Trailing arm shims need help.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 59
From: Meldrim Georgia
Trailing arm shims need help.
So I replaced the bushings in my trailing arms and as I remove the shims I would wrap the set with tape and label it driver side outside driver side inside. And so on. I reinstall them the same way I took them out. Then I drove the car to the shop to have the rear aligned. I looked at it today and he moved all the shims to the inside and no shims on the outside. Is there any possible way that this could be correct?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 59
From: Meldrim Georgia
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 59
From: Meldrim Georgia
Is what got me looking at it is have a vibration now about 45 and I mash the gas. I do not remember it being there before I took it to him. Do you think maybe the trailing arms are pulling too hard on the half shaft causing the rear end to vibrate?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
If all the shims are on one side of the t/a and none on the other side of it, something may be bent. Or the alignment shop has a problem. You could maybe get the toe correct, but the thrust angle is way out there. Following you, it would look like a bad dogleg. Are both sides the same? All the shims on one side?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
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From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
I checked/adjusted my rear alignment prior to taking the car to the shop. I used two wheel dollies on the rear wheels (allows wheel movement), used jack stands to pull heavy string from the front of the car to rear the rear past the wheels and noted alignment differences between both sides. I added/removed shims to make both wheels align the same to the car. This gave me a base line. The alignment shop made only small adjustments and I feel confident the job was done correctly. You may have different shim counts on each side due to frame or trailing arm issues.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Toe is set with the inner shims. Outer shims do nothing but fill space and keep the inner stack tight. Seems odd all the shims were needed on the inners, but you paid the alignment tech for his/her expertise.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 34
From: Working on the car NY
This is one reason I spent a full day doing a DIY alignment on both my front and rear. I figured, I could do just a good a job as any local shop I know and all I had to spend is my time - but at least the car didn't get out of my hands. Shops like to shortcut this job because it takes a lot of time. IMO, you shouldn't "force" a rear wheel alignment by shimming only one side. Shims should be taken out/put in evenly on each side. Of course, this is my opinion and I could be totally out of wack
How much did you pay for the alignment? I assume they did all 4 wheels - yes, no?
How much did you pay for the alignment? I assume they did all 4 wheels - yes, no?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Sorry, but if you already paid for the alignment then take the car back and tell the technician you have a vibration and want his setup verified - along with the printout. You may have lost a wheel weight on the way home. Don't assume because all shims are on one side the aignment is incorrect. Verify before you start tearing into this ........toe-in adjustments are very minor to be correct.