Alignment problems
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Lexington ky
Alignment problems
Finally got my car to the alignment shop after rebuilding the front end only to be told that my rear end was out of center and no amount of shims could correct. I rebuilt the rear end 2 years ago and had it aligned with no problems. When I rebuilt it I did not remove the trailing arms though. Could the shop be incorrect, it probably has only been driven 1000 miles? I also found a broke motor mount so I am getting very frustrated. Anyone ever have this issue? I guess I’ll try to fix the motor mount and take it to a Chevy dealership this time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Check with the local Corvette club, and find out which alignment shop in your area is familiar with the IRS on the vette. It is possible that the trailing arm is bent, or maybe they just didn't want to mess with it. G/L 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
i am kinda familiar with the auto shop communitie and the folks involved. my educated guess is the shop does not know how and or want to align the rear in your vette. therfore they cannot garuantee their work. so they blew you off with an excuse. just my .02
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Lexington ky
No I was unable to take it to the same shop I have recently relocated. One big issue I am having is my work schedule is the same times that almost all of the local shops are open and I commute 30 miles to work so driving the car to work and taking it to a shop at lunch is out as well. It appears that the shops open on Saturday are useless. Hopefully if a trailing arm was bent it would have been caught in the previous alignment. Would that not tremendously affect how the car handled?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Your best alternative is to take the time to take it to a reputable alignment shop that does know how to align the rear of a vette. Our local chevy dealer doesn't even do C3 alignments. If your tires aren't worn I would think your trailing arms aren't bent.
Bernie
Bernie
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
ya, unless you have a really good reason to trust your local dealer, that is the last place I would take my vette! The dealer mechanics that know anything about C3 vettes - if they ever existed - are now long gone! 
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Ask for the printout and post it and also how thick the shim pack is on the T-arms. We can tell you if it is really out of spec or not.
I had this problem when I got my '71. The left T-arm was slightly bent. Not enough to look bent but the toe-in was out of spec even with all the shims on one side. I found a used T-arm at a swap meet and that fixed it.
I had this problem when I got my '71. The left T-arm was slightly bent. Not enough to look bent but the toe-in was out of spec even with all the shims on one side. I found a used T-arm at a swap meet and that fixed it.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 0
From: Valencia (near LA) CA
Originally Posted by zwede
I had this problem when I got my '71. The left T-arm was slightly bent.
A good alignment makes a tremendous difference. Alignment on these cars requires soooo much labor there's a good chance that many never get done right.
Good luck!
~Jay
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I wouldn't want to align a vet that is not new in the trailing arm area. Think about the problems most have with the through bolt and the rusted shims.
Unless everything is free, well lubed and easy to work on I wouldn't expect some alignment guy who has only a certain time slot for an alignment to get into that problem.
Free everything up yourself, get a laser level , they are cheap and lay it along the tire on one side, check mentally where it stricks the front tire and do the other side to see if you are even close.
Unless everything is free, well lubed and easy to work on I wouldn't expect some alignment guy who has only a certain time slot for an alignment to get into that problem.
Free everything up yourself, get a laser level , they are cheap and lay it along the tire on one side, check mentally where it stricks the front tire and do the other side to see if you are even close.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by Jay M
.
A good alignment makes a tremendous difference. Alignment on these cars requires soooo much labor there's a good chance that many never get done right.
Good luck!
~Jay
A good alignment makes a tremendous difference. Alignment on these cars requires soooo much labor there's a good chance that many never get done right.
Good luck!
~Jay
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
My local shop took about 6 hours, over two days, to align mine, and I had just replaced trailing arm bushings and have adjustable strut rods. The reason it took two days was I did not have the thinest rear shims, 1/64 or 1/32, and, since I was under the car with the tech, he wanted it perfect. Their labor rate is $70/hour, but they charged me the standard 4 wheel alignment rate of $114 total.
This shop inspects and does work on my daily *** drivers, when I don't feel like working on them. I know the shop manager and the one tech on a first name basis as friends. Been using them for about 15 years. They even lent me a trolly and hoist when I swapped engines this past spring. It pays to cultivate friendship at the local shop. Note: this is an independent shop, not part of any chain, but they have up to date equipment - computer alignment gear, OBD II (or what ever) test equipment, etc.
Support your local garage and machine shop, if they are qualified.
This shop inspects and does work on my daily *** drivers, when I don't feel like working on them. I know the shop manager and the one tech on a first name basis as friends. Been using them for about 15 years. They even lent me a trolly and hoist when I swapped engines this past spring. It pays to cultivate friendship at the local shop. Note: this is an independent shop, not part of any chain, but they have up to date equipment - computer alignment gear, OBD II (or what ever) test equipment, etc.
Support your local garage and machine shop, if they are qualified.