Camber angle

A wheel with a negative camber angle

Camber angle is the angle made by the wheel of an automobile; specifically, it is the angle between the vertical axis of the wheel and the vertical axis of the vehicle when viewed from the front or rear. It is used in the design of steering and suspension. If the top of the wheel is further out than the bottom (that is, away from the axle), it is called positive camber, if the bottom of the wheel is further out than the top, it is called negative camber.

Camber angle alters the handling qualities of a particular suspension design - in particular, negative camber improves grip when cornering. This is because it presents the tire, which is taking the greatest proportion of the cornering forces, at a more optimal angle to the road, increasing its contact area and transmitting the forces through the vertical plane of the tire, rather than through a shear force across it. On the other hand, for maximum straight-line acceleration, obviously the greatest traction will be attained when the camber angle is zero and the tread is flat on the road. Proper management of camber angle is a major factor in suspension design, and must incorporate not only idealized geometric models, but also real-life behavior of the components; flex, distortion, elasticity, etc. What was once an art has now become much more scientific with the use of computers, which can juggle all the variables mathematically instead of relying on the designer's intuitive feel and experience, and as a result the handling of even low-priced automobiles has improved dramatically in recent years.

In older cars with double wishbone suspensions, camber angle was usually adjustable, but in newer models with McPherson strut suspensions it is normally fixed. While this may reduce maintenance requirements, if the car is lowered by use of shortened springs, this changes the caster angle (as described in McPherson strut) and can lead to increased tire wear and even impaired handling. For this reason, individuals who are serious about modifying their car for better handling will not only lower the body, but also modify the mounting point of the top of the struts to the body to allow some lateral movement for caster adjustment. Aftermarket plates with slots for strut mounts instead of just holes are available for most of the commonly modified models of cars.

Another reason for negative camber is that a rubber tire tends to roll on itself while cornering. If the tire had zero camber, the inside edge of the conact patch would begin to lift off of the ground, therby reducing the contact patch. By applying negative camber, this effect is reduced, therby maximizing the contact patch.

Compare to: Caster angle, toe (automotive)