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I am trying to rough in the alignment on a 72 project. I know it is a c3 but you guys have been so helpful in the past that I thought I would go to the well again. The rear toe in on the right seems just about right although all the shims are outside. The left is clearly toed out about five degrees and again all the shims are outboard. The PO replaced the bushings, with poly, but looking at the rusty shims I think they were left as is. So could the lack of adjustment be poor bushing installation, or do I have something bent like trailing arm or frame. As always, thanks!
Could be either one, for sure. If they didn't seat the T/A bushings correctly, that could be the problem. Can you see it well enough to determine if the bushing collars sit flush on the T/As? If the didn't press the collars in all the way, or didn't properly stake the shafts, that could be the problem. Fairly easy to replace them, though you do need the proper tool (retails around $100). Replacing the poly bushings would be a good thing no matter what as the twisting forces will likely destroy them in short order.
Good thing is that your car should have the slide-in shims, so it's easy to pull them to get a better look at the bushings without removing the arms.
Are the strut rods straight? My C3 came to me with bent strut rods, which can screw things up, too. I think someone tried to lift the car from them.
I'm sure there's a way to measure the straightness of the arms but, I don't know it. Someone here will chime in, I'll bet.
First: Get rid of the poly bushings.............they will self destruct in a few years whether you drive car or not. Not certain about frame or TA being bent. You normally do nor encounter this............but there are exceptions.
It should be reasonably easy to check if the trailing arms are bent. Assuming you have the same tires and wheels on both sides of the rear just measure the space between the inside of the tire and the arm as far forward as possible. They should be identical.
It should be reasonably easy to check if the trailing arms are bent. Assuming you have the same tires and wheels on both sides of the rear just measure the space between the inside of the tire and the arm as far forward as possible. They should be identical.
Good call, thanks. Will redo the strings and recheck toe in too.
Thanks!
Had eye surgery so I couldn’t bend over, but I pulled out the shims and pried ta over. It’s pretty obvious now that bushings were not installed properly. Will order rubber ones, and the tool. As always, thanks to all.
Alignment Issue
