Improving handling

[Bob Culver]

With the saloons, and especially the high chassis ones, much of the waywardness stems from rear axle steer effects, but from all accounts cars with flatter springs as yours are hugely improved. There was long recent discussion about laterally more positive located front axle, including referenc to use of very simple rubber packers in the shackles but no details. From various accounts old hard tyres detrimental. Modern cars and other old ones have been transformed by radial tyres. Driving any on cross tyres is a surprise to modern drivers. I do not know about specials but 50 mph in saloons calls for careful choice of surface and contours and distinct alertness. If the steering wheel is held very rigid car will wander more. There must be no hint of stiffness in kingpins etc. Many on this Forum have driven Sevens for decades and unconcsciously adapt to their curious ways.
(the possible dramatic influence of tyres was demonstrated to me many years ago. Compared with my Javelin car Iwas unimpressed by my Supe Minx, both on crossplies. I intended to progressively change to radials. As was not uncommn at the time I fiited these to the rear only. Stability is supposed to be improved. On poor surfaces at 55-60 mph the car needed as much attention as the Seven!. Radials all round were a huge improvement even compared with the Javelin. I dunno the reason. Possibly camber steer front should match the rear. Try swapping the wheels, also old one side, new the other.)