need help with rear-end alignment
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 1
From: Harrison Township, Mi
need help with rear-end alignment
OK guys, I made the maiden voyage last Thursday to the exhaust shop. MY rear wheel alignment (camber) is way off. I was actually nervous to drive it the 3/4 mile to the exhaust shop the tires are toed out at the bottom so bad. I think my rear spring is flat. The car had air shocks, which I recently took off, also, the strut rod bushings are shot. I went to a local suspension shop and was told, your strut rod bushings are bad and there is something goofy with the end links on the spring (The same things I told them when I dropped of the car). They couldn't tell me exactly what parts I needed or how long it would take to fix it, but they were sure it was a huge job (3 guys to align, special tool to compress the spring...hello, I weigh 130 lbs. and installed the spring myself with a floor jack). They also thought the spring was upside down...not. At any rate, I had them take the car down and I drove it home. I ordered a new spring, strut rods with bushings and all new hardware. I will do the work myself rather than pay someone who knows less than I do about my car. Any advice on how to align once i get it all back together? Also, I bought new end links when I installed the new rear and they never really sat right (they were fowl-eyed). Could this be because the spring was flat?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 16
From: absecon nj
Re: need help with rear-end alignment (randy72)
ive aligned all the rear ends on all my cars and others by myself and all have been on the money and no tire wear.A friend took his to an alignment shop after i got done with it to see how close i was i was dead on the guy couldtn believe it.Get it close and then if your not happy take it in and get it aligned.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,166
Likes: 3,968
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: need help with rear-end alignment (pats406nitrovette)
Randy, I think you better off doing it yourself. Sounds like htat shop never worked on an old vette before.
Pat what procedure did you follow to set the toe and camber?
Thanks,
Gary
Pat what procedure did you follow to set the toe and camber?
Thanks,
Gary
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Re: need help with rear-end alignment (randy72)
Unsure what you mean by "end links". There are "cups" that fit up in the holes in the ends of the spring. When the cup is fitted, the end is peened over. Original springs will be rather flat under load. They should not have a reverse curve, however. The strut rod bushings can be burned out with a propane torch. You can press in new ones using your bench vise and a pair of sockets. Chuck
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 1
From: Harrison Township, Mi
Re: need help with rear-end alignment (Chuck Gongloff)
By end link, I was referrering to the long bolts with rubber bushings that go through the outboard holes on the springs. The rubber bushings, I assume would sit in the cups that you are referring to. I didn't realize that they were peaned over.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 1
From: Harrison Township, Mi
Re: need help with rear-end alignment (randy72)
Resolved! I had the bolts/end-links in wrong on the spring. I also replaced the spring and strut rods while I was at it. Off to the alignment shop Saturday, but it's close enough to drive now.
