Ticked off!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 48
From: hickory NC
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2017 C4 of Year Finalist
The car is in the process of a body-off restoration. The frame was powder coated along with the a-arms, trailing arms, drive shafts, and other parts. The shims were counted before the car was disassembled and I placed the same amount of shims back on the car when I started putting it back together.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,034
Likes: 503
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
I have 245-60-15 BFG T/A's on my 68 coupe's original 7" rims and do not have this problem. I don't have the parking brake on mine but something has to be wrong with your trailing arm. Are you sure that 7" rim is a corvette rim? Try putting one of your other wheels on that wheel location. Are 63-67 trailing arms different than C-3 ones and could you have one of them? Lou.
Last edited by loup68; Jan 10, 2018 at 07:48 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Savannah GA
I have 245-60-15 BFG T/A's on my 68 coupe's original 7" rims and do not have this problem. I don't have the parking brake on mine but something has to be wrong with your trailing arm. Are you sure that 7" rim is a corvette rim? Try putting one of your other wheels on that wheel location. Are 63-67 trailing arms different than C-3 ones and could you have one of them? Lou.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,168
Likes: 1,668
From: Long Island
Take a flat ruler, put it on the face of the spindle between the wheel studs and measure from the face of the rim mounting hub to the trailing arm. See if the right side and left side are different.
One arm may have had the bearing assembly pushed in by a curb hit.
One arm may have had the bearing assembly pushed in by a curb hit.
Last edited by BLUE1972; Jan 10, 2018 at 08:19 PM. Reason: hate auto spell
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Savannah GA
What I have now noticed is the bracket on the left side (this side does not rub) is welded closer to the wheel than on the right side. If the right side bracket were welded at the same place as the left side bracket, I don't think it would rub! There is about a 3/4 inch difference in the location.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 463
Likes: 129
68BB
I think there was a pretty wide tolerance that was acceptable for whoever was responsible for welding on the parking brake bracket. It is just at the extreme limit on that side. I once had a 69, that on one side the rim was only about 1/16 inch from that bracket, on the other I had a 1/2 inch.
I'd cut off and re-weld the bracket. Probably not what you want to hear looking at your picture as the trailing arm looks recently restored.
John
I think there was a pretty wide tolerance that was acceptable for whoever was responsible for welding on the parking brake bracket. It is just at the extreme limit on that side. I once had a 69, that on one side the rim was only about 1/16 inch from that bracket, on the other I had a 1/2 inch.
I'd cut off and re-weld the bracket. Probably not what you want to hear looking at your picture as the trailing arm looks recently restored.
John
Last edited by JC68; Jan 10, 2018 at 08:36 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Savannah GA
68BB
I think there was a pretty wide tolerance that was acceptable for whoever was responsible for welding on the parking brake bracket. It is just at the extreme limit on that side. I once had a 69, that on one side the rim was only about 1/16 inch from that bracket, on the other I had a 1/2 inch.
I'd cut off and re-weld the bracket. Probably not what you want to hear looking at your picture as the trailing arm looks recently restored.
John
I think there was a pretty wide tolerance that was acceptable for whoever was responsible for welding on the parking brake bracket. It is just at the extreme limit on that side. I once had a 69, that on one side the rim was only about 1/16 inch from that bracket, on the other I had a 1/2 inch.
I'd cut off and re-weld the bracket. Probably not what you want to hear looking at your picture as the trailing arm looks recently restored.
John
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
It's not symmetrical, something is up with suspension geometry on that side it seems. Fix the actual problem.
I do agree that 235/60 fit well on an 8" rim, it seems unlikely to be causing this issue.
Update: Doing my best Rosanna Rosanna Danna, "Never Mind" . I just read post #26. Good catch!
I do agree that 235/60 fit well on an 8" rim, it seems unlikely to be causing this issue.
Update: Doing my best Rosanna Rosanna Danna, "Never Mind" . I just read post #26. Good catch!
