Rear wheel alignment
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 986
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Rear wheel alignment
After being at a shop for the last 3 months,a 1981,he replaced rear differential,new trailing arms,new bearings new rotors,longer leaf spring bolt because I wanted the back dropped some,new shocks,new bushings and all new u joints,and new adjustable struts. I picked up and some followed me,I also have new wheels that are offset,and had to use 1/4 inch adapters to clear calipers,my friend told me that on drivers side he could see the fron tires following me,which I also have adapters on the fronts,so it needs lignin up,especially the rears,when I got it home on level ground noticed the divers side front and back,the gap between fenders and tires were much closer than passenger side,and I don’t trust anyone doing this,so DIY,or try too,where to begin,everything is new,pretty much,and I’ve heard of using string line down side,but I have different size tires 235 Fronts, 255 Rears. So,any recommendations thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 414
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Unless I’m misunderstanding your post,
Camber won’t change tire to fender gap.
camber is the angle the rear wheel sits at.
Fender to tire gap is affected by rear spring and spring bolts
Camber won’t change tire to fender gap.
camber is the angle the rear wheel sits at.
Fender to tire gap is affected by rear spring and spring bolts
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 986
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Well,it needs to be adjusted,my issue is tires are not running straight or if your behind me,you shouldn’t be able to see my front tires or drivers side front sticking further out than my rear tire. It’s like not tracking straight.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,440
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From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
And are the spacers on just the front or all 4 corners?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 598
After being at a shop for the last 3 months,a 1981,he replaced rear differential,new trailing arms,new bearings new rotors,longer leaf spring bolt because I wanted the back dropped some,new shocks,new bushings and all new u joints,and new adjustable struts. I picked up and some followed me,I also have new wheels that are offset,and had to use 1/4 inch adapters to clear calipers,my friend told me that on drivers side he could see the fron tires following me,which I also have adapters on the fronts,so it needs lignin up,especially the rears,when I got it home on level ground noticed the divers side front and back,the gap between fenders and tires were much closer than passenger side,and I don’t trust anyone doing this,so DIY,or try too,where to begin,everything is new,pretty much,and I’ve heard of using string line down side,but I have different size tires 235 Fronts, 255 Rears. So,any recommendations thanks.
My DIY Alignment method - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 986
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Spacers on all four,and the shop said that they put shims like it came out,but like I said,new wheels,which are 8.5 wide,offset,and on one side can tell is leaning at top.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,177
Likes: 7,780
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Can't imagine having someone else doing all that to my car. That would be hard.
I have to allow others to paint, cause I suck at that.
So I kinda know the feeling.
anyway, front wheels ARE wider than rear wheels. This is stock. Seeing the front wheel stick out it absolutely normal! Check it of course.
BUT.
I have to allow others to paint, cause I suck at that.
So I kinda know the feeling.
anyway, front wheels ARE wider than rear wheels. This is stock. Seeing the front wheel stick out it absolutely normal! Check it of course.
BUT.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 435
From: Loir Valley Sarthe, France
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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I used the "string method" to set up the car after fitting new trailing arms etc. I have re-checked the alignment fairly regularly since, so in fact it takes only a few minutes now to set up the lines (technically, not string!) etc. I have been able get excellent results. (I have an instruction sheet if you do need it) It is of course not possible to check camber (or caster on the front) and a few extra tools are required for that, angle gauges, spirit levels etc, but it's perfectly "doable'. It is essential to have a level floor to work on, other than that, very little specialist equipment. 👍
Not being the world's greatest mathematician, the toughest part for me was working out how much shim was required to make the adjustments necessary based on the readings I was seeing at the rims.😱 The working out sheets and the calculations to decide the individual shims needed on each side of the T/A make interesting reading!😄
Interestingly a walk down the Le Mans pit lane prior to the 24 Hours will reveal a huge number of teams using a form of "the string method" to set up there alignment - it looks high tech, but the principle is just the same as I use!
