 | Home > Technical > Wheel alignment - caster angle out |
 
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| Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 831  
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Camber & caster are not adjustable on a Defender, you can only change the toe in/out via adjustment.
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4th Mar 2025 7:36pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17620 
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Non-standard swivel balls are available to adjust the castor angle, and any change to spring length will also make marginal differences.
It is hard to explain the OP's situation unless it is down to manufacturing tolerances (it's a Land-Rover!) or the axle is bent or the swivels excessively worn. |
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4th Mar 2025 7:54pm |
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| Diesel Power Member Since: 04 Mar 2025 Location: Midlands Posts: 6 
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Thanks for the replies
I'd rather not change the swivels as I've just replaced them. So if it's not the swivels as they're new, it could either be a twist in the axle? What about radius arm bushes? I read that this can cause such issues? The plan is to redo the radius arm bushes and retest to see where I'm at. It's weird that the front driver side camber got worse after the adjustment! Cheers Mike |
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5th Mar 2025 9:49am |
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| Chicken Drumstick Member Since: 17 Aug 2020 Location: Near MK Posts: 831
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Does the vehicle drive ok?
If so, maybe not worry about it. As they reported a camber change after adjusting toe, you might have to question the reliability of their measuring. |
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5th Mar 2025 10:06am |
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| Diesel Power Member Since: 04 Mar 2025 Location: Midlands Posts: 6
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Yeah it drives fine. I was just worried about tyre wear given that I've just put BF ATs on all round!
I'm planning to get the bushes done in the radius arms and panhard rod then I'll get it rechecked to see whether it has sorted the issue. Out of interest, would an adjustable panhard rod be helpful here to have another adjustment to play with for the geometry? I wanted to put on a Terrafirma one anyway to match the suspension hardware I have on already. Cheers Mike |
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5th Mar 2025 6:40pm |
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1450 
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would an adjustable panhard rod be helpful here to have another adjustment to play with for the geometry?
An adjustable panhard rod is only of use to centralise the axle in relation to the chassis, if the suspension height has been changed. It is of no use on a vehicle with standard ride height. To explain it. As the suspension springs are lengthened (lifted), the panhard rod swings down. The fixed end of the rod on the chassis doesn't move, so the axle end of the panhard rod moves in an arc towards the steering side. This drags the whole axle to that side, away from the centre of the vehicle. Adjusting the length of the panhard rod will put the axle position back to the vehicle centre, but then the steering drag link also needs to be adjusted so the steering doesn't pull away from the 'straight ahead' position. In an ideal world the Panhard Rod and steering drag link would be exactly the same length, parallel to each other and horizontal at ride height. This is to minimise the steering reaction when the suspension moves up and down. I'd suggest with only a 25mm change in suspension height you wouldn't need an adjustable Panhard Rod. More than 50mm change then it would be something to consider. |
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5th Mar 2025 9:11pm |
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| Diesel Power Member Since: 04 Mar 2025 Location: Midlands Posts: 6
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Thanks for the advice.
I'll stick with the standard panhard in that case. I'm only 15mm lower at the front and rear. I'm booked in for all bushes to be replaced and I'll report back after checking the alignment, perhaps at a different tyre shop. Cheers Mike |
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7th Mar 2025 12:51pm |
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| TexasRover Member Since: 24 Nov 2022 Location: Paris Posts: 1167  
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I think rather than spend a bunch of money on getting the geometry absolutely perfect I would personally tuck that money away for some other future use.
There is limited adjustment and the suspension is from 'a different time'. You will never get it to ride like a modern car which should be seen as a 'charming feature' and part of the allure. All needs to be tight and in good condition of course for safety reasons. I never liked the front wheel 'stance' of my 03 Td5. I started measuring to find the axle was severely bend causing the wheels to lean in. I had a replacement axle so did an overhaul on that and swapped it in (1-2 hours work on a defender). Now everything is dead straight. Did I notice any difference in driving: no not really. The work on a defender is never finished and there are more rewarding area's to spend your money on. |
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7th Mar 2025 1:46pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17620
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^ This. Do you really have a problem, or are you just assuming something is wrong. Most likely this is just down to Land-Rover's legendary build tolerances. Unless there is a serious problem with handling and drivability, or you find that the front tyres are wearing in an even more unusual way than is normal, why worry? |
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7th Mar 2025 2:36pm |
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