Has anyone swapped the steering arms from side to side and if so what was the result?
Has anyone swapped the steering arms from side to side and if so what was the result?
Remember the "13"
The result is the tapers for the tie rod ends will be upside down. What result are you looking for?
56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension
Other vehicles:
56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
1962 327/340HP Corvette
1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
2001 Porsche Boxster S
2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax
If you swap left for right and right for left, you have to turn them upside down so the ends point inboard.
You didn't say that before, but that won't work. The Ackerman would be totally screwed up. It would make more sense to just turn each side around so the tie rod connections were pointing outboard and forward but that probably won't work either. That's the way the C4 spindles and steering arms are.I want to change them so that the tie rod end faces to the front.
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Last edited by chevynut; 10-10-2018 at 08:06 PM.
56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension
Other vehicles:
56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
1962 327/340HP Corvette
1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
2001 Porsche Boxster S
2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax
56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension
Other vehicles:
56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
1962 327/340HP Corvette
1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
2001 Porsche Boxster S
2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax
To add a little bit to this, the Ackerman effect makes the inner wheel turn a bit farther than the outer. The wheels actually toe out. This makes the tires roll free in a turn because the outer tire traverses a larger radius.
If you had Ackerman backwards (steering arms pointing out if behind the spindles or pointing in if in front), one or both tires would drag through a turn.
Well, if I was road-racing this deal then the above would be really important. But I am also not sure that changing the angle that minor amount would have that great an affect on the the turning ability. What all of this lacks is no one here has actually tried it - so I will either succeed with what I want to do or it will fail. Looking at the Vette stuff is pretty close to what I am thinking of doing and it might take some aftermarket steering arms to accomplish it rather than using the stock pieces. I will know one way or the other by winter this year.
Remember the "13"
You might do ok circle track or road racing with less Ackerman in some situations, but I don't think backwards Ackerman will work on anything. Just my thought. The tires will squeal.
I wouldn't try it myself because I know it won't work right. The inside tire has to turn farther than the outside tire in a turn or the tires will scrub. It's that simple and that's why Ackerman is used. What you're proposing with reverse Ackerman would cause the outside tire to turn further than the inside tire, which is all wrong. It would "work" on dirt or gravel where the tires could slide but it would be totally screwed up on dry pavement, especially at large turning angles and at low speed like in a parking lot. A pencil and paper should convince you that it won't work, if you don't believe it.
Last edited by chevynut; 10-14-2018 at 04:21 PM.
56 Nomad, Ramjet 502, Viper 6-speed T56, C4 Corvette front and rear suspension
Other vehicles:
56 Chevy 2-door BelAir sedan
56 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
57 Chevy 210 4-door sedan
1962 327/340HP Corvette
1961 Willys CJ3B Jeep
2001 Porsche Boxster S
2003 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Duramax
2019 GMC Sierra Denali Duramax