My 1935 Riley Kestrel has vey heavy steering due I think to excessive castor angle. This can be adjusted by putting angled wedges between the semi-elliptic springs and their mounting pads on top of the beam axle. Does any one know where ready made wedges with angles of 2 to 5 degrees can be bought please?
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Possibly Grandma and eggs are applicable here but have you got the correct tyres on this ancient machine and even more importantly are they at the right pressure??
Happy Re-building Phil I
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Failing that, they would not be too difficult to make from a strip of metal and an angle grinder? Calculate the degree of gradient (2mm in 5 cm, etc) necessary to produce the desired angle.
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>>due I think to excessive castor angle...
What checks have you made to dismiss other potential causes of stiff steering? I would have thought that it would be far more likely that a joint or swivel or drag link end, or track rod end or the steering box itself has become stiff through either lack of lubrication, or, perhaps, by having been adjusted too tightly.
If you jack up the front axle, so the wheels are off the ground, how easy is the steering wheel to turn? Can you turn it with only your little finger, for example?
On the road, how strong is the self centreing action of the steering - if you were to let go of the wheel, does it come back to straight ahead as it should, or with great vigour, or do you need to help it?
Have you checked to find out what the castor angle currently is on your car?
Has the axle ever been off the car? Is it possible that the axle can be put on back to front? (Sometimes, if you take the swivel hubs off a beam axle, it can be difficult to be sure which way round it should go, but there will be a difference because of the angle between the king pin axis and the plane of the spring seat)
Sorry about all of the questions - it's just that I would say that adjusting the castor by using wedges would be very much a last resort for me.
Number_Cruncher
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Hi Thankyou for your suggestions which I will pursue Regards Leon
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Plenty of Riley clubs to choose from who may offer technical advice and some appear to have links to UK parts suppliers or perhaps a visit to the Beaulieu Motor Museum's Spring Autojumble 20th / 21st May will get you what you need. It is fantastic by the way!
www.riley.org.uk/
www.rileymotorclub.org/
www.rileyregister.com/
www.rileyrmclub.org.uk/
www.sre.gb.com/
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Castor wedges are the latest thing being sold to address exactly this issue on MGBs. They are available from Frontline in Bath (01225-852777) or there is now an alternative version from Brown & Gammons in Baldock, Herts (01462-490049). The background for MGBs is apparently that when the steering geometry was designed in the late 1950's / early 1960's crossply tyres were the norm. Now radials are almost universal this has castor inplications, i.e. they have a much stronger self-centre-ing action so the steering is heavier as there is more castor angle than there needs to be. I have not tried them myself (driving my MGB GT V8 is a more enjoyable alternative to a workout at the gym) but all the reports I have read are very positive- the steering is appreciably lightened at all speeds other than parking speeds. On the MGB the wedges are placed between the front 'axle' (essentially a subframe which the suspension is attached to) and the chassis rails. I have no idea whether they would fit your Riley, but if you call Frontline they will e-mail you a softcopy file with pictures and description. Failing that, you could get a machine shop to make up a pair for you. Hope this helps!
Chris.
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I use the Frontline version on my MGBV8 and they do make a real positive difference.
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Why not try it with a makeshift wedge first? Loosen the bolts, wedge a thick washer or coin under the appropriate side, and retighten. You could tell after driving a very short distance, and then set about buying/making proper wedges.
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Hi That`s a very practical approach you suggest which I will follow. Regards, Leon
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Chris Many thanks for the information. Regards Leon
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