WHY YOU NEED THE ZTB SYSTEM

"This is one of the best investments we have made in Karting. We had to use the Zero Toe Bar in anger for the first time at the State Titles. In five minutes we had the front end back in shape. Since we have been using it, our front-end tyre wear has reduced dramatically. Thanks for your help."     Brian Bowker, N.S.W., Australia

Most karts, in most conditions, gain maximum tyre life & fastest lap times with 'on-track' (driver seated) zero toe & camber settings. Any 'on-track' variation from zero toe or camber can easily contribute to rapid tyre wear, overheating, loss of grip, poor handling & reduced acceleration.
 
Only a tiny waste of engine power & loss of grip will lose large amounts of track time when racing. For example: on a track with a 'hot lap' time of 60 seconds, a 1% deficit is equal to losing 6 tenths of a second . . . per lap! An expensive engine blueprint might gain you 6 tenths. So why waste it with something as avoidable as poor alignment?
 
Toe & camber are among the most important settings on your kart, but are also the settings most likely to significantly and unpredictably change when the driver's weight is placed in the seat. Up to 3 mm's of toe change is quite possible (equal to 8 or 10 mm's with full size car tyres). Camber typically changes a lot more than toe.

Tyres used in most other forms of motor-sport are mostly of radial construction, while kart tyres use cross-ply (bias-belted) construction. A radial tyre has a much more flexible sidewall and a more rigid tread than a cross-ply and because of this can work well at larger camber settings. The stiffer sidewall and more flexible tread of a cross-ply tyre dictates that it has to be kept close to vertical to work correctly.
 
Mis-aligned camber incorrectly loads the front tyres & decreases the size of the tyre contact patches. As a result, this smaller tyre 'footprint' can overheat & strongly contribute to premature tyre wear, grip loss, inconsistent handling & uncompetitive lap times. You could get a similar effect if you fitted undersized (narrow) tyres.

Inaccurate toe settings cause friction at the front tyres, wasting a percentage of your potential acceleration, top speed and contributing to poor cornering.
 
As the kart will always be raced with the driver seated in it, it is highly desirable to align it with the driver on board.

QUICK, EASY & ACCURATE

ALIGNMENT WITH DRIVER SEATED ('dynamic' or 'on track' alignment)

Alignment with the driver in position is done with the kart on the ground & the stub axles resting on the (optional) 'Dynamic Alignment Stands'. An assistant then performs the initial 'dynamic' alignment (to any required setting). The driver then gets out, & the alignment is re-checked to measure the amount of toe & camber change due to removal of the driver's weight.

These alignment changes are easily measured by inserting a feeler gauge into any gaps between the ZTB alignment faces & the stub axles. These measurements should be noted & can later be used to quickly re-create the 'on-track' toe & camber settings without needing an assistant.
 
Any alignment settings other than zero are also simple to measure & set using a feeler gauge as just described. A feeler gauge with a thickness of 0·1mm inserted into any gaps between the stub-axles & the alignment faces of the ZTB at both stub axles is equal to 1mm of overall toe or camber, 0·2mm equals 2mm's, 0·3mm equals 3mm's etc.
 
You quickly become familiar with the appearance of the gaps at your required settings. Most ZTB users have no difficulty judging whether or not the settings have changed just from looking at the gaps. Note: Unlike setting a car's ignition points, measuring alignment settings with a feeler gauge is both quick & easy.

CHECKING FOR CHASSIS TWIST

Because the ZTB System sets both stub axles at equal angles to the rear axle and kart centreline for both toe and camber, it's easy to accurately check the chassis for twist (one front wheel higher than the other).

To check the heights of each stub axle (spindle) relative to the rear axle, set the toe and camber equally, stand or kneel several meters or yards from the front of the kart and visually line up one stub axle with the rear axle, then compare this with the other stub axle by flicking your eyes back and forth from one side to the other.
 
Using this simple technique in conjunction with the ZTB System it's quite easy to see a difference in stub axle heights as small as one millimeter (between 1/32" and 1/16"). Detailed instructions for doing this are included in the comprehensive instruction manual which comes with every ZTB System.

QUALITY & VALUE FOR MONEY

Apart from the rubber retaining straps, every working component of the ZTB is made from heavy-duty steel & aluminium with quality powder-coated & anodised finishes. The ZTB will not wear out, is built to withstand use at the racetrack & with reasonable care will give you a lifetime of reliable and accurate service.

The ZTB is a simple, precision engineered and competitively priced alignment system offering advantages & versatility unavailable even with other products significantly more complex & expensive.
 
The ZTB System will quickly pay for itself from reduced tyre wear & from the satisfaction of improved race performance.
 
Detailed instructions & diagrams are included with The ZTB System, and it can also be purchased in a handcrafted wooden carrying case. If purchasing the complete System (ZTB, Dynamic Alignment Stands & Wooden Carrying Case), a set of metric feeler gauges is included.

PRICING INFORMATION FOR EXPORT OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA

You can contact J.L. Racing Products by e-mail, phone or in writing at:
 

MORE QUESTIONS?

DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME!

J.L. Racing Products is currently seeking international distributors for this exceptional and unique new concept. If your business has an interest in expanding its existing range of karting products with a new product with an already proven sales record and lots of potential, please contact us A.S.A.P.