1LE Caster vs SS

[wakespeak]

So I can't figure out how the FE6 has 5.6 degrees of front camber vs 5.8 on the standard SS. Is this a difference in the radius arm bushings? Its not a lot of difference, but clearly Chevy thought the change meaningful enough.

Anyone know how there is a different spec for the 1LE since caster is not adjustable? Not sure if the different wheel size would translate to caster.

[SSMY1LE]

Try this set up !

[Down Shift]

Originally Posted by wakespeak

So I can't figure out how the FE6 has 5.6 degrees of front camber vs 5.8 on the standard SS. Is this a difference in the radius arm bushings? Its not a lot of difference, but clearly Chevy thought the change meaningful enough.

Anyone know how there is a different spec for the 1LE since caster is not adjustable? Not sure if the different wheel size would translate to caster.

No, wheel diameter will not change caster or camber, only wheel center height would change, which has no effect on alignment.

As the strut travels from full jounce to full rebound, it travels through an arc. The arc is determined by the geometry of the ride and handling links. As you travel further into jounce, both caster and camber change as you travel along the arc.

IIRC, the front springs on the 1LE have a lower check height than the standard SS springs. That will cause the car to sit a little bit lower. In the range we are talking (near static curb height), camber and caster are increasing as the car gets lower. That means that the car is sitting further into jounce, so caster and camber will be greater than if the car was sitting at the standard SS front height. The increased camber can be adjusted out using the strut adjustments (upper strut to knuckle hole is slotted), but the caster cannot be adjusted out (due to the lack of caster adjustment), so the "correct" caster for the 1LE is a little greater than the "correct" caster for a standard SS.

[h018871]

Originally Posted by Down Shift

No, wheel diameter will not change caster or camber, only wheel center height would change, which has no effect on alignment.

As the strut travels from full jounce to full rebound, it travels through an arc. The arc is determined by the geometry of the ride and handling links. As you travel further into jounce, both caster and camber change as you travel along the arc.

IIRC, the front springs on the 1LE have a lower check height than the standard SS springs. That will cause the car to sit a little bit lower. In the range we are talking (near static curb height), camber and caster are increasing as the car gets lower. That means that the car is sitting further into jounce, so caster and camber will be greater than if the car was sitting at the standard SS front height. The increased camber can be adjusted out using the strut adjustments (upper strut to knuckle hole is slotted), but the caster cannot be adjusted out (due to the lack of caster adjustment), so the "correct" caster for the 1LE is a little greater than the "correct" caster for a standard SS.

good explanation, thx

[wakespeak]

Originally Posted by Down Shift

No, wheel diameter will not change caster or camber, only wheel center height would change, which has no effect on alignment.

As the strut travels from full jounce to full rebound, it travels through an arc. The arc is determined by the geometry of the ride and handling links. As you travel further into jounce, both caster and camber change as you travel along the arc.

IIRC, the front springs on the 1LE have a lower check height than the standard SS springs. That will cause the car to sit a little bit lower. In the range we are talking (near static curb height), camber and caster are increasing as the car gets lower. That means that the car is sitting further into jounce, so caster and camber will be greater than if the car was sitting at the standard SS front height. The increased camber can be adjusted out using the strut adjustments (upper strut to knuckle hole is slotted), but the caster cannot be adjusted out (due to the lack of caster adjustment), so the "correct" caster for the 1LE is a little greater than the "correct" caster for a standard SS.

Well I thought the 1LE and SS (2012+) had the same springs, just different shocks. The 1LE/ZL1 spec is 5.6 and the SS spec is 5.8 degrees of caster. 1LE wheels have slightly smaller OD. Must be something like ride height or I was thinking possibly a bushing change that would hold the radius arm tighter through the arc since it is only .2 deg.