I'm reading through the Vette Improvement Program from corvette fever, I got the link from the forum, and read a part about acheiving a lower roll center by adding a 1/2" spacer between the strut rod bracket and differential. Has anyone done this? Would you recommend doing or not doing this?

 

Your exhaust will hang down lower unless you have side pipes. It will help the geometry though.

 

What I did was to buy the Tom's Differential strut rod bracket. It's a stock bracket re-welded with the outer attach points lowered the 1/2 inch or so. With this bracket it will be flush against the differential mounting flange just like the stock bracket. This a lot better than using spacers.

I think that Guildstrand and VBP (Vette Brake Products) also sell a similar brackets. VBP is a forum sponsor, I'm pretty sure they will also have a bracket that will work.

 

That's the same concept behind smart struts.

 

I have a set but have not installed them yet.

 

so it's a good thing and worth doing or am I fine without it? I have access to a machine shop here at work, so I can have one made up quite easily and have no problem doing it.

 

Essentially the smart struts result in your strut rods being parallel to your half shafts. This gives you very little camber change in your rear as the wheels move up and down in the wheel well. Many consider this a good thing, especially when combined with an appropriate rear sway bar. I purchased mine from VBP back in the early 90's and am very pleased. Both with the quality of workmanship and the handling.

What you are suggesting is a compromise that will in my opinion result in an almost imperceptible difference in handling. Take a look at your differential strut bracket. Imagine it flipped over and you will have an idea of what the smart struts will do for you. Again the idea is to get the strut rods parallel to the half shafts. (You need to lower the inboard mounting point of the strut rods much more than a half inch.) You will also need different length strut rods, as the distance is now quite a bit shorter.

One last thing regarding smart struts and under-car exhaust systems. They require that the narrowest point in the L & R exhaust pipes be centered under the strut bracket or they will rub on the new differential strut bracket. This is how the factory intended the pipes to be positioned by the way. However if the pipes have ever been replaced, it is easy to get them out of position with no negative effect. That is until you try to install the smart struts and find they rub on your exhaust. Just one of those things you probably won't account for until you install them and find the pipes interfere…

GUSTO