Original Triumph Spitfire Camber Compensator

The original swing-axle independent rear suspension of the Triumph Herald and its derivatives (Vitesse/Sport 6, Spitfire and GT6) had its limitations. Setting of "static camber" was critical. There was a tendency of the rear wheels to tuck under during certain cornering conditions, such as quick transitions. This was due largely to the inherent limitations of a swing-axle suspension as well as the high effective roll center created by a solidly mounted transverse leaf spring atop the differential.

Standard-Triumph USA's Competition Manager "Kas" Kastner developed a beautifully simple solution to the problem: the camber compensator. This single leaf spring, bolted to each axle's vertical link at the radius arm mount and fastened by a single bolt to a mount on the bottom of the differential, was an easy, bolt-on modification that greatly reduced the tendency of the rear wheels to tuck under.

De-arching and stiffening the "main" transverse rear spring was also a common and recommended modification, one used much by Triumph itself on the "Works" Spitfires, by Sir Jack Brabham on his Coventry-Climax-engined Heralds and by many other tuners and owners of Heralds, Spitfires and GT6's.

For the 1971 Spitfire Mk.IV, Triumph redesigned that transverse swing and mount so that all but the main leaf would rock or "swing" rather than being solidly clamped to the top of the differential. This lowered the effective roll center and greatly reduced not only the roll stiffness in the rear but also the amount of camber change during cornering.* This reduced roll stiffness, and the potential of increased oversteer that would result otherwise, was tamed by increasing the diameter of the front anti-sway bar.

The updated rear spring and front sway bar can be bolted onto earlier Spitifres. However, the camber compensator remains a simple and effective means of "taming" the rear suspension of a Herald, Vitesse/Sports 6 or Vitesse 2L, pre-Mk.IV Spitfire or "Mk.1" GT6.


*I have seen figures quoted for the total camber change of a given rear wheel of as much as 21 degrees for the original suspension, and about 7 degrees for the swing-spring suspension.


Click here to see how a friend of mine is reproducing camber compensators, long unavailable new.

Joe Curry's 'new' camber compensator. Click to go to Joe's site.


rear view of camber compensator installed on Spitfire 4 This is a view from the rear of my car, a 1964 Spitfire 4 originally prepared for SCCA GP class back in the latter part of the 1960s. The yellow circle marks the complete camber compensator installation. (Click here to see a picture of the car.)

Mountings

"Top" view of the two different styles of the LHS bracket. Although the "fatter" one also appears shorter, that is mostly an optical illusion due to the angle at which the photograph was taken. But the difference in the size of the hole for the bolt/bushing is no illusion; it is larger on the link to the right of the picture. left-hand side brackets
left-hand side brackets viewed from the Another view of the two styles of brackets, from the opposite side.

This photo shows how the leaf spring is bolted to the center mount on the differential. The rubber bushing is inside (above) the mount, while the spring is below, free to pivot on the mount. showing method of mounting spring to center mount

mounting arrangements -- LHS Left: From the rear of the car, a view of the left hand side link from the spring to the mount, installed "straddling" the existing radius arm bracket on the vertical link.
Right: As with the above shot, but showing the right hand side. mounting arrangements -- RHS

front underside view of installed camber compensator Another view of the installation from below and slightly forward of the differential.

Underside view of an early prototype camber compensator from Kas Kastner. Compare with preceding photo, particularly the shape of the spring leaf, which is relatively flat in Kastner's original prototype. Photo courtesy Kas Kastner; used with permission. early prototype camber compensator by Kas Kastner; click for a larger version.

Other variations on the theme....

camber compensator by Jigsaw Racing in the UK (NLA?)

unknown manufacture camber compensator from the UK

unknown manufacture camber compensator from the UK

Speedwell manufactured camber compensator from the UK

Various units from the UK: (left) a closeup of the center mount of a unit from Jigsaw Triumph Specialists [Note: not currently featured on their web site, so I don't know if it is still available from them]; (center two images) a unit of unknown manufacture, also from the UK; (right) a Speedwell unit, with rather interesting "connexions" (leather straps!) to the radius arms and an equally interesting center mount.

Click on any of the above images to see larger versions.

If you have any information or images of other camber compensators you would like to see added to this page, please contact me!

And, of course, check out Logo of The Vintage Triumph Register; click here to go to the VTR web site. The Vintage Triumph Register.


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Revised 8/21/1999; 9/12/04; 8/305; 3/7/08; 10/21/09; 11/18/11