...so what exactly is it? I understand camber, strut travel, bound, rebound, toe-in/out, but I don't know what caster measures, and it seems pretty damn important. Help me.
-Etch

 

Camber = vertical angle
Caster = horizontal angle (toe in/toe out)

I believe that is correct. I haven't messed with my alignment yet but I seem to remember this from setting up my R/C car I used to race. I know one is camber and one is caster, not sure if I have them switched or not... But yeah as far as I remember camber refers to the vertical angle of the wheel and caster is toe in or toe out (like if you looked from above at the wheels it's their angle in relation to each other):

Looking from above:



/-------\ or \-------/



/-------\ or \-------/

OOOOOO and camber:


Looking from the front or rear:


/-------\ or \-------/


Gotta love my Illustration!

 

Caster allows some amount of steering to return to center. It might also give steering part of its 'feel'. It's what allows someone to ride a bicycle in a straight line without using the handlebars.

PDE makes a front strut camber and caster adjuster. See reviews section for pic.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

Another measure of chassis tuning related to the front wheels. The front wheels are attached to the suspension at the top and bottom of the wheel assembly. The top attachment is typically set a little farther back than the lower attachment, creating caster. The more caster used, the more the wheel resists turning forces, providing stability. Too much caster makes it very difficult to steer, and causes the tire camber to change significantly as the wheel is turned. Not enough caster results in the front end "wandering," or trying to turn on its own.

http://www.murchisons.net/f1/layout/Glossary.htm

 

So, let me see if I've got this right. Essentially, adjusting caster is adjusting the point of force from the suspension to the wheels. IT is adjusting the point where pressure is applied to the inside of the wheel to initiate/control steering input. Increasing caster is moving that point further to the rear of the wheel, thus increasing stability at the cost of turning ease. This backward movment is measured from the point where the suspension is attached at the lower part of the wheel assembly.

Did I get it? I can see it in my head and it makes sense, but explaining it is another thing.

 

I like the simple alignment explanation given at Art's Automotive in Berkeley.

Sadly, they usually don't work on Subarus, but they say it may change.


--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

WW,

Where is the best place in the Sac Valley that you know of for alignment on our cars?

Lowball

 

I don't know where a good place for Subaru alignments is. BAN SUVS mentioned that there is a place where Kostamojen takes his car so I'll ask him. I used to take my pre-subie cars to G12 downtown but don't know how they are on subies.

I need to find a place soon myself - had new tires (no, not S-03s) installed recently.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

Kostamojen told me that Clark Frame & Wheel Alignment is the place to go. He said they do lots of subies. Call first to verify address and appointment, if necessary - I got the info from a web listing.

Clark Frame & Wheel Alignments
209 Kenroy Ln Ste 10
Roseville, CA 95678-4252
Phone: (916) 783-4292

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush