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The assembly manuals specify a nominal shim pack of 3 shims of .120 thickness. To that a maximum of one .030 and one .060 shim may have been added. This is a total of .450 or almost 1/2-inch Is considered normal. As stated above your A-Arm bushings are worn out plus there maybe other issues in your front end suspension.
From: South of Phoenix Arizona, but North of no-where.
The “bottle cap” is in correct position but the ground strap is not connected to it which will cause extreme ‘vibration’ thus attracting lonely women.
but yes, I don’t know if it’s factory normal, but mine has just a few less shims but they are on both sides of both R and L wheels. The PO had replaced all front end parts (in Bubba style) and after I tightened and torqued everything my home-shop style front end alignment turned out that way. I have talked to other owners and they all said it was possible to need many shims. I would prefer none or just 1 or 2 but I’ll wait for a more professional alignment to see what happens.
Last edited by Redbirdman; Oct 3, 2021 at 01:18 PM.
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by Tranz Zam
Looks like every C3 I've seen
Are you kidding ??...................No way !!! This is an all original, numbers matching, super rare, top flight, bloomington gold, COPO, 1 / 1 "bottle cap edition " !!
Are you kidding ??...................No way !!! This is an all original, numbers matching, super rare, top flight, bloomington gold, COPO, 1 / 1 "bottle cap edition " !!
I'd want to see the other side of that bottlecap before handing out any awards.
If that shim pack is more then a 1/2" there is a problem. Unless after alignment it is 1/2" or less. When ever I personally looked at a Corvette for someone or myself. If there are this many shims in a stack it indicates 1 of 2 things front suspension issue or bent frame issue.
I strongly and respectfully disagree. it's truly just most of us trying to get some bloody caster!
A photo of my car. no bent frame. I've had her for over 30 years! Just trying to get some caster. these things were designed for manual steering, most of us have power steering and want some caster for more "Feel".
I strongly and respectfully disagree. it's truly just most of us trying to get some bloody caster!
A photo of my car. no bent frame. I've had her for over 30 years! Just trying to get some caster. these things were designed for manual steering, most of us have power steering and want some caster for more "Feel".
You can disagree but if you look at the original photo. Look at the upper A-Arm bottom of photo bushing you can see it is no longer centered on the shaft. Odds are that at the minimum all the bushings are at the end of the useful life. If your Corvette still has its original bushings that in turn maybe why you need those extra shims. I have worked on hundreds Corvettes for over 50 years owned them for over 50 years and I am just giving my opinion. Plus what was deemed correct from the factory.
This is how I bought it, with new ball joints and tie rods,not new bushings, unless chit older aftermarket. No idea if it has had an alignment, but it will get one of course.
The frame doesn't looked tweeked, but I"ll take some measurements.
Don't upper bushings push towards the inside when they wear?
Last edited by Pegan2261; Oct 4, 2021 at 10:59 AM.
according to the manual.....
must have 2 threads exposed... AND no more than 0.40 difference in front to back shims.. so you can add all you want if two threads are showing then not exceed 0.40 difference..
mine freshly 4 wheel aligned to new factory specs has like one or 2 a side.. YMMV but....
i also put all new ball joints and bushings.. with new 474# springs front
first one after front alignment, second after getting shims and doing rear too
according to the manual.....
must have 2 threads exposed... AND no more than 0.40 difference in front to back shims.. so you can add all you want if two threads are showing then not exceed 0.40 difference..
mine freshly 4 wheel aligned to new factory specs has like one or 2 a side.. YMMV but....
i also put all new ball joints and bushings.. with new 474# springs front
first one after front alignment, second after getting shims and doing rear too
Don't upper bushings push towards the inside when they wear?[/QUOTE]
No Your upper bushings are worn out. If they are so are your lower bushings time to replace them. A competent alignment shop will not align your car if the parts worn out to help keep it aligned.
