rear alignment 1982
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,663
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
rear alignment 1982
after putting on new trailing arms,i now need a rear end alignment.i stopped at several alignment shops and chevy dealers.one shop said how hard those cars are to get on the rack because they sit to low .another said they are verry difficult to align.most said that they have to charge more on vettes than any other car[corvette tax]all these shops had young guys standing around like they had nothing to do .the last shop i called, a young sounding guy took all my info and said his dad has done them for over thirty years and would be happy to do another c3 .i think i found the right shop.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Sounds like it. When I had my '74 aligned, the technician admitted he had never set the rear on a Corvette. I told him I would do it if he set up the machine and did the front. He watched the numbers, I turned the camber bolts, and he and I set it together.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
Likes: 5
From: Middleburg Florida
I had to do the same thing. Basically gave the guy a class on aligning the rear of the C3. Both camber and toe settings. Then I had to pay more than a "standard" alignment for the privilege. At least I know it was done correctly...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 666
From: Northeast
Had a 4 wheel alignment done last year from someone who has worked on Vettes before. After a couple of hours of wrenching, pulling, spraying , walking back and forth, I couldnt stand it any longer.
Went for breakfast . Returned and car was ready about 1/2 hour later. He explained about the shims being rusted etc and how painstaking slow it was, taking his time to get it right. His reputation preceded him.
Paid $190.00 . I was in that bay for quite some time.
Good luck.
Went for breakfast . Returned and car was ready about 1/2 hour later. He explained about the shims being rusted etc and how painstaking slow it was, taking his time to get it right. His reputation preceded him.
Paid $190.00 . I was in that bay for quite some time.
Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 651
Likes: 33
From: North Port Florida
Yeah, The camber adjustment is a breeze. It's the toe-in setting that's a booger.They are pretty old cars and the rust doesn't help matters either. But the toe has to be set or it will scrub the tires right off of the car in no time. If the guy doesn't have a four wheel alignment machine, he can just back the car on and set it for toe-out instead of toe-in. Good luck to you!!!!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,056
Likes: 99
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,663
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
i took out the old shims and taped them together.then when i put it back together i had some idea what was needed.will find out how close or far off i am.all new parts are stainless.on the new aftermarket struts i adjusted them as close as i could get to the factory ones.
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
From: Wichita Kansas
Since you have new shims etc. this isn't a difficult job. Just takes some time. All you need is a laser pointer and a level, two tape measures and two straight edges. I did my own till I sold my C-3 and now do my C-5.
http://www.davidfarmerstuff.com/align.pdf
It is important that the tires are pointing the same direction (thrust angle) I always recommend a small amount of toe-in on the rear of a C-3 1/16 to 1/8 inch total. Toe-out is bad.
http://www.davidfarmerstuff.com/align.pdf
It is important that the tires are pointing the same direction (thrust angle) I always recommend a small amount of toe-in on the rear of a C-3 1/16 to 1/8 inch total. Toe-out is bad.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Let your "fingers do the walking" in the Yellow Pages. Call several alignment shops in your local area and "quiz" them on how much experience they have with Corvettes. Another way to go is to call a local Corvette Club and ask them where they get theirs done.
Driving into any-old-shop and crossing your fingers is no way to do it.
Driving into any-old-shop and crossing your fingers is no way to do it.
