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Castor Plates - why the bad rep?

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:19 pm
by 351ciofgrunt
Hey guys,

I've never had castor plates or drop boxes and I'm about to put a 4inch lift into my GQ. Just after a straight answer as to why everyone recommends drop boxes and is against castor plates?

Whats so bad about them?

Thanks

Re: Castor Plates - why the bad rep?

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:30 pm
by jessie928
351ciofgrunt wrote:Hey guys,

I've never had castor plates or drop boxes and I'm about to put a 4inch lift into my GQ. Just after a straight answer as to why everyone recommends drop boxes and is against castor plates?

Whats so bad about them?

Thanks
castor plate is a cheap remedy and will limit wheel travel ( flex)

drop boxes correct the caster and retain factory like suspension geometry. They also space your diff forward a touch to help with larger rubber.

if you want the front end to work, and retain good on road manners, use drop boxes

Jes

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:51 pm
by Mayhem Mat
caster plates flog out and may need to be replaced every 50K-100K km depending how and where you drive so they work out more costly in the long run and drop boxes give better wheel travel, handling and ride.

and yes I know there will be those that say but I have had caster plates on mine for 200K and there fine.... I'd go and check them if I was you

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:36 pm
by twodiffs
I put drop boxes in about 9 months ago and I noticed the immediate improvement in ON ROAD handling straight away (prior to that the front end had not been corrected in any way to compensate for the lift).
As for getting hung up on things as some say well it hasn't happened yet.
They have got my vote and this year i'll add a super flex arm to the left front.

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:33 pm
by TheBigBoy
Ill put it in easier terms. When you go higher and use castor plates all your doing is correcting the diff/castor angle. And the angle of where your chassi mounts to the control arm is higher/more angle.

Imagine your pushing a wheel barrow at waiste hieght. And now you try and push it at shoulder height. Castor plates handle like shit on the road and the only people who say they are good, are the people who have never driven with drop box's. Unfortunately I think most people make the mistake and go castor plates because they are cheaper and you think your winning in the hip pocket. But by the time youve replaced bush's and tightened king pins etc.. Na ahh "Why didnt I just fit drop box's"

Drop box's keep everything at the correct/standard angles ;). Love em. Im even lifting my panhard rod and drag link/steering arm to back to standard angles. :)