Last edited by CheezMoe; Jan 10, 2018 at 09:41 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,153
Likes: 9,283
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
rotate your rims first to make sure its not a rim. Its the least expensive and time consuming thing you can do. Then start measuring the trailing arms. If it didn't rub before it shouldnt be rubbing now even with new tires. cut and weld last but maybe the best solution.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,857
Likes: 332
From: Cartersville GA
For those saying it might have something to do with the trailing arm shims....I don't really understand how.....The wheel/tire is bolted to the hub which is bolted to the trailing arm....The shims wouldn't have any effect on the distance from the edge of the tire to the bracket welded to the trailing arm.....or am I missing something....?
Brian
Brian
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,034
Likes: 503
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
I worked in an Automotive parts plant for 34 years in maintenance and we also made some Corvette parts. That bracket should NOT have had any "tolerance" to it's weld position. There should have been a jig or something to hold it in position to be welded. That bracket is in a critical position and if wrong could rub something. Lou.
Last edited by loup68; Jan 11, 2018 at 07:11 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
I worked in an Automotive parts plant for 34 years in maintenance and we also made some Corvette parts. That bracket should NOT have had any "tolerance" to it's weld position. There should have been a jig or something to hold it in position to be welded. That bracket is in a critical position and if wrong could rub something. Lou.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 463
Likes: 129
Every part has tolerances, even if it is built by a jig.
I'm sure there was a jig for locating the bracket on the trailing arm during welding. Was the locating jig in tolerance? Was it used correctly? Was the welder freelancing and thinking he didn't need the jig to do his job? Other human error? There are a lot of things that could go wrong to affect the placement of the bracket on the arm.
Form 68bb's picture he either has a major rear hub problem, severely bent rim or training arm, or the bracket is in the wrong spot to cause the interference on the one side. I'm going with the bracket being in the wrong spot.
John
I'm sure there was a jig for locating the bracket on the trailing arm during welding. Was the locating jig in tolerance? Was it used correctly? Was the welder freelancing and thinking he didn't need the jig to do his job? Other human error? There are a lot of things that could go wrong to affect the placement of the bracket on the arm.
Form 68bb's picture he either has a major rear hub problem, severely bent rim or training arm, or the bracket is in the wrong spot to cause the interference on the one side. I'm going with the bracket being in the wrong spot.
John
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
I, too, believe that the tire size is NOT your problem; there is a mechanical issue with the configuration or condition of the trailing arms and/or other suspension hardware. As mentioned above, there are several mechanical things that could be done to the car to alleviate the problem. With the situation you have in your suspension, ANY wider width tire would present the same problems for you.
Bent trailing arm, bad T/A bushing, unbalanced shims could all result in your problem. You need to identify the root cause of the dimensional problem from one side of your car to the other; then the tires will fit fine.
Bent trailing arm, bad T/A bushing, unbalanced shims could all result in your problem. You need to identify the root cause of the dimensional problem from one side of your car to the other; then the tires will fit fine.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,315
Likes: 1,585
From: Western NY
I, too, believe that the tire size is NOT your problem; there is a mechanical issue with the configuration or condition of the trailing arms and/or other suspension hardware......
Bent trailing arm, bad T/A bushing, unbalanced shims could all result in your problem. You need to identify the root cause of the dimensional problem from one side of your car to the other; then the tires will fit fine.
Bent trailing arm, bad T/A bushing, unbalanced shims could all result in your problem. You need to identify the root cause of the dimensional problem from one side of your car to the other; then the tires will fit fine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 3,034
Likes: 503
From: myrtle beach sc
Army
I did mention trying a different wheel to him, earlier. Just want to say that years ago I bought a pair of new GM front bumper guards. One side would not bolt up at the top. Turns out a left side bracket was welded on the right hand guard...scrap! That is the one bad thing about people working on "piece work". They sometimes only care about their numbers and not quality. Our plant had to drop piece work because of that reason. Lou.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Not factory bracket weld it is sticking out to far,
those lines on the trailing arms look offset like someone has rewelded this area,
as much corrosion as i see i hope you inspected these arms well before powder coat.
those lines on the trailing arms look offset like someone has rewelded this area,
as much corrosion as i see i hope you inspected these arms well before powder coat.