The aerodynamics is a simple concept, but it is slightly difficult to understand how it actually works in cars. Several elements are involved, and numerous functions occur simultaneously while the car is in motion. You may come across cars where parts may seem displaced, like doors hinged from the front or inclined wheels, but they carry out their functions effectively.
Speaking of unusual mechanisms, camber adjustments can be difficult to understand. While the wheels of a car angled inside or outside might seem like a malfunction, they have certain functions to perform at those angles.
Let’s dig a little deeper and learn all about camber in cars and the positive and negative camber effects.
What is a Camber?
Camber is the angle of the car wheel and tyre stand on a road. The angle is set relative to the road. The tops of the wheels can either move away or towards the centre of the vehicle when viewed from the back.
The ideal camber in a car balances tyre traction and tyre wear. It varies for different vehicles depending on the following factors:
- How the car is driven
- Road conditions
- Suspension types
- Amount of grip in tyres
- Type of vehicle
Camber changes the contact patch or the area of the tyre in contact with the road, which affects grip. The camber angle is measured when the car is not moving which is called static camber. This is measured in a static position because the camber changes when the car is cornering or turning due to body roll. The amount of change in camber when the car turns is called camber gain and it depends on the suspension type.
Positive vs Negative Camber Effect
Positive or negative camber is determined by the change in wheel position while the vehicle is in motion. The two types of camber effects are listed as follows:
POSITIVE CAMBER EFFECT
Positive camber means that the front wheels of your car are inclined outwards. This creates stability as the vehicle is able to turn to each side conveniently. Positive camber angles can often be seen on agricultural trucks and recreational vehicles.
Positive camber aids in steering the vehicle. Agricultural vehicles often go through rough and uneven surfaces where turning is difficult and this is where positive camber comes in handy. Uneven surfaces can also make the vehicles tilt towards one side mainly due to camber thrust, positive camber also assists in this matter. All these features make positive camber ideal for off-roading and agricultural vehicles.
DISADVANTAGE OF POSITIVE CAMBER
Positive camber can be a problem in the event of an accident. You would need to replace specific components of the wheels with similar ones. The new components must have a similar angle to recreate the positive camber effect.
NEGATIVE CAMBER EFFECT
When the front wheels of your car are inclined outwards, they have negative camber. This angle helps the car to turn around corners as the tyres and wheels are positioned better. In this scenario, the bottom of the wheels makes less contact with the road surface. Hence they have less pressure on them. This prompts the car to turn smoothly.
Formula and other racing car drivers prefer negative camber for their cars. It is also a preferable choice for owners of high-performance cars.
DISADVANTAGES OF NEGATIVE CAMBER
There are a few disadvantages of negative camber as well:
- Straight line acceleration is drastically reduced as angled wheels function harder to reach higher speeds
- Increased braking distance
- Increased suspension wear
- Quick and excessive wear of tyres
- Reduced traction on wet surfaces
HOW MUCH CAMBER DO YOU NEED?
The best way to predict the amount of camber you need is to first know why you need to add it. If you are going for a show-car setup, that’s a different story altogether. For functional camber, you should measure the temperature across your tyres after your usual route on the road or a few laps on the track.
If the outer part of the tyre is warmer than the inner part, it’s evident that you should add more negative camber. But if the inner part of the tyres is warmer than the outer parts, then it’s an indication that you can add positive camber.
The ideal condition is to have an even temperature across both sides. This can be done with a pyrometer or an infrared sensor. However, the pyrometer is more effective as it can read temperatures deep within the tyre treads, while the infrared sensor only reads the tyre’s surface temperatures.
ADJUSTING THE CAMBER
There is no one size fits all approach when it comes to camber adjustment. The adjustment process and tools required depend on the suspension type of your vehicle and if it supports front and rear wheel camber adjustments.
You require the following tools for camber adjustment:
- Grease
- Pyrometer
- Sheet metal
- Camber gauge
- Linoleum blocks
- Levelling laser gauge
- Car-specific adjustment parts
However, camber adjustment is a complicated process, and one miscalculation can cause problems while you are driving. It is advised that you let the professionals handle the camber unless you are an expert. Learning car language can also help to better understand camber meaning, effects and other car terms.
This was all you needed to know about camber and its positive and negative effects. While positive camber is a common sight in heavy vehicles, negative camber can be seen in sports cars. Whereas, camber adjustments are meant for tractors and racing cars and not for regular cars so you should be aware before considering it.
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