. . Alignment
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
. . Alignment
. . Ok, , All sorts of new steering parts, rebuilt steering gear box, go in for alignment and they say they can't get any more adjustment on the caster. . Right side is a -0.1 and the left side is -1.9 . .
. . Asked if it had ever hit something. . The time I've had it, No. . The other 55 years, who knows. .
. . They measured the frame but could not see anything. . Though maybe it might be the cross member itself. .
. . Any thoughts ? ?
. . Asked if it had ever hit something. . The time I've had it, No. . The other 55 years, who knows. .
. . They measured the frame but could not see anything. . Though maybe it might be the cross member itself. .
. . Any thoughts ? ?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,090
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I got this info some time back here on the forum.
Front End Alignment for 1957 Corvette
Caster………………2° + - ½°
Camber……………. ½° + - ½°
King Pin Inclination….3 ½° to 4 ½°
Toe-in (Per Wheel)…..1/16” -0
Toe out on Turns
Inner Wheel……20° + - 2°
Outer Wheel 24° + - 2°
Normal toe in spec (with bias ply tires) was 1/8" to 1/4" total toe.
With radials I use 1/8" total toe, (1/16" per wheel).
You will be "lucky" to obtain 2 deg. caster (get as much as you can), and keep the tires at as close as possible to zero camber.
King pin inclination is measured doing the caster cut (side to side steering measurement) on the turn plates. You do the caster cut, center the steering wheel, and you'll get the caster, camber, and toe, plus king pin inclination (Steering Axis Inclination is the term used since the '60's). It is not adjustable, and variance is indicative of a bent part, usually a steering arm.
Front End Alignment for 1957 Corvette
Caster………………2° + - ½°
Camber……………. ½° + - ½°
King Pin Inclination….3 ½° to 4 ½°
Toe-in (Per Wheel)…..1/16” -0
Toe out on Turns
Inner Wheel……20° + - 2°
Outer Wheel 24° + - 2°
Normal toe in spec (with bias ply tires) was 1/8" to 1/4" total toe.
With radials I use 1/8" total toe, (1/16" per wheel).
You will be "lucky" to obtain 2 deg. caster (get as much as you can), and keep the tires at as close as possible to zero camber.
King pin inclination is measured doing the caster cut (side to side steering measurement) on the turn plates. You do the caster cut, center the steering wheel, and you'll get the caster, camber, and toe, plus king pin inclination (Steering Axis Inclination is the term used since the '60's). It is not adjustable, and variance is indicative of a bent part, usually a steering arm.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
. . Specs
. . Specs I have. . Hoping someone had a correction for this. . Was thinking maybe shim the control arm ? ? Or maybe the whole cross member itself ? ?
. . Be easy enough to try, if I had an alignment rack to check each adjustment. . . . Be a bit expensive running back to the alignment shop to see where it's at each time. .
. . Be easy enough to try, if I had an alignment rack to check each adjustment. . . . Be a bit expensive running back to the alignment shop to see where it's at each time. .
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 134
From: merritt island fl
C1 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2016 C1 of the Year Finalist
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
Yes, that's how to set the caster. Still, I couldn't get very much on my '56. Added the tapered shims to the crossmember- that helped some, but it's tough to get very much like radials need.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
hardware
. . Yes, very familiar but the adjustments are maxed out. . I took it to Merrill Frame and Axle in Lakewood. . They worked on it for three hours trying to get anything more. .
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,090
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The reason I posted the specs is because of this statement that you may have missed.
"You will be "lucky" to obtain 2 deg. caster (get as much as you can), and keep the tires at as close as possible to zero camber."
I think it is just the nature of the beast but if you come up with a "fix" I would like to hear about as I too run radials.
"You will be "lucky" to obtain 2 deg. caster (get as much as you can), and keep the tires at as close as possible to zero camber."
I think it is just the nature of the beast but if you come up with a "fix" I would like to hear about as I too run radials.
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
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 134
From: merritt island fl
C1 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2016 C1 of the Year Finalist
2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
Shim both sides and then even up the caster so both sides are the same.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 751
From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
shim
. . Ok, now I am confused. . I was assuming you were putting shims of some sort just on each side of the rear of the cross member so as to move the bottom of the wheel forward. .
. . Is the shim pictured tapered or are you just moving the cross member down evenly ? ?
. . Is the shim pictured tapered or are you just moving the cross member down evenly ? ?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 751
From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
I suspect there is next to no one working in any of these 'alignment' shops that even know much about these ancient front ends....and i'm sure even less know that there are special tools to bend the spindle supports if there is not enough adjustment for camber...
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,696
Likes: 3,090
From: Cottonwood AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
And you better print out and take the specs with you. Remember these car are old enough to be the grandpa of some of the guys doing your alignment today.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
. . Ok, Getting a lot better understanding about these things. . Saw the GM part number and checked a bit more and found these shims are a standard part of the cross member mount. . Looked closer at mine and each side has one. .
. . Been talking with a Corvette shop in Denver (Corvette Connection) and he said neither he nor his C1 customers had any idea what I was talking about until I forwarded the Corvette Central page to him. .
. . So how many shims did you have to stack to eventually be able to get the positive 2 caster ? ?
. . Been talking with a Corvette shop in Denver (Corvette Connection) and he said neither he nor his C1 customers had any idea what I was talking about until I forwarded the Corvette Central page to him. .
. . So how many shims did you have to stack to eventually be able to get the positive 2 caster ? ?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 10,342
Likes: 667
From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
. . Ok, Getting a lot better understanding about these things. . Saw the GM part number and checked a bit more and found these shims are a standard part of the cross member mount. . Looked closer at mine and each side has one. .
. . Been talking with a Corvette shop in Denver (Corvette Connection) and he said neither he nor his C1 customers had any idea what I was talking about until I forwarded the Corvette Central page to him. .
. . So how many shims did you have to stack to eventually be able to get the positive 2 caster ? ?
. . Been talking with a Corvette shop in Denver (Corvette Connection) and he said neither he nor his C1 customers had any idea what I was talking about until I forwarded the Corvette Central page to him. .
. . So how many shims did you have to stack to eventually be able to get the positive 2 caster ? ?
But nowhere have I seen it listed that those shims are actually 2 deg., so I would measure them first, before installing.......
I used a different method (offset the A-arm shafts and bushings), when I rebuilt my front end, but the addition of a pair of shims is the easiest method. Running 3 degrees caster is much nicer......and I can still maneuver at slow speeds, even with a "damaged" left hand.
plasticman
Last edited by Plasticman; Jul 1, 2017 at 11:14 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 269
Likes: 25
From: Milford Ohio
. . Ok, Getting a lot better understanding about these things. . Saw the GM part number and checked a bit more and found these shims are a standard part of the cross member mount. . Looked closer at mine and each side has one. .
. . Been talking with a Corvette shop in Denver (Corvette Connection) and he said neither he nor his C1 customers had any idea what I was talking about until I forwarded the Corvette Central page to him. .
. . So how many shims did you have to stack to eventually be able to get the positive 2 caster ? ?
. . Been talking with a Corvette shop in Denver (Corvette Connection) and he said neither he nor his C1 customers had any idea what I was talking about until I forwarded the Corvette Central page to him. .
. . So how many shims did you have to stack to eventually be able to get the positive 2 caster ? ?
Last edited by 62-C1; Jul 1, 2017 at 11:17 PM. Reason: spelling