Camber Compensator is it needed?

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charlesblankinship
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Camber Compensator is it needed?

#1 Post by charlesblankinship »

My 1964 356SC came for the factory with a camber compensator (balance spring) The outer mounts are starting to disintegrate and are extremely over priced. Does anybody know of another mount for another application that will work or there somebody can rebuild them? How about just removing the camber compensator?
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David Jones
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#2 Post by David Jones »

You could remove it and sell it to someone who wants an original camber compensator, then buy Vic Skirmants version which works better and will not wear out for a long time.
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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#3 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

The great thing about Vic's is that it is a camber regulator, it works to keep any camber change from even occurring wich gives much better results than the factory compensator. Both of my cars happily wear one.
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Jim Nelson
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#4 Post by Jim Nelson »

+1. The combination of Vic's camber regulator and John Wilhoit's front sway bar works pretty well.

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Doug McDonnell
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#5 Post by Doug McDonnell »

Searching the topic reveals combination of Skirmants Regulator bar and Willhoit 17.5 front sway bar is loved by many. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19423&hilit=parking+brake+switch
1965 356C 2000 BMW 740i Sport 1967 Honda CL77 There is never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over.

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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#6 Post by Brian Jones »

I fully agree with both David and Sebastian, my SC coupe had its camber compensator removed along time ago and replaced with Vics. My other two 356's also have Vics camber regulator fitted and I can highly recommend them, I also suggest that you you can fit a slightly stiffer front sway bar (Willhoits) to improve the handling even further.

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Jim Liberty
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#7 Post by Jim Liberty »

I'm with Brian on this. Vic's comp bars are on all my driver cars. I would use the factory set up only on a numbers matching S-90, etc. to keep originality.

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Rusty Ferrell
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#8 Post by Rusty Ferrell »

I'm going to try Vic's Camber Bar some day so no experience. When I bought my 60 coupe not too long ago, it sat with about 5* of negative camber. I managed to get the Kardex for her and she was built with a leveling spring. I had one on the shelf and installed same. camber came to about half a degree negative without doing anything else, but changed the way the car felt under spirited driving in a good way. The coupe was an S not S90 and remained in Germany for some time.
If you are staying on the street, why not just re bush as needed. You can alway tighten her up a bit to the next setting. And it is still a stock piece.
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Dick Weiss
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#9 Post by Dick Weiss »

Remember the 'cheap VW' version w/the leather strap connection to the axles? I have 1-in my archives!

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Martin Benade
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#10 Post by Martin Benade »

I still have one of those from my VW in high school, from back when I knew nothing about handling. Is there any benefit at all from it (for a VW), or just keep it hanging from a nail in the garage?
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#11 Post by Vic Skirmants »

The VW compensator actually did work to some extent to prevent the rear axles from "drooping" when cornering.

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David Jones
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#12 Post by David Jones »

I have what I believe is an EMPI aftermarket "Z" bar setup for a 356 if anyone is interested.
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Neil Bardsley
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#13 Post by Neil Bardsley »

Does anyone have a picture of Vic's rear camber regulator installed? I'm trying to workout if I can fit by myself in my tiny garage (that has a slope).

Do you loose any ground clearance? I need that for the speed bumps here.

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Martin Benade
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#14 Post by Martin Benade »

The tiny garage, as long as it’s big enough to jack up the car you should have no problem with. You’d be working under the car. I don’t know about the ground clearance though.
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David Jones
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Re: Camber Compensator is it needed?

#15 Post by David Jones »

Pretty sure that the lowest point of the camber regulator is not lower than the trans mounting hoop.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
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