How Much Side Play?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 281
Likes: 4
From: Holbrook MA
How Much Side Play?
I have the diff out on my 77 for a gear swap. There is nothing connected to the arms, they are only mounted at the front bushings. The bushings in the rear arms look fine, but the arms have maybe 3" of side movement. Is this normal?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 112
From: Great Plains Iowa
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
The strut rods control the side to side movement, I'd be concerned with movement with those attached. 3" does sound like a lot, but those front bushings are rubber.
Last edited by SH-60B; Jan 17, 2016 at 01:11 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 823
Likes: 57
From: Austin TX
It's been a long time since I worked on a Vette rear, but I thought the halfshafts control side to side movement. Don't the strut rods only control camber? Anyway, I agree that 3" side play with the arm free may not be excessive. I'd be more concerned with fore-aft movement.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
It's been a long time since I worked on a Vette rear, but I thought the halfshafts control side to side movement. Don't the strut rods only control camber? Anyway, I agree that 3" side play with the arm free may not be excessive. I'd be more concerned with fore-aft movement.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 823
Likes: 57
From: Austin TX
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
The strut rod maintains wheel geometry thru the vertical travel, therefore it's a control arm. The front suspension has adjustable camber also, in the upper control arm. Does that help explain it? lol!
Last edited by SH-60B; Jan 17, 2016 at 08:06 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 823
Likes: 57
From: Austin TX
I wasn't asking for an explanation. It works exactly the way I thought.
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