YOU can NOT solve this problem -80 model
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I mean any rubber suspension bushing. The rubber is vulcanized to the inner and outer steel sleeve. Both sleeves are typically held solid, one to the frame and the other to the suspension piece. If you put a twist into the bushing the rubber will try to straighten out, creating a spring type effect.
Peter
Peter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,426
Likes: 1,559
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Or tightening one trailing arm bushing on the ground and one off?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: lafayette indiana
out of the 10 or 12 c3s ive done not one had ever been wrecked until i started resto and found out diff. if u cant find odv. take to frame shop and have frame checked u might be supri. what u find
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Roger, very interesting read on that link- thank you.
Tomorrow I will disconnect the sway bar from both sides at the lower a arms.......
Your theory fits my leaning problem. The RF is higher then the LF,the LR is lower than the RR.
By pressing on the front sides, you can see the opposing rear lift, so the cross spring is free- by your theory. Thank you very much for your insight.
Tomorrow will be checking body mounts (numbers 2 and 3 both sides ) and disconnecting sway bar at both ends... More to come.
Tomorrow I will disconnect the sway bar from both sides at the lower a arms.......
Your theory fits my leaning problem. The RF is higher then the LF,the LR is lower than the RR.
By pressing on the front sides, you can see the opposing rear lift, so the cross spring is free- by your theory. Thank you very much for your insight.
Tomorrow will be checking body mounts (numbers 2 and 3 both sides ) and disconnecting sway bar at both ends... More to come.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
That is a very large sway bar and if it's bent that would cause a lean like that, try unbolting the ends and also meassure the long bolts that hold the car up. If someone cranked up one side more than the other it will cause a lean. I would say the pass rear is up rather than the drivers side being low IMO. Good Luck
You can help us alot by taking a pic of the spring with the spare removed and the car sitting on the ground!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
In fact - The one place where his frame is not level, it's going 1/4 inch OPPOSITE the problem lean. I'll say it again, suspension only levels (or tilts) the frame of the car. His problem seems clearly with the body... iether incorrect body mount shims or poor damage repair.
The only hope he has (frame and suspension wise) is that Roger is right and there is a problem keeping the right front frame "high" this making the left rear "low".
But past that, the body shim measurements he mentioned seem to come into play.
I'm basing the above strictly on the OP's reports of his frame to ground measurements.
-W
Last edited by Clams Canino; May 6, 2010 at 10:15 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
thanks and more data
Thanks guys for all ur input so far. I feel I am making headway by eliminating things. More data from moments ago:
I removed the front stabalizer bolts from the A Arms:
[IMG]
[/IMG]
[IMG]
[/IMG]
NO CHANGE in the lean to left as seen here:
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Some had asked for a pic of the rear spring without the tire carrier:
[IMG]
[/IMG]
[IMG]
[/IMG]
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Goona get me a good chew of RedMan ,sit in my outdoor chair and ponder for a spell....I'm open and all ears. 225-910-0059 if anyone wants to cry with me???
I removed the front stabalizer bolts from the A Arms:
[IMG]
[/IMG][IMG]
[/IMG]NO CHANGE in the lean to left as seen here:
[IMG]
[/IMG]Some had asked for a pic of the rear spring without the tire carrier:
[IMG]
[/IMG][IMG]
[/IMG][IMG]
[/IMG]Goona get me a good chew of RedMan ,sit in my outdoor chair and ponder for a spell....I'm open and all ears. 225-910-0059 if anyone wants to cry with me???
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
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
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Forgot to add- when attaching the rear leaf bolts at the spring ends, they were both pulled up to an equal distance, e.g.- both are 1 3/16" from stud end to top of nut....
Last edited by mikejpss; May 6, 2010 at 12:57 PM. Reason: changed measurement
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
As for the RedMan: a Nicotine addiction can be cured in one week.
-W (quit smoking last year - so as to have more money to dump into Old Thirsty)
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
All you guys that are going on and on about suspension, bushings, and swabilizer bars - are ignoring the simple statement above.
In fact - The one place where his frame is not level, it's going 1/4 inch OPPOSITE the problem lean. I'll say it again, suspension only levels (or tilts) the frame of the car. His problem seems clearly with the body... iether incorrect body mount shims or poor damage repair.
The only hope he has (frame and suspension wise) is that Roger is right and there is a problem keeping the right front frame "high" this making the left rear "low".
But past that, the body shim measurements he mentioned seem to come into play.
I'm basing the above strictly on the OP's reports of his frame to ground measurements.
-W
In fact - The one place where his frame is not level, it's going 1/4 inch OPPOSITE the problem lean. I'll say it again, suspension only levels (or tilts) the frame of the car. His problem seems clearly with the body... iether incorrect body mount shims or poor damage repair.
The only hope he has (frame and suspension wise) is that Roger is right and there is a problem keeping the right front frame "high" this making the left rear "low".
But past that, the body shim measurements he mentioned seem to come into play.
I'm basing the above strictly on the OP's reports of his frame to ground measurements.
-W
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 4
From: Anderson SC
Pay them first to DIAGNOSE the problem, and later to fix it if you can't.
You could prolly "Bubba" it straighter by playing with RF and LR spring heights - but I would not even think about doing that untill a body/frame shop told me what the underlying problem was.
