False myths and important truths about kart hubs and how they affect setups

In order to optimise the set-up of a kart there are absolutely no rules or variables which determine a priori the need to intervene more on the rear hubs rather than on the front ones. It doesn't matter, because it all depends on the specific problem you wish to solve. If the defect to be corrected concerns the rear of the kart, the rear hubs are modified, while if it is the front that causes difficulties, an assessment is made of changes to the front ones. Having said this, however, it is equally true that it is more common to act on the rear hubs because the front end has multiple adjustments through which it is possible to intervene on the set-up of the kart. For example, the focus is more on loading or unloading the caster, and then possibly refining the setup with the front hubs. The hubs therefore take over when that last refinement is missing before achieving the ideal set-up. Firstly, it is normal to adjust the convergence, the camber or, indeed, the caster. The rear end of the kart is also affected by other factors, such as the hardness of the axle, the height of the chassis and the track. However, the hubs are more often the main considerations of the technicians when it is necessary to adjust the set-up at the rear end of the kart. With a CRG Shifter chassis (like the Road Rebel, read "Under Review | Road Rebel 2022, the king of shifter chassis is all new" to find out more, editor's note), for example, the standard axle is mainly used and consequently, if the balance is fair, it is common to modify the hubs rather than the track width to improve it further, without replacing the axle.