THE SCIENCE OF SETUP: Episode 6 - Roll Center and Camber Gain [VIDEO]

0 Feb. 2, 2017, 10:03 a.m.

By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com

This bi-weekly column by RC Crew Chief founder Bob Wright delves deep into how and why particular adjustments alter the handling of your RC car or truck. You can download a trial version of RC Crew Chief for free and follow along to learn more about how to get the most out of your vehicle by tuning it the right way to suit track conditions:
rccrewchief.wrightdesign.ca/RcccDownload.aspx

CLICK HERE to view Episode One - Setup Physics and Terminology
CLICK HERE to view Episode Two - Suspension Properties
CLICK HERE to view Episode Three - Weight Transfer

CLICK HERE to view Episode Four - Overall Suspension Stiffness
CLICK HERE to view Episode Five: Camber and Camber Gain

CLICK HERE to view Episode Seven - Steering Ackermann
CLICK HERE to view Episode Eight - Shocks, Part One
CLICK HERE to view Episode Nine - Shocks, Part Two

Episode 6 - Relationship between Roll Center and Camber Gain

We know that adjusting suspension link positions affect both Roll Center and Camber Gain. What is important to understand though is how they work together to affect the tire contact patch as the chassis rolls. It goes without saying that tire contact patch is critical to optimizing grip.

If you consider lowering the roll center in isolation there will be an increase in camber change due simply to the increased roll. However what most don’t realize is that lowering the roll center also reduces camber gain since the suspension link geometry has changed. This adds another level of camber change as the chassis rolls.

So let’s have a look at this in more detail: