Alignment- 1982- Why so hard?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 73
Likes: 5
From: AR
Alignment- 1982- Why so hard?
Why am in having so much trouble getting my 82 4 wheel aligned? Sears said it was over their head. Local Chevy dealer had doubts and said I need to bring my own specs. Other Chevy dealer said it could take all day at $100 per hour. I saw in one post that I might need to bring my own shims? Firestone said they could do it but I have doubts.
Suggestions on how to get this done and do I need to provide shims and if so where do I get them??
Thanks
Suggestions on how to get this done and do I need to provide shims and if so where do I get them??
Thanks
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 221
Likes: 13
From: Central Virginia
To remove and reshim the rear trailing arms is a difficult and time taking process for sure. You can order the shims through a Corvette retailer like Wilcox or Zip Corvette.
Your best bet would be to take your Corvette to a Corvette specialty shop and let them conduct the repairs. They will have the experience that these other shops will most likely not have.
Your best bet would be to take your Corvette to a Corvette specialty shop and let them conduct the repairs. They will have the experience that these other shops will most likely not have.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 666
From: Northeast
It would help if you mentioned where you reside, perhaps someone here lives in the area. 
When I needed an alignment I would ask owners at car shows or cruise nites where they had their car done. Or contact a local corvette club. One name was mentioned a couple of times and I opted for them.
Good luck. My alignment cost $190.
When I needed an alignment I would ask owners at car shows or cruise nites where they had their car done. Or contact a local corvette club. One name was mentioned a couple of times and I opted for them.
Good luck. My alignment cost $190.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 121
From: Kernersville NC
You may have better luck at a "not name brand" tire store. IMO the chain stores generally don't always have highly experienced employees. At many of the locally owned shops you will find employees that have been there for years and know what they are doing. The shop I use for tires and alignments charges about $60 for a four wheel alignment and the mechanic had been doing them for 25 or more years.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 73
Likes: 5
From: AR
It would help if you mentioned where you reside, perhaps someone here lives in the area.
When I needed an alignment I would ask owners at car shows or cruise nites where they had their car done. Or contact a local corvette club. One name was mentioned a couple of
times and I opted for them.
Good luck. My alignment cost $190.
When I needed an alignment I would ask owners at car shows or cruise nites where they had their car done. Or contact a local corvette club. One name was mentioned a couple of
times and I opted for them.
Good luck. My alignment cost $190.
I live in Northwest Arkansas. Thanks for the response.
Last edited by crazydad42; Jun 7, 2016 at 09:25 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 249
Likes: 32
From: Cypress TX
Here's some thoughts.
Unless you've done work on or changed the diff, or the trailing arm bushings are gone, you're rear toe won't change. So you don't really need a full 4 wheel alignment. The camber is an easy adjustment that doesn't affect the toe. Also, any alignment shop should easily be able to "CHECK" your alignment in minutes. Changing it is the big labor part. If you have to align the rear toe, it is a major PITA that with any rust can involve sawing the trailing arm out.
I did my own alignment with a couple of pieces of angle iron, and a tape measure, but It was part of replacing the trailing arms.
Unless you've done work on or changed the diff, or the trailing arm bushings are gone, you're rear toe won't change. So you don't really need a full 4 wheel alignment. The camber is an easy adjustment that doesn't affect the toe. Also, any alignment shop should easily be able to "CHECK" your alignment in minutes. Changing it is the big labor part. If you have to align the rear toe, it is a major PITA that with any rust can involve sawing the trailing arm out.
I did my own alignment with a couple of pieces of angle iron, and a tape measure, but It was part of replacing the trailing arms.
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 1,173
From: Southlake, TX
I have an '82
I had mine done at a Chevy dealer-- spot on and 150.
I think it depends on who you talk with and what your service advisers know about the dealer technicians training level.
Sounds like you SA didn't want to hassle with it and "chased" you away.
I had mine done at a Chevy dealer-- spot on and 150.
I think it depends on who you talk with and what your service advisers know about the dealer technicians training level.
Sounds like you SA didn't want to hassle with it and "chased" you away.
Last edited by billschroeder5842; Jun 7, 2016 at 10:46 AM.
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
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Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Alignments are easy to do on C3's imo but the problem is with seized parts and more specifically the rear trailing arm where the bolt passes through the bushing. As Luce points out, if the rear toe has never been adjusted, then there is probably no reason for it to be out of adjustment from factory spec unless the car has been damaged at some point or shims have returned to their natural state. I just replaced my rear TA bushings, fun, and took the car to an alignment shop. Nothing was seized so it was easy to adjust the rear toe. The hard part was getting access to the shims and moving them about. Imo, there is no special knowledge required to align these cars - add/remove shims for rear toe, rotate cam for rear camber, add/remove shims on front upper control arms for castor/camber and rotate tie rod sleeves for toe. So any trained alignment specialist can do these adjustments even if they've never done a C3 before such as my alignment guy. My alignment took two hours with an hour spent on adjusting rear toe only. All else was straight forward. Now I will monitor tire wear.
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Joined: Sep 2013
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Likes: 7,006
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
If the bushings are in good shape and the shims aren't rusted badly you can adjust the rear toe and camber yourself if you are mechanically inclined. Then take it to a alignement shop that has experience with older Corvettes. Let them doublecheck the rear alignment (since you may have already replaced rusted bolts/nuts/shim/rotted bushings)........then let them do the front end alignment and replace any worn-out parts/repack wheel bearings.
My front end/rear suspension were shot, so I replaced all the bushings/shims/rusted items/etc and did the "String Alignment" after reading several threads about string alignment.
My front end/rear suspension were shot, so I replaced all the bushings/shims/rusted items/etc and did the "String Alignment" after reading several threads about string alignment.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 829
Likes: 131
From: Spartanburg SC
In a 50 mile radius of your home there are several independent/privately owned allignment shops. You need to find the oldest guy you can. The shop I use is in a 70 yo wood framed four bay building that looks like it is going fall down around his ankles. And, it's in a run down neighborhood. Guy learned his trade in late 60's early 70's on these cars. All the restorers in town take their cars to him. They're out there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Working on a C3 takes more time and trouble than most present era cars. So shops just don't want to do them. As mentioned above, the car club folks know where to take their cars to get good work done. Go to a car show or two in your area; find some Corvette owners (C2-C4) and ask where they take theirs. Some will give you leads on shops that will do good work on Corvettes.
The problem here is one of basic laziness / greed with some ignorance thrown in....
The problem here is one of basic laziness / greed with some ignorance thrown in....
Last edited by 7T1vette; Jun 10, 2016 at 03:36 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 686
The front end alignment on C3's should be a piece of cake to get done right. Make sure before they do anything they check ball joints, a-arm bushings, Idler arm and tie rod ends for condition or it's all a waste of time. In my younger years I worked as a tech at a Chev dealership and some how got to be the alignment specialist. Adding or subtracting shims in the front makes it easy to get the camber and caster spot on. I would purchase new shims just because I hate seeing rusty shims in a nice car. NAPA has them. They aren't expensive. Get a variety of thickness for fine tuning. Really any good alignment shop should have them on the shelf. I like the shims that don't have the big tab on the top for a cleaner look.
Now the rear is another story. I had to cut the rear trailing bolts to get it out. If everything is new in the rear its just not that tough to move shims from one side of the trailing arm to the other.
Now the rear is another story. I had to cut the rear trailing bolts to get it out. If everything is new in the rear its just not that tough to move shims from one side of the trailing arm to the other.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
A C3 rarely has un-rusted/frozen bolts on the T/A's...unless that area has been rebuilt recently. And, in that case, alignment shops don't seem to have problems doing the rear of a Corvette.
You just have to find a GOOD shop that wants to help you fix your car right. Sometimes, that 'search' takes some effort.
You just have to find a GOOD shop that wants to help you fix your car right. Sometimes, that 'search' takes some effort.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 23
Likes: 4
From: Springdale AR
Hey! I live in Springdale. I have a 1978 and a 2005. I take both of the to The KAR Shop in Rogers, it is right beside the Harley place. Keith is the co-owner with his brother. They aligned mine and did a great job.
Tell them Rob sent you.
Good luck!
Tell them Rob sent you.
Good luck!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 3
I just had mine done at a Belle Tire in MI. They say their specs go back to 62 on their computer. It took him almost 2 hrs to do it and I had all the bolts replaced and new shims on the rear and went thru the front to make sure all the bolts and tie rod ends would loosen up. The rear is a pain. You just need to find someone who is willing to spend the time to do it right.