One thing I still don't understand is how the Wolf rebound spring bearings help if the front end is set up (correctly in my view) so that the spring is only kissing the stub axle.

If there is no preload there can't be any friction so how does the bearing help.

Actually I might have just answered that myself now I think about it.

With castor angle, as you turn the wheel one wheel goes up slightly and the other goes down thus creating a small amount of preload on the rebound outer spring.

The more you turn the wheel e.g. parking, the more the castor angle effect would add to the rebound preload and hence the friction and steering would load up.

You wouldn't notice this effect with the very small steering angles in normal fast driving but you certainly would during parking manoeuvres etc. This effect is very visible on the front of a racing kart.

I might have to give this rebound bearing idea some more thought.


Bob

2009 Black Roadster
1999 4/4 2 litre Zetec