Adjustable strut rods
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Adjustable strut rods
I bought some adjustable strut rods. I know my rear alignment is good on the back and I do not want to do it again. I was planning on taking some measurements so I can put the new strut rods so they be the same as length as the old one coming out.
Anyone have any ideas on how to do this or has anyone done this ?
Anyone have any ideas on how to do this or has anyone done this ?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
I don't know why you couldn't use a level to check the angle of the tires before and after. You would need to drive the car back and forth a little to settle the suspension after making adjustments.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 620
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio TX
Originally Posted by MotorHead
I bought some adjustable strut rods. I know my rear alignment is good on the back and I do not want to do it again. I was planning on taking some measurements so I can put the new strut rods so they be the same as length as the old one coming out.
Anyone have any ideas on how to do this or has anyone done this ?
Anyone have any ideas on how to do this or has anyone done this ?
After you have the rear jacked up, put blocks under the tires then lower the car on your jackstands. The bulk of the weight should be on the stands, with the blocks in place to keep the tire from moving when you remove the old strut rod.
Remove the old strut rod. Adjust the new strut rod so that it fits without moving the tire. Seems like it would work.
Last edited by cchristo; Apr 26, 2005 at 12:33 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
I would just measure bolt center to bolt center as accurately as you can with a tape measure. Unless you are setting it to the minute of a degree that should be perfectly adequate.
-Chris
-Chris
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Originally Posted by LiveandLetDrive
I would just measure bolt center to bolt center as accurately as you can with a tape measure. Unless you are setting it to the minute of a degree that should be perfectly adequate.
-Chris
-Chris
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Lay the 2 rods side by side or one atop the other. Use dowel, long bolts or even tubing of the correct diameter to put in the bolt holes. When you can get them through both holes at the same time you should have the same length even if you are using the heim type of ends.
Last edited by 1979toy; Apr 26, 2005 at 08:49 AM. Reason: To correct nasty spelling errors.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 910
Likes: 20
From: Shorewood IL
I believe you might have to remove your spring as well to get the bolts out. I just put a new spring and shocks on mine this weekend. I also had the strut rods but couldn't get one of the shock mounts loose so I didn't get to replacing them. Later that night a friend told me about having to take out the spring to get the bolts out. I looked and I think he was right. I don't know if a cutting wheel could work or not.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Originally Posted by LiveandLetDrive
I would just measure bolt center to bolt center as accurately as you can with a tape measure. ...
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
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 620
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio TX
Originally Posted by 1979toy
Lay the 2 rods side by side or one atop the other. Use dowel, long bolts or even tubing of the correct diameter to put in the bolt holes. When you can get them through both holes at the same time you should have the same length even if you are using the heim type of ends.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
So you measure from a fixed point on the end with the cam, like the corner of the strut rod bracket itself to the center of the hole/bolt on the other end of the strut, that might work
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Tools required: Good tape like duct tape. 3 feet of fishing line. One large nut. metal ruler or dial caliper - to measure top of tire lean in. Tape measure for static rod length
The strut rod is only going to mess with "camber"
Do a static measurement to get it's length near what the existing strut rod is.
What I do is: Hang a plum bob from the wheel fender lip - piece of fishing line with a heavy nut on the end.
With your car on the ground.
I hang it so that the line barely touches the ground side of the tire bulge. Then I just measured from the line to the upper edge of the rim. "negative camber" Leave it hanging
then install your adjustable and check your measurement from the line to the top of the wheel with the car back on the ground. It will get the camber back in the ball park if it was right before. Both sides should be set the same.
I never trusted "Bubba" that told me that you want different settings to allow for road crown. This isn't rocket science!
The strut rod is only going to mess with "camber"
Do a static measurement to get it's length near what the existing strut rod is.
What I do is: Hang a plum bob from the wheel fender lip - piece of fishing line with a heavy nut on the end.
With your car on the ground. I hang it so that the line barely touches the ground side of the tire bulge. Then I just measured from the line to the upper edge of the rim. "negative camber" Leave it hanging
then install your adjustable and check your measurement from the line to the top of the wheel with the car back on the ground. It will get the camber back in the ball park if it was right before. Both sides should be set the same.
I never trusted "Bubba" that told me that you want different settings to allow for road crown. This isn't rocket science!
Last edited by gkull; Apr 26, 2005 at 03:14 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MotorHead
I bought some adjustable strut rods. I know my rear alignment is good on the back and I do not want to do it again.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Thanks George and the rest 
Only a few bucks more than replacement stock rods I was going to put in and alot shinier 
Originally Posted by DonBecker
Not trying to be a smart-@ss, honest question here, if you have the rear aligned, why would you want/need adjustable strut rods?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Does it make sense in what i tried to tell you?
I'm a big fan of smart struts. anything to keep the camber from changing as the wheel goes up and down.
I'm a big fan of smart struts. anything to keep the camber from changing as the wheel goes up and down.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Yes George it does, I am going to try a combination of everything, plum lines, tape measure etc. THe reason for the new struts is I am also expecting to have to cut the old ones out, I am not sure but I don't think they have been off the shock mounts before
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
ack, sorry for my bad advice. In my case I got so sick of the cams slipping that I aligned it and then welded the cams solid in that position. Hope I never want anything other than -3/4* camber! Glad you got the advice you needed.
-Chris
Glad you got the advice you needed.-Chris
