Strut rod adjustment?

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Jan 29, 2008 | 04:09 PM

aggiekev

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Cruising

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Strut rod adjustment?

Is there any trick to adjusting the strut rods? I have a 1980 and think it needs it. The rear tires are visibly tilted.

When I have it on jackstands I don't notice any excessive play, but once I bring it back down, the rears are tilted out. After a short drive, they settle back to being tiled in.

Does this sound like a strut rod adjustment or more like bad bushings on the strut rods?

Jan 29, 2008 | 04:12 PM

Durango_Boy

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From: Columbia Missouri

Being slightly tilted in at the top of the rear tires is normal. How much of a tilt is it? The strut rods may not be the issue if you have problems. I would also recommend looking into wheel bearing condition and the side yokes.

Can you post a pic of the rear end, half shafts, and tires, from low in the back?

Jan 29, 2008 | 04:29 PM

aggiekev

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I'll try some pictures this evening. I'm thinking (hoping) its the strut rod bushings.

The tilt is more than normal. What's the best way to check the condition of the wheel bearings and side yokes?

Jan 30, 2008 | 12:01 AM

aggiekev

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I brought the strut rods all the way in this evening and it straightened the wheel nicely (just slight tilt, as it should be), but I think new bushings will be needed very soon.

Jan 30, 2008 | 05:18 AM

I'm Batman

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From: Springfield MO

St. Jude Donor '07

Quote:

Originally Posted by aggiekev

I brought the strut rods all the way in this evening and it straightened the wheel nicely (just slight tilt, as it should be), but I think new bushings will be needed very soon.

Doing that with no measurement of camber and toe is a very bad idea...

Jan 30, 2008 | 09:42 AM

rfn026

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From: Naples FL

You're adjusting the rear camber. It sounds as if you took the negative camber out of he rear. The problem is you have no idea about what the rear camber is now without measuring it. Nor, do you have any idea about what it was.

Since I align my car before every track event I bought the SmartCamber gauge. It really works. If you play with you alignment settings you should get one.

Richard Newton

How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette, 1968-1982

Autocross Performance Handbook

Jan 30, 2008 | 09:48 AM

aggiekev

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While it may not be exactly to factory spec, the only change I made was to the camber on the rear wheel, and it is a significant improvement over the previous position. It's tough to see how it could have been a bad move. I am, of course, open to suggestions from those with more knowledge on these cars than me.

Jan 30, 2008 | 10:44 PM

birdsmith

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From: Japan

As other have mentioned here it's kinda sketchy attempting alignments by eyeball. If you're really going to insist on doing this sort of thing in your driveway, get a camber gage. As mentioned by Mr. Newton the SmartCamber is a good unit, there are also others that do a good job and none of them cost much more than the price of a decent alignment at a reputable shop.