Just totally disassemblied my 67 convertible and can see there are definitely issues with the rear alignment on my car. My question is are the alignments shops who do front end work also well versed with rear alignment on these cars? I know the rear suspenion on my car had work done recently with new trailing arms and new trailing arm shims installed. The inside of my drivers side rear tire was rubbing on the leaf spring before I disassembled the car. One day while driving my car I turned into traffic and it sounded as if someone dumped a bunch of knifes and forks in the street. When I stop to see what had happened I found four trailing shims in the roadway. I believe this is not correct but when I re-installed the shims I installed the bolt through the hole in the shims not the fork.

Any help on a shop in Northern NJ to perform this type of work would also be helpful.

Jeff

 

You DO NEED another alignment shop! Check your local Vette club or performance shop, but ask for specific recommendation about who works on C-2 Vettes. Dennis

 

You do want to find someone who knows the Vette rear suspension. It's not super complex. But needs someone who knows the ropes. Don't pay more than $150 for a 4 wheel alignment.

There should be big long cotter pins that retain those shims.

 

This is not associated with badly done alignment, something else is wrong. Shims with forks will not work properly on your car unless you drill the frame to accept a retaining cotter pin.

 

no reason why a good alignment shop cannot set up the rear alignment. Remember this set up went basically from 63 to 82...specs are specs. I certainly would not have one shop do the front and another do the rear...makes no sense

 

Where in North Jersey are you.

 

The slotted shims are the wrong shims for your car. Slotted shims are for C3 cars which have holes for cotter pins that retain the shims. Get your alignment done with the slotted shims then replace them with the same thickness of shims that have two holes. (this is a major PITA). Not sure why your tires would rub on the spring unless your stub axles are totally worn out. How much play do you have in the stub axles? If you have a lot of play then fix that first as it will change the alignment.

Mike

 

unless you are going ncrs, type shims do not matter in my opinion, all work. make sure the shop knows not to take hammer to strut rod and hit to bend to get alignment into specs.....don't laugh, it was common practice back in the day by numerous shops including dealers

 

Actually the shim type does matter unless you are going to drill the holes in the frame for the cotter pin that retains the slotted type shims. The slotted shims can and do rotate upwards and escape as the original poster found out. i'm pretty sure you can't tell by looking whether a shim is slotted or not when it is installed.

Mike

 

Drilling the hole is real easy. A 3/16" "aircraft extension drill", available at virtually any good hardware or home improvement store is all you need. About $10. I just did it. If you search on posts I started recently you'll find a good pic on hole location from JohnZ.

Harry

 

East Rutherford

 

Thanks for your quick response.

 

Jeff, give Gearheart Chevrolet RT 46 Denville NJ they have always been a Corvette friendly dealership and would be able to do a alignment on your car. Good Luck , Wes

 

I will give them a call. Thank you.

 

Harry,
I do not see the rectangular type shims (with two holes only) for sale by any of the corvette part supply companies. The type shown in the assemby manual.

Jeff

 

Long Island Corvette Supply has them - #51-29B.