Not being the world's greatest mathematician, the toughest part for me was working out how much shim was required to make the adjustments necessary based on the readings I was seeing at the rims.😱 The working out sheets and the calculations to decide the individual shims needed on each side of the T/A make interesting reading!😄
Interestingly a walk down the Le Mans pit lane prior to the 24 Hours will reveal a huge number of teams using a form of "the string method" to set up there alignment - it looks high tech, but the principle is just the same as I use!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,209
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From: Putnam county NY
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You mention the driver side sits lower than the passenger, that's not unusual on these cars, how are the front springs/shocks and how are the longer rear bolts adjusted?
You mention adjustable strut rods, trailing arms (assuming new bushings int them) and that he put back the same number of shims. That is enough to get by, but after so many changes, you need a wheel alignment. New wheels with spacers, might be making it look more obvious because they stick out more, are you sure your car wasn't offset tracking before as well?
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I, encouraged by members learned to do thr String Alignment.
Just as important is the DIY Frame Alignment.
Cliff's notes: You jack the rear of the car up and place jack stands under the frame-use a long carpenters level to shim the frame u til it is level side-to-side. rRemove the wheel and adjust the face of the rotor to be parallel with the outside of the frame that is forward of the rotor (the trailing arm needs to be jacked up until the halfshaft is nearly level). While the car is up you can adjust the camber also. Then recheck the parallel.
Adjust the other side the same way.
Just as important is the DIY Frame Alignment.
Cliff's notes: You jack the rear of the car up and place jack stands under the frame-use a long carpenters level to shim the frame u til it is level side-to-side. rRemove the wheel and adjust the face of the rotor to be parallel with the outside of the frame that is forward of the rotor (the trailing arm needs to be jacked up until the halfshaft is nearly level). While the car is up you can adjust the camber also. Then recheck the parallel.
Adjust the other side the same way.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,810
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From: Wichita Kansas
Sounds like you are saying you are seeing the top of the tire leaning, but I might be misunderstanding. Do you mean the tire does this: \ or this: / That is of course exaggerated, but can be corrected by adjusting the strut rod on that side.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Another Forum Member told me about the method below:
I cut a $15 Home Depot Carpenters Level equally on each end until it sat vertically flat on the face of the tire rim bead (not the tire rubber itself).
Then I adjusted the strut rod until the bubble was level.
I drove the car in the neighborhood and tweaked the strut rod adjustment to re-level the bubble.
Did the same to other wheel.
5,000 miles later...no weird wear patterns on either tire tread.
I cut a $15 Home Depot Carpenters Level equally on each end until it sat vertically flat on the face of the tire rim bead (not the tire rubber itself).
Then I adjusted the strut rod until the bubble was level.
I drove the car in the neighborhood and tweaked the strut rod adjustment to re-level the bubble.
Did the same to other wheel.
5,000 miles later...no weird wear patterns on either tire tread.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 435
From: Loir Valley Sarthe, France
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Another Forum Member told me about the method below:
I cut a $15 Home Depot Carpenters Level equally on each end until it sat vertically flat on the face of the tire rim bead (not the tire rubber itself).
Then I adjusted the strut rod until the bubble was level.
I drove the car in the neighborhood and tweaked the strut rod adjustment to re-level the bubble.
Did the same to other wheel.
5,000 miles later...no weird wear patterns on either tire tread.
I cut a $15 Home Depot Carpenters Level equally on each end until it sat vertically flat on the face of the tire rim bead (not the tire rubber itself).
Then I adjusted the strut rod until the bubble was level.
I drove the car in the neighborhood and tweaked the strut rod adjustment to re-level the bubble.
Did the same to other wheel.
5,000 miles later...no weird wear patterns on either tire tread.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 299
Likes: 87
This more or less how I did mine some years ago. For general "cruising" type of driving, having the wheels pretty much vertical is fine. I think I set mine so that the bubble is just about at one edge of the gauge marks which gives me a tiny amount (a degree max) of negative camber.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 986
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Well,considering I have only a 100 miles on it in 2 years,not sure,but I do know everything was still original,so Don’t think so,and as I observe closer,I still have some things I noticed off,so some adjustments I can make,and try that see if it makes a difference,and as for your sheet,I might need it,as I’m not good in math,especially when it comes to fractions,lol. Thanks