-W
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Noon update
OK, while I've lost 2 years salary in the market today, I'm still plowing ahead on the lean problem with the Corvette. Talked to my body shop manager, he recommends A. re-checking the coil springs to insure they were installed correctly, B.check the body mounts,especially on the drivers side.
Body mounts (bm) numbers 1 and 4 can be seen from under the car & they look to be ok. I inspected #3bm yesterday, it looks like #2 pictured here that I just removed from the kick panel (top only, I realize the bottom section is under the body still).all 3 pics are the drivers side number 2 bm only.
see the pics:
[IMG]
[/IMG]
same bmount-different angle
[IMG]
[/IMG]
de bolt & upper rubber
[IMG]
[/IMG]
One can see the metal insert in the mount is NOT toast,rusted,collapsed,etc...
any comments?
Body mounts (bm) numbers 1 and 4 can be seen from under the car & they look to be ok. I inspected #3bm yesterday, it looks like #2 pictured here that I just removed from the kick panel (top only, I realize the bottom section is under the body still).all 3 pics are the drivers side number 2 bm only.
see the pics:
[IMG]
[/IMG]same bmount-different angle
[IMG]
[/IMG]de bolt & upper rubber
[IMG]
[/IMG]One can see the metal insert in the mount is NOT toast,rusted,collapsed,etc...
any comments?
Last edited by mikejpss; May 6, 2010 at 03:24 PM. Reason: spell check
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
Distance from bottom of rocker panel to bottom of frame is 1 inch pass side, 3/8 drivers side.(There is more exposed frame on pass side).
Is it possible the rocker channel on the pass side was replaced with a rocker channel insert kit for only that side?
Looks like the pass side of the body is uniformly too high on the frame.
Is it possible the rocker channel on the pass side was replaced with a rocker channel insert kit for only that side?
Looks like the pass side of the body is uniformly too high on the frame.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Distance from bottom of rocker panel to bottom of frame is 1 inch pass side, 3/8 drivers side.(There is more exposed frame on pass side).
Is it possible the rocker channel on the pass side was replaced with a rocker channel insert kit for only that side?
Looks like the pass side of the body is uniformly too high on the frame.
Is it possible the rocker channel on the pass side was replaced with a rocker channel insert kit for only that side?
Looks like the pass side of the body is uniformly too high on the frame.
The pass side of the body IS about 1/2 to 5/8'' higher off the frame than the DRIVERS side.
The ONLY thing I can see different is the rocker panel (the black metal piece that is screwed to the body panels- runs horizontal ) on the pass side it appears to be shorter than the one on the drivers side- say by about 3/8 inch.In other words, the pass rocker has about 1/4' body exposed at the rear end, about 1/8' body exposed at front end. The drivers side rocker covers the body completely on both ends.
Factory settings????Thank you VERY much for your input.
Last edited by mikejpss; May 6, 2010 at 05:02 PM. Reason: wrong word removed
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
From: Easton CT
I had about a 1" droop on the rear drivers side of my 69. It had a problem with the rear trailing arm, which at the rear has a sheet metal box structure that supports the bolt to the rear spring. The bottom of those two boxes therefore supports the entire rear car weight, and it is made of two overlapping pieces of sheet metal that are welded. On mine the weld was broken on the drivers side and the box was noticebly lower.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
I had about a 1" droop on the rear drivers side of my 69. It had a problem with the rear trailing arm, which at the rear has a sheet metal box structure that supports the bolt to the rear spring. The bottom of those two boxes therefore supports the entire rear car weight, and it is made of two overlapping pieces of sheet metal that are welded. On mine the weld was broken on the drivers side and the box was noticebly lower.
Thanks for the input. I measured each "box" you're referring to. This is the box the spring bolt slip thru at the top, and accepts the bolt to rest in the lower section with a cushion mount. They're both spot-on, same measurement both sides. Thanks for adding that idea. mj
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte North Carolina
I'm going to throw this out there. You are on concrete under a carport. The concrete is usually pitch +-1/4" per foot (4'width of car =1" could be your difference)) for water runoff. Though not much, the view from behind will magnify the concrete pitch. I totally removed, rebuilt, and repaired my front and rear suspension and had the same problem. Until I pulled it out further on the driveway where it was level. My 2 cents.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
[QUOTE=mikejpss;1573987762]Thanks guys for all ur input so far. I feel I am making headway by eliminating things. More data from moments ago:
I removed the front stabalizer bolts from the A Arms:
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
NO CHANGE in the lean to left as seen here:
[IMG][/IMG]
Hey is it me (maybe the camera angle) that driverside front sping coils look too close together at the bottom almost binding?
Can you get a pic of each front spring from the same perspective? Those springs look fairly new. Just seems the pass side coils are much further apart than the drivers side. Again, could just be the camera angle.
Just trying to be helpful.
I removed the front stabalizer bolts from the A Arms:
[IMG]
[/IMG][IMG]
[/IMG]NO CHANGE in the lean to left as seen here:
[IMG]
[/IMG]Hey is it me (maybe the camera angle) that driverside front sping coils look too close together at the bottom almost binding?
Can you get a pic of each front spring from the same perspective? Those springs look fairly new. Just seems the pass side coils are much further apart than the drivers side. Again, could just be the camera angle.
Just trying to be helpful.