do I still need to cant?

[srcracing]

:-/Ive noticed in many posts on canting the rear axles -3or2 degrees to prevent wheel hubs from rubbing the body,I understand you want the wheel to rub against the head of the axle,(someone called it,when rubbingthe body,THE KISS OF DEATH,,)well,,after i use my pro body tool and install my axles (with no canting) the wheels seem to do what their suppost to do,,when i roll the car on my 6ft piece of smooth wood the wheels stay off the body and rob against the axle head. so do i still need to cant for any other reason?

[Gravitycraftsman]

Can't help you on that one as I have never tried to "Cant" rear wheels. I am curious though if other experts think this is a good idea.

Regards,

GC

[ProQuest]

Hey SRC:

I have an opinion on this one. If your wheels are migrating toward the axle heads, then you are getting one of the benefits of canting already. However, by canting wide wheels you not only reduce friction by keeping the wheels off the chassis, you reduce friction by reducing the wheel to track contact area significantly. When canting is done properly the advantage appears to be great. However, it is not easy to do properly, and if not done properly, you are far better off with axle holes drilled in a neutral position. I've not mastered canting yet, and the results of my attempts have been very disappointing. As a consequence I don't cant my rear wheels. ALL of my cars are built with neutral rear axles. This year is my rear to try to learn how to properly cant the rear wheels of my cars.

So, the bottom line is that canting can be a great technique, but it takes a lot of practice to master. Work on it, experiment with it and sooner or later you will master it. But be prepared for some disappointment along the path.

Some other builders may have advice that will help accelerate you along the Cant learning curve. If so, please teach me what you learn.

Just my thoughts -- definitely not the final word.

ProQuest/Steve H.

[sporty]

I have tried canting of the front and rear also. I have found it hard and tedious, I and a friend actually added in a 2 degree camber into the wheel on a lathe. which gave about the same effect with running.

On slow roll, the camber is not noticed, the faster the car goes, the wheels then begin to angle and track surface reduction happens.

Now not likely legal in most races. I did find that it was a faster method. but still so many factors come into play.

That I was also still able to beat the cart with the camber built into the wheels.

Now you might be wanting more of a angle then what we tried.

I still have yet to find anything better than hours of setting up that perfect alignment.

Sporty

[JustaDad]

As ProQuest mentioned, canting can hurt you if not done properly or, if I might add, your car is hit by another car.

Case in point, my son was racing at the District finals with the back axles canted. His first two races were very fast, but on the second race he was hit hard by another car. This shifted the cant on the rear axle making the a cant turn into caster (toe-out) Not being able to touch the car since the wheel did not come off, his times for the next two races were way off.

Although, I won the open class at the districts ;D I should have learned from my son's car. I entered my car into the Council races and did good until I was hit and my front axle turned the wrong way. Finally my axle came off and I was able to fix my car but the damage was done. I took second place . Not bad but as I looked at the time for the winning cars in the scout classes. Every winning car was faster than mine . I still have a lot to learn.

Canting can be a big help, but it can also take you out of the race.

[JustaDad]

I should have stated that I used the bent axle method of canting. I think all future efforts will be done with a canted axle hole.