Know anything about struts? alignment problem
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,892
Likes: 13
From: Pettis Performance 565 with two stages of Nitrous Supply nitrous 1.082, 4.61 at 155, 7.17 at 192
Know anything about struts? alignment problem
I am putting some new struts on my 63 corvette race car and have come across a problem. They do not want to fit in without an apparent "bind" where the lower control arms bolt up. As you can see in the photos the lower control arms seem twisted in relation to the shock body. This is not a problem with adjusting the length of the individual lower control arms. I tried that. I have to force the top of the shock tower into its mounting slot.
It does not matter if I compress the shock (to simlulate the weight of the vehicle) or not. My guess is the lower mounting postion for the rear lower control arm needs lowered.
It does not matter if I compress the shock (to simlulate the weight of the vehicle) or not. My guess is the lower mounting postion for the rear lower control arm needs lowered.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Where the Lower ball joint, if that is what it is called where it passes through the eye for the strut rods appears to be binding. It seems to be hitting on the ball joint stud. This is improve once the suspension is at normal ride height. I would remove the spring from the shock and then put the assembled suspenison through it's full range of travel and check again for binding and correct. You can do nothing with the spring installed. You need to remove it and check without it.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,892
Likes: 13
From: Pettis Performance 565 with two stages of Nitrous Supply nitrous 1.082, 4.61 at 155, 7.17 at 192
I did that Norval, and it did not improve the geometry at all. I even compressed it with a jack to move it all the way through its range of motion and it did not improve.
I think I need to move the mounting point of the rear lower control arm down about an inch. I mocked it up like that and the geometry was perfect.
I think I need to move the mounting point of the rear lower control arm down about an inch. I mocked it up like that and the geometry was perfect.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
IF you have anything prior to say '72?? on these chassis/vettes, the lower inner strut bracket is of a shorter, higher design, and so is not as good as the later version, sometime in shark production....like '70-71?? anyway my '72 has the better of the GM designs not fully adjustable as the VBP smart strut which is adjustabe with inner up down rod positions...and their rods then adjust with the tie rod type construction for length....
GENE
GENE
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
It's kind of hard to tell from the angle in the photos, but it looks like the rear arm mount point is about an inch higher, so that might explain why lowering it improves the action. The angle through the "ball joint" area still seems severe. Are any parts flipped 180 degrees or something?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
John I am assuming the front of the car is to the left of the picture and that the right lower strut rod as actually the back strut rod??
To me the pivot for the lower sturt rod is totally crooked. It needs to be staighten and I think that if the right/rear strut rod was alot shorter it would help straighten the pivot.
I call it a pivot?? but it is the female part for the lower ball joint to rotate in. This pivot is touching/rubbing on one side.
The spring should be removed from the shock/strut.
Jacking doesn't give you the feel when moving the suspension.
This missalignment/crooked pivot is binding and is dangerous.
Again if you shorten the right strut rod is might help staighten the pivot point?
To me the pivot for the lower sturt rod is totally crooked. It needs to be staighten and I think that if the right/rear strut rod was alot shorter it would help straighten the pivot.
I call it a pivot?? but it is the female part for the lower ball joint to rotate in. This pivot is touching/rubbing on one side.
The spring should be removed from the shock/strut.
Jacking doesn't give you the feel when moving the suspension.
This missalignment/crooked pivot is binding and is dangerous.
Again if you shorten the right strut rod is might help staighten the pivot point?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,892
Likes: 13
From: Pettis Performance 565 with two stages of Nitrous Supply nitrous 1.082, 4.61 at 155, 7.17 at 192
Thanks guys.
I have lined it up with the rear lower arm shorter and does not help stuff much, plus it screws up the rest of the geometry.
There is no way to 180 this stuff, it is built with an agle into the lower control arms that would not be right.
AAArrg.
I have lined it up with the rear lower arm shorter and does not help stuff much, plus it screws up the rest of the geometry.
There is no way to 180 this stuff, it is built with an agle into the lower control arms that would not be right.
AAArrg.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
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