Strut Rod Alignment
Thread Starter
POSSE ZR-1 Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,980
Likes: 139
From: Groton CT
Strut Rod Alignment
The strut rods are not perfectly aligned from the differential mount to the Spindle bearing housing on my 64.
I have checked to make sure the camber adjusting bracket (attached to the differential) is properly oriented. It can only mount one way.
It is as if the differential is a little more toward the rear of the car than the trailing arms.
With the camber adjusting bracket mounted to the differential, and the strut rods installed in the bracket, I have to push the strut rods towards the front of the car to get them into the spindle bearing housings.
Car is close to normal ride height during assembly.
Is this normal?
I have checked to make sure the camber adjusting bracket (attached to the differential) is properly oriented. It can only mount one way.
It is as if the differential is a little more toward the rear of the car than the trailing arms.
With the camber adjusting bracket mounted to the differential, and the strut rods installed in the bracket, I have to push the strut rods towards the front of the car to get them into the spindle bearing housings.
Car is close to normal ride height during assembly.
Is this normal?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
The rear spindles describe an arc as the trailing arms move up and down, so the rear spindles are furthest rearward when the trailing arm is perfectly horizontal relative to the pivot bolt in the side view; that position makes it easiest to attach the strut rods.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 288
From: Granbury Texas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,044
Likes: 210
From: Toronto ON
Poly bushings in the rear strut rods are a bad idea? Please tell me why as my mechanic has a full replacement set of Prothane Poly bushings (from Corvette America) in his hands and they will be installed throughout the front and rear by Monday or Tuesday.
The rear strut rods in my '65 convertible are stock, but I do have a TRW composite leaf spring, if that matters. Please turn my plans back, or put me at ease.
The rear strut rods in my '65 convertible are stock, but I do have a TRW composite leaf spring, if that matters. Please turn my plans back, or put me at ease.
Last edited by PaulUptime; Sep 19, 2009 at 08:52 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
The strut rods do not follow a simple up-down motion remaining perpendicular to the inner mounting point, but are subject to fore/aft deflection and torsional forces along the rod as the outer mount located on the trailing arm moves through the arc as mentioned by John. Poly fails miserably at locations where multi dimensional movement and compliance is required of a bushing.
Same geometry applies to trailing arm bushings, so no poly there either!
If you want a really honest opinion, I would NEVER use poly again on a car, one of the dumbest things I've ever done. Well, top ten anyway.
Same geometry applies to trailing arm bushings, so no poly there either!
If you want a really honest opinion, I would NEVER use poly again on a car, one of the dumbest things I've ever done. Well, top ten anyway.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 5
From: Valrico Florida
I think Polyurethane, like rubber, is available in various durometer readings. I would think that polyurethane that closely resembles rubber would be okay. The main complaint I have heard is squeeks. That being said, I put poly body mounts under a 92 truck and wouldn't do that again due to noise transmission and harshness.
Thread Starter
POSSE ZR-1 Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,980
Likes: 139
From: Groton CT
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 288
From: Granbury Texas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
At any rate, the strut rods are the ONLY poly bushings in my car and I am happy with them.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,044
Likes: 210
From: Toronto ON
Thanks for all the responses, hope I'm not guilty of a hijack here.
I am installing a full set of Prothane bushings from Corvette America. Doing everything. All the front, all the back, even the diff carrier bushings are being replaced, and all this just before a 6500 mile road journey from Toronto to New Mexico and Arizona (with lots of off highway touring.)
It will be very interesting to see if choosing poly bushings are one of MY top-10 mistakes, or among the top-10 improvements to my '65. I'm putting in a Borgeson steering box too, which I'm thrilled to have after testing another this summer. So far, much time has been spent but I've been happy with changing out all body mounts, replacing the NOM with a polished Edelbrock crate 350, the Keisler 5 speed, all-new wiring from Lectric Limited, relays to supply direct voltage to my Hella H4 lamps, my hidden power key, storage locker, pager alarm, aluminum dash insert and a great-sounding triple amp, 6 speaker sound system.
I think that's 10!
I am installing a full set of Prothane bushings from Corvette America. Doing everything. All the front, all the back, even the diff carrier bushings are being replaced, and all this just before a 6500 mile road journey from Toronto to New Mexico and Arizona (with lots of off highway touring.)
It will be very interesting to see if choosing poly bushings are one of MY top-10 mistakes, or among the top-10 improvements to my '65. I'm putting in a Borgeson steering box too, which I'm thrilled to have after testing another this summer. So far, much time has been spent but I've been happy with changing out all body mounts, replacing the NOM with a polished Edelbrock crate 350, the Keisler 5 speed, all-new wiring from Lectric Limited, relays to supply direct voltage to my Hella H4 lamps, my hidden power key, storage locker, pager alarm, aluminum dash insert and a great-sounding triple amp, 6 speaker sound system.
I think that's 10!
Last edited by PaulUptime; Sep 19, 2009 at 09:15 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
But I'm glad that someone likes them
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
...and I realized that if you want to compare them statistically by lifespan, you must remember that all 4 rubber bushings were cracked out with half the rubber missing after the first 20 years (a third of which was in storage.
That means the rubber bushings have 400% more failures in 20 years.
That means the rubber bushings have 400% more failures in 20 years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,246
Likes: 21
From: Going too fast over the hill. Iowa
No it's a 4 to 1 ratio. All 4 factory bushings were falling apart - actually rubber around the center air pockets and cracks then rubber around the outer edges of each bushing. It's how I got the car when it was 20 years old. In the 21 years since, I have only had to replace 1 poly bushing, and I have more than doubled the miles on the car.
At this point I quit the thread - since we are very close to hijacking it.
At this point I quit the thread - since we are very close to hijacking it.