Aligning the camber??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
Aligning the camber??
After I installed a new mono leaf spring I now have negitive camber and with the rear wheels not touching the ground they are perfectly straight. So I was thinking that I could adjust the strut rod to give me positive camber (not too much) while not touching the ground then should settle into a nice straight up and down stance when back on the ground. So do all you do is break loose the pivot bolt then rotate it to where you want it? I would like to try this myself. I have no shops where I live that I trust.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 547
Likes: 13
From: Carlstadt NJ
After I installed a new mono leaf spring I now have negitive camber and with the rear wheels not touching the ground they are perfectly straight. So I was thinking that I could adjust the strut rod to give me positive camber (not too much) while not touching the ground then should settle into a nice straight up and down stance when back on the ground. So do all you do is break loose the pivot bolt then rotate it to where you want it? I would like to try this myself. I have no shops where I live that I trust.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 547
Likes: 13
From: Carlstadt NJ
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
1/4 degree negative camber is a good setting for handling/tire wear.
To the OP, the reason your camber changed is because the car is now sitting at a slightly different ride height. Before setting the camber, let the car settle a little, by putting some mileage on it, and then make any necessary adjustments to the ride height, then set the camber....
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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The only way a spring change can affect camber is if the ride height has substantially changed. If this has not changed, the camber problem was already there.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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as Mike said, check the ride height first before messing with the camber. The half shafts should be close to parallel with the ground. You may need longer spring bolts. Look at the rear suspension section page 6-6 and 6-7 of this publication to find out how to set the rear height.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ChevyPower.pdf
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/ChevyPower.pdf
Last edited by MelWff; May 2, 2012 at 11:19 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,248
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From: Warrington PA
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
After I installed a new mono leaf spring I now have negitive camber and with the rear wheels not touching the ground they are perfectly straight. So I was thinking that I could adjust the strut rod to give me positive camber (not too much) while not touching the ground then should settle into a nice straight up and down stance when back on the ground. So do all you do is break loose the pivot bolt then rotate it to where you want it? I would like to try this myself. I have no shops where I live that I trust.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...post1580712339
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
Yes I decided against doing this myself and yes again the height did change. My car used to sit as if it had air shocks on it. Spring was cracked. Now it sits pretty close to level and that's why the camber changed so much. From the manual it stated that the bottom of the front rocker moulding to the ground should be 7" and the rear end of the rocker moulding should be 7.2" Mine was 6.75 front and 9.25 in the rear before the spring swap.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
I purchased a cheap set of wheel dollies from Harbor Frieght several years ago just for this purpose. You drop the car down on the dollies, bounce it once or twice, then set your alignment to the required specs - with a carpenter's lever modified to fit the rim of the tire. This method will suffice till you can get the car to an alignment shop.
