber until the gauge showed zero again. Worked fine. I paid around 20€ for it, professional adjusting would be around 60€...
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Apr 15, 2020 11:25:09 GMT
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I have one of those. Bizarrely it’s marked in a count of half degrees. So 3 is actually 1.5 degrees... once you know it’s fine
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Apr 15, 2020 17:26:02 GMT
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I have exactly the one shown in the first post. Oh, that's bigger than I expected it to be. I was picturing something about the size of an AA battery.
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Apr 15, 2020 20:50:00 GMT
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I I'd think with the one in the first post, the issue would be potential inaccuracy due to the base not being very wide. If you use it on a road wheel, you'd need to figure out which part of the wheel is properly parallel to the hub. Or you could bond it to a suitable straight piece of alloy or steel, and use that to bridge the top and bottom of the wheelrim. Using it on the disc (as in the illustration) suggests the car would be jacked up, which surely will alter spirit level readings? Oh, and find a bit of your shed / drive floor that is properly level, otherwise the readings will be off. Fair point. I've decided to order some flat bar and the idea is to fit a pin/bolt on each end that sits in the order edge of the wheel inside the the lip. Then mount the above cheapo bubble camber gauge in the centre of the bar. I'll see how it goes. Cheers.
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2020 22:02:59 GMT by Woofwoof
Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Apr 15, 2020 20:57:59 GMT
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I have similar/same one which I used on my '88 Scirocco 16V. It is accurate enough to give a reasonable baseline but I always took it to a Hunter equipped place to get full alignment done afterwards. It was close to where it should be but not spot on, too many variables. I attached it at the centre of the wheel on the grease cap which was flattened out, mainly because I'm ham fisted with a BFH. I'm in total agreement that a proper four wheel alignment is the way to go (had it done last month), it takes into account caster & toe too which are all relevant. I just want a camber gauge to play around with the negative camber and check the camber also while adjusting ride height. If I get the camber o.k.'ish but with more neg than factory spec I'll return the car for the full four wheel alignment while keeping the camber that already been dialed in. If you think I'm dicking around and unsure about what I'm exactly doing, you'd be spot on.... P.s. Hammers are cool!
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2020 21:07:48 GMT by Woofwoof
Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Apr 15, 2020 21:02:50 GMT
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I have one of those. It came without instructions. A lot of stuff on the net suggested using it with the wheels off and the suspension on full droop. This worked for me because there was an issue on my car with damage on one side so I used the other as reference and got them to match. I jacked the car up on 2 jacks, took the wheels off, and levelled it with a spirit level on the slam panel first. There is nowhere flat to put it with the wheels on on my car so if I was using it to set the camber on both sides I'd use a piece of angle with spacers to connect to the rim edge I think. The base is magnetic and quite strong. Spirit level - tick. Piece of angle, on order - tick. Cheers.
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Apr 30, 2020 21:26:32 GMT
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Apr 30, 2020 22:07:28 GMT
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I had a look at those too, seem to be better solution than reading from a spirit level. Do you know if there's any downsides to using the digital box?
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Apr 30, 2020 22:12:38 GMT
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The steel arrived but the camber gauge didn't and the seller won't reply to my email. I used 3 x 40 x 500 mm bar, a couple of bolts fitted with silicone caps. 500 mm is long enough for up to 18'' wheels. If I need to check the camber on the daily cars (15 & 16'') it's only a matter of slotting one of the end bolt holes and the centre bolt.
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Last Edit: Apr 30, 2020 22:19:56 GMT by Woofwoof
Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Apr 30, 2020 22:29:25 GMT
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I've had one of these for a few years now - www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p/ada-castor-camber-gauge-adaccg - take your time with it and it works well. The first few times I used it I measured twice - once nose into the garage, once nose out and took the average as I wasn't quite sure how level the floor was. Can confidently measure to 0.25 deg - which unless your name is Senna is probably sufficient.
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I had a look at those too, seem to be better solution than reading from a spirit level. Do you know if there's any downsides to using the digital box? AS long as you can zero the digital box to a true vertical and mounted on your frame , being very careful I don't see why there should be a problem, I have used mine for similar purposes , on a jig without any problems, as long as your gauge is set at zero to a true vertical then it should be fine.
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Eventually, the camber gauge arrived. Nothing much I can say that's positive, it's alright provided you've got something that is truly vertical to zero it before use, that's easier said than done. Also finding an area in the garage that's totally level for all four wheels at the same time won't happen but I'm not far off. Thanks one & all for the input. A couple of photos of the contraption. I'll probably have a look at a digital protractor that llwynogmon mentioned.
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Last Edit: May 6, 2020 20:18:53 GMT by Woofwoof
Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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