Upper a arm spacers
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 1,181
From: La Mesa CA
Upper a arm spacers
I am looking at a 1973 upper a arm spacers used for alignment. What is the range of acceptable thickness? From a search I have discovered no spacers at all is not a good thing. What about more spacers in the back than in the front on both driver ang passenger sides?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Lakefield Ontario
What you call spacers are really called shims, they are placed as needed when performing an alignment to bring the front end into the proper specifications.
If you are doing any work on the control arms, you should note the number and location of any shims already on the car, and reinstall them until you get the the car to an alignment shop, this will get the car close,but not perfect!
I am rebuilding the suspension on my 69 vert and just wrapped masking tape around the shims and wrote the location on the tape.
Hope this helps!
If you are doing any work on the control arms, you should note the number and location of any shims already on the car, and reinstall them until you get the the car to an alignment shop, this will get the car close,but not perfect!
I am rebuilding the suspension on my 69 vert and just wrapped masking tape around the shims and wrote the location on the tape.
Hope this helps!
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
You should take a measurement of the upper a-arm towers just forward of the front alignment stud. Take a look at the link. Pic not showing for some reason.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/corvettepics/4790394456/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/corvettepics/4790394456/
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 1,181
From: La Mesa CA
You should take a measurement of the upper a-arm towers just forward of the front alignment stud. Take a look at the link. Pic not showing for some reason.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/corvettepics/4790394456/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/corvettepics/4790394456/
I will try to take a picture of what the car looks like and post it
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
The shims adjust caster and camber. Using an equal number of shims on both sides of the control arm will move the arm in or out equally which will increase or decrease the camber (leaning in or out of the wheel). Caster is corrected by adding or subtracting shims to only one side of the control arm. This moves the upper ball joint forward or backward and increases or decreases castor as a result. The only things shims don't effect is toe in/toe out.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
The shims adjust caster and camber. Using an equal number of shims on both sides of the control arm will move the arm in or out equally which will increase or decrease the camber (leaning in or out of the wheel). Caster is corrected by adding or subtracting shims to only one side of the control arm. This moves the upper ball joint forward or backward and increases or decreases castor as a result. The only things shims don't effect is toe in/toe out.
