Alignment question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 270
From: New York
Alignment question
I know there are people here who do their own alignment.
Let just say, for the sake of this example, you check the rear and there is 1/8 toe out and ¾ degree negative camber.
So you set the rear to 1 degree negative and now set the toe to 1/8 toe in. Will the camber change?
I watched a mechanic, and I could be totally wrong, but he set the camber, then the toe and the camber changed slightly. There was a bit of back and forth. Is my memory faulty and is there a bit of back and forth???
In the rear only or in the front too?? Is my question clear?
Let just say, for the sake of this example, you check the rear and there is 1/8 toe out and ¾ degree negative camber.
So you set the rear to 1 degree negative and now set the toe to 1/8 toe in. Will the camber change?
I watched a mechanic, and I could be totally wrong, but he set the camber, then the toe and the camber changed slightly. There was a bit of back and forth. Is my memory faulty and is there a bit of back and forth???
In the rear only or in the front too?? Is my question clear?
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
There are articles and lots of threads on this subject, If you search C3 Tech as well as C3 General you'll a treasure trove of info on alignment.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 270
From: New York
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 904
Likes: 569
From: Central NJ
Use google and then click the Corvette forum Links.... I rarely have good results searching here, too much other stuff comes up to wade through...
C3 Corvette rear alignment
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C3 Corvette rear alignment
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 270
From: New York
Use google and then click the Corvette forum Links.... I rarely have good results searching here, too much other stuff comes up to wade through...
C3 Corvette rear alignment
60
C3 Corvette rear alignment
60
I would trust a member here who does there own alignment before a YouTube video.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,382
Likes: 1,801
From: Apple Valley, MN
I know there are people here who do their own alignment.
Let just say, for the sake of this example, you check the rear and there is 1/8 toe out and ¾ degree negative camber.
So you set the rear to 1 degree negative and now set the toe to 1/8 toe in. Will the camber change?
I watched a mechanic, and I could be totally wrong, but he set the camber, then the toe and the camber changed slightly. There was a bit of back and forth. Is my memory faulty and is there a bit of back and forth???
In the rear only or in the front too?? Is my question clear?
Let just say, for the sake of this example, you check the rear and there is 1/8 toe out and ¾ degree negative camber.
So you set the rear to 1 degree negative and now set the toe to 1/8 toe in. Will the camber change?
I watched a mechanic, and I could be totally wrong, but he set the camber, then the toe and the camber changed slightly. There was a bit of back and forth. Is my memory faulty and is there a bit of back and forth???
In the rear only or in the front too?? Is my question clear?
On the front, of course, you have all three. To adjust caster, one adds (or removes) shims to either the front of the upper A-arm attach point and, typically will also remove (or add) shims on the rearward attach point. As these shimstacks also control camber, it is not uncommon for the alignment tech to do a bit of “back and forth” as you state.
The effect on caster and camber as a function of adjusting toe depends on the inclination of the spindle axes. Others who are more accomplished at doing their own alignments will have more input on this but generally speaking for a daily driver, any change in toe will have de minimus effect on caster and camber.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
depends.
a lot of ways to skin a cat.
when C-3s were new, no fancy computer read outs and rear was treated like front by the way car was "loaded" on align machine.
basically car was backed on and aligned.
like standard cars were rolled forward on for front align.
I can't picture the extreme effects on toe when camber is changed a little.
sounds like the guy you watched was at least diligent in his work.
a lot of ways to skin a cat.
when C-3s were new, no fancy computer read outs and rear was treated like front by the way car was "loaded" on align machine.
basically car was backed on and aligned.
like standard cars were rolled forward on for front align.
I can't picture the extreme effects on toe when camber is changed a little.
sounds like the guy you watched was at least diligent in his work.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 904
Likes: 569
From: Central NJ
I agree about the search engine here. The thing about YouTube video's, that you have to be careful about is people post stuff that isn't correct.
I would trust a member here who does there own alignment before a YouTube video.
I would trust a member here who does there own alignment before a YouTube video.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,906
Likes: 4,479
From: Virginia
How are you measuring your camber now? Would you not be able to measure again after you adjust?
I'd assume a tiny change, but easy to measure and set precisely with heim-jointed strut rods.
I'd assume a tiny change, but easy to measure and set precisely with heim-jointed strut rods.