Strut Rod Curve?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Strut Rod Curve?
I took both of my strut rods apart to press in new bushings and they both appear to have a curve in them. The curve is very uniforn thats why I think they are supposed to be theat way. Are they supposed to be that way or could they both have a bend in them?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Don't worry about the bend. Both strut rods on my 75 have a bend to them which I'm guessing has to be factory. When I had them off and set one on top of the other the angle was exactly the same.
Last edited by jdmick; Dec 3, 2005 at 08:53 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,179
Likes: 3,999
From: Connecticut, USA
No they should be straight. Alignment shops have been bending them since 1963! Some places will heat them up and straighten them back but I never liked that approach. Here's pic from the job I just finished and it had both rods bent, rotted bushings,and 1 correct head,1- replacement head. The 63-74 used the sm head, the 75+ used the large head and service parts were the lg head. Sometimes in extreme travel the lg head will bind in an earlier car. Check it to see and grind a relief in the support if needed-but only a small radius not enough to weaken it.
If it were me I'd replace them, they're about $60 each with new bushings installed.
Gary
If it were me I'd replace them, they're about $60 each with new bushings installed.
Gary
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Gary, those rods look like the problem has been caused by a twist in the rod or if someone has bent the arm in a way that the bend is not parallel with the eye. If an alignment shop bent the arms on my car they did a nice job of it. 
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
Originally Posted by wnmech
I took both of my strut rods apart to press in new bushings and they both appear to have a curve in them. The curve is very uniforn thats why I think they are supposed to be theat way. Are they supposed to be that way or could they both have a bend in them?