Rear Camber
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 10
From: Brooklet Ga.
Rear Camber
Well the weeklong thrash is over and the new rear end is under the car, everything sandblasted cleaned and painted. Now I am wondering how to set the rear wheel camber with the new adjustable strut rods. Does anyone know what the camber measurements are at the top and bottom of the tire and what is the best way to do it. Thanks Skip
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Camber is not measured 'at the top and bottom of each tire', it's measured in degrees from perpendicular. Negative= top of tire closer to car center than bottom, positive =bottom if tire closer to car center than top. If I'm not mistaken factory spec for most C3's is 0-1/2° negative, which means the tire is somewhere between 'straight up' to tipped-in at the top enough to measure 1/2 degree negative.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
You can dial them in pretty close in the garage
Since I had the rear all apart at one point I needed to get close.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ne-method.html
I aimed for a 0 deg since the cushions were new, midway through the summer I re-checked and added about 1/4 deg on one side, the other went pretty much to 1/2 deg once everything settled in.
Still needs to go for a proper 4 wheel, especially since I've take the entire front off now.
Since I had the rear all apart at one point I needed to get close.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ne-method.html
I aimed for a 0 deg since the cushions were new, midway through the summer I re-checked and added about 1/4 deg on one side, the other went pretty much to 1/2 deg once everything settled in.
Still needs to go for a proper 4 wheel, especially since I've take the entire front off now.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 10
From: Brooklet Ga.
Camber is not measured 'at the top and bottom of each tire', it's measured in degrees from perpendicular. Negative= top of tire closer to car center than bottom, positive =bottom if tire closer to car center than top. If I'm not mistaken factory spec for most C3's is 0-1/2° negative, which means the tire is somewhere between 'straight up' to tipped-in at the top enough to measure 1/2 degree negative.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Sorry Skip, by the verbage in your initial post it almost sounded like you didn't understand certain terminology. My mistake. I personally have a camber gage that I use for garage alignments, as long as you have a flat/ level floor that will work. The problem with aligning one of these cars 'completely' is getting the toe on both sides of the rear 'plumb' to the car centerline. Otherwise it's pretty basic...
Last edited by birdsmith; Mar 31, 2013 at 11:36 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 10
From: Brooklet Ga.
Sorry Skip, by the verbage in your initial post it almost sounded like you didn't understand certain terminology. My mistake. I personally have a camber gage that I use for garage alignments, as long as you have a flat/ level floor that will work. The problem with aligning one of these cars 'completely' is getting the toe on both sides of the rear 'plumb' to the car centerline. Otherwise it's pretty basic...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I'm with you...I actually took mine to Sears and had them put it on their rack to set the rear toe (or at least verify that it was where it should be) after I rebuilt the rear of the car.
I normally avoid paying for any kind of work on any of my cars, but in this case I had a coupon for an $80 four-wheel alignment so I took advantage of it.
A few years ago I finally broke down and invested in a camber/caster gage. Best money I ever spent...paid for itself the first time I used it.
I normally avoid paying for any kind of work on any of my cars, but in this case I had a coupon for an $80 four-wheel alignment so I took advantage of it.
A few years ago I finally broke down and invested in a camber/caster gage. Best money I ever spent...paid for itself the first time I used it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 10
From: Brooklet Ga.
I'm with you...I actually took mine to Sears and had them put it on their rack to set the rear toe (or at least verify that it was where it should be) after I rebuilt the rear of the car.
I normally avoid paying for any kind of work on any of my cars, but in this case I had a coupon for an $80 four-wheel alignment so I took advantage of it.
A few years ago I finally broke down and invested in a camber/caster gage. Best money I ever spent...paid for itself the first time I used it.
I normally avoid paying for any kind of work on any of my cars, but in this case I had a coupon for an $80 four-wheel alignment so I took advantage of it.
A few years ago I finally broke down and invested in a camber/caster gage. Best money I ever spent...paid for itself the first time I used it.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Camber is easy to set, toe takes time and dedication. 
Rear camber spec is 3/4 dgr neg. IMO that is a good spec, I wouldn't mess with it. I tried less and it got tail happy.
You can set toe at home but it takes some effort. I do it with 4 jack stands and string along the sides of the car. The strings must be parallel. You can't go by the rims as the C3 has different front/rear track. Once you have parallel strings you set them to be equal distance from the front rim center and then set rear toe. That way the thrust angle is correct (car will not go down the road sideways).
I have a Longacre digital caster/camber gauge. It has paid for itself many times over.
Rear camber spec is 3/4 dgr neg. IMO that is a good spec, I wouldn't mess with it. I tried less and it got tail happy.
You can set toe at home but it takes some effort. I do it with 4 jack stands and string along the sides of the car. The strings must be parallel. You can't go by the rims as the C3 has different front/rear track. Once you have parallel strings you set them to be equal distance from the front rim center and then set rear toe. That way the thrust angle is correct (car will not go down the road sideways).
I have a Longacre digital caster/camber gauge. It has paid for itself many times over.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
Zwede is my hero. I have utmost respect for his work. I will post these pics. but you must decide if you want to use them. mike...
Camber can be set with a spirit level at this point also. Do not blame me, this is how I was taught.
Let the flaming begin....
Camber can be set with a spirit level at this point also. Do not blame me, this is how I was taught.
Let the flaming begin....
Last edited by mds3013; Mar 31, 2013 at 07:25 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Mds3013: Looks perfectly alright to me. Of course you've made sure the hub and car is at ride height and the strings are parallel. I do mine with the wheels on which probably takes a bit longer as I have to jack the car up to do changes and then roll the car back and forth to settle the suspension.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I knew I had seen someone post a 4-wheel alignment method here before...there really are a few bona fide geniuses in this community!
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 99
Likes: 3
From: Salem Ohio
MDS3013 what you have here is a work of art and you should have no reason to have tire wear or pull. I will do this same method to mine when I do the trailing arms next winter. Thanks for the great idea
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 10
From: Brooklet Ga.
I have set many a sprint car the exact same way the only difference is I use a little reverse Ackerman on the left front to make the car cut into the corner a little better