Adjusting Caster using adjustable tension rods

[direktdrive]

Quick question for you guys.

If you make the tension rod longer, does that increase or decrease caster?

I just my car back from alignment and my caster is a 1 deg difference between the left and right. I guess they didn't adjust it because it wasn't way off. Then again is 1 deg a big difference?

[Crazyirish]

Increasing the length of the tension rods will decrease positive caster. Factory specs for the s13 are 6-7 degrees iirc, so if you are within that you are good. Also a lot of shops just set your toe and dont bother with caster/camber settings unless they are seriously out of spec.

[direktdrive]

Thanks Crazyirish.

[Fancy_Footwork]

Also a lot of shops just set your toe and dont bother with caster/camber settings unless they are seriously out of spec.

Usually what gets aligned depends on the factory adjustments. I've spent an hour on toyota seqouia and 4runners with fully adjustable front ends, all of which is factory. That **** is seriously annoying and time consuming.

As far as a difference from side to side caster, having a stagger won't make a huge difference unless its in excess of 1.5 degrees. Nascar teams run a heavy caster stagger so that the car naturally wants to turn in and the driver fatigues less due to the ease turn in. If you're a drifter, increasing negative caster will speed up the steering wheel's return to center, making it easier to toss the wheel from lock to lock.

....I love suspension babble.