suspension question
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
suspension question
i think im due for a new rear end in my 79, i hit a pothole the other night and after that ive had a god awful sound comming from the left side.. i took the wheels off today replaced the u joints then let the wheels spin off the ground at idle and noticed a very bad thing the whole left side shakes really bad... the drivers side shakes a little but not near as bad i have no clue on how to remove the rear or rebuild it or where to send it off too so any insight would be helpful because the sooner i get this back on the road the happier i will be 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Not a good idea to run the wheels when they are off the ground as you are stressing the u-joints.
The Van Steel suspension video is a very useful tool for your project. I would also recommend you get the GM Service Manual SPECIFIC for your year car if you don't already have it.
Give the Van Steel folks a call and explain your situation, they have been very helpful answering my questions. If you need suspension component repair I would also recommend them as they do excellent work.
The Van Steel suspension video is a very useful tool for your project. I would also recommend you get the GM Service Manual SPECIFIC for your year car if you don't already have it.
Give the Van Steel folks a call and explain your situation, they have been very helpful answering my questions. If you need suspension component repair I would also recommend them as they do excellent work.
i think im due for a new rear end in my 79, i hit a pothole the other night and after that ive had a god awful sound comming from the left side.. i took the wheels off today replaced the u joints then let the wheels spin off the ground at idle and noticed a very bad thing the whole left side shakes really bad... the drivers side shakes a little but not near as bad i have no clue on how to remove the rear or rebuild it or where to send it off too so any insight would be helpful because the sooner i get this back on the road the happier i will be
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
i think im due for a new rear end in my 79, i hit a pothole the other night and after that ive had a god awful sound comming from the left side.. i took the wheels off today replaced the u joints then let the wheels spin off the ground at idle and noticed a very bad thing the whole left side shakes really bad... the drivers side shakes a little but not near as bad i have no clue on how to remove the rear or rebuild it or where to send it off too so any insight would be helpful because the sooner i get this back on the road the happier i will be
The wheels shouldn't hang when being turned as the halfshafts are not in parallel to the ground and will bind and cause it to shake.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
it doesn't sound like suspension to me. I would have someone check out your trailing arms. When the car is on jack stands try to move the rear tire side to side & top to bottom. if you have play have the rear checked out.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
ok how much is it to either get the trailing arms rebuilt, or new ones... and who does this.. ive only owned this car for about a month and been busting my rear one part after another trying to get thing on the road by may
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Unfortunatly the rear end in the Vette can be very costly. A good quality rebuild of the rear end will be in the 500 to 1000 range depending on what needs to be done. That is delivering the pumpkin the the rebuilder. The trailing arms will be about 1000 by the time you have done a complete rebuild. Van Steel is one of the better ones out there and will sell you a complete arm. You just take yours out and replace it and send the old ones back for a core refund. How are the brakes? Do the calipers leak or in need of rebuild?
Welcome to the world of Corvette ownership. Better up the limit on the credit card.
Welcome to the world of Corvette ownership. Better up the limit on the credit card.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
calipers dont leak, the front two was just replaced i want to get the rear taken care of before i replace them... the problem with the brakes is i keep getting air in the lines... dont know where from because i cant find even the slightest leak.
i dont care how much it is going to cost to rebuild im willing to do all the work i just dont know many corvette places.. is the trailiering arms shimed in?? if so how can i tell that they wasnt messed with before and not shimed right because the guy who owned it before me liked to touch alot of stuff
i dont care how much it is going to cost to rebuild im willing to do all the work i just dont know many corvette places.. is the trailiering arms shimed in?? if so how can i tell that they wasnt messed with before and not shimed right because the guy who owned it before me liked to touch alot of stuff
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
calipers dont leak, the front two was just replaced i want to get the rear taken care of before i replace them... the problem with the brakes is i keep getting air in the lines... dont know where from because i cant find even the slightest leak.
i dont care how much it is going to cost to rebuild im willing to do all the work i just dont know many corvette places.. is the trailiering arms shimed in?? if so how can i tell that they wasnt messed with before and not shimed right because the guy who owned it before me liked to touch alot of stuff
i dont care how much it is going to cost to rebuild im willing to do all the work i just dont know many corvette places.. is the trailiering arms shimed in?? if so how can i tell that they wasnt messed with before and not shimed right because the guy who owned it before me liked to touch alot of stuff
The air can get into the system if the rotors are not rue. If the runout on the rotors is over .010 it will pump air into the system and give you a soft pedal. This is quite common on a vette. You will need to get the runout within spec. I try for under .005. My rears are within .003 right now.
The trailing arms are shimmed for alignment. The only way to tell is to put it on an alignment machine. The trailing arms if they need a rebuild, bearings are the most common problem can be rebuild by most of the vendors here on the forum site. Van Steel does a great job and the ycome back like new. You can do it yourself but it requires the correct tools and the knowledge to do it right.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
calipers dont leak, the front two was just replaced i want to get the rear taken care of before i replace them... the problem with the brakes is i keep getting air in the lines... dont know where from because i cant find even the slightest leak.
i dont care how much it is going to cost to rebuild im willing to do all the work i just dont know many corvette places.. is the trailiering arms shimed in?? if so how can i tell that they wasnt messed with before and not shimed right because the guy who owned it before me liked to touch alot of stuff
i dont care how much it is going to cost to rebuild im willing to do all the work i just dont know many corvette places.. is the trailiering arms shimed in?? if so how can i tell that they wasnt messed with before and not shimed right because the guy who owned it before me liked to touch alot of stuff
Most times the trailing arm bolts rusted solid and are a Biatch to remove and have to be sawed out with a sawzall. Many threads about this.
When reinstalled put in shims on both sides so the bushings are centered as a starting point when it's bolted together. The alignment shop will adjust the correct shims on each side of the bushing for proper alignment. You can get shim kits from the major vendors.
Good luck. Glenn
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,348
Likes: 654
From: Tampa, Florida
Jack it up and place your jack stands under the trailing arms then lower the jack. Run you car like that and check to see if the half shafts are bent.
Swap wheels around to eliminate a bent wheel. Rock the wheel top to bottom and check for play. If theres play your bearing went...
Vansteel charges $325 to rebuild a Trailing arm with a variety of new parts. Parts not included in the rebuild are obviously extra. I needed a $125 spindle
If your going to send out your trailng arm(s) you might as well send off your strut rods and half shafts in the same box.
Trailing arm rebuild $325
Half shaft rebuild $85
Strut rod rebuild $67
Suppose you send everything off your looking at $960 and you'll essentially have a rebuilt rear suspension.
You can save some coin by doing the halfshafts and strut rods your self. Just make sure they arent bent.
Vansteel rebuild services
Swap wheels around to eliminate a bent wheel. Rock the wheel top to bottom and check for play. If theres play your bearing went...
Vansteel charges $325 to rebuild a Trailing arm with a variety of new parts. Parts not included in the rebuild are obviously extra. I needed a $125 spindle
If your going to send out your trailng arm(s) you might as well send off your strut rods and half shafts in the same box.
Trailing arm rebuild $325
Half shaft rebuild $85
Strut rod rebuild $67
Suppose you send everything off your looking at $960 and you'll essentially have a rebuilt rear suspension.
You can save some coin by doing the halfshafts and strut rods your self. Just make sure they arent bent.
Vansteel rebuild services
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Kentucky
whats a good sign of a bent half shaft?? i think they are pretty sure but i want to double check, i just put new u joints in them.. i know the whole car needs new bushings and all which is why i want to go on and have the trailing arms rebuilt.