Rear wheels laying out at bottom
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: winterville NC
Rear wheels laying out at bottom
I started back working on my corvette, and I noticed that the rear wheels are laying out at the bottom. Anyone have an idea of what could be causing this?And just how expensive should it cost to fix? The right side, the bottom is sticking out 3/4 of an inch more than the top and the left side is bottom is 1.25 inches out versus the top.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,281
Likes: 4,372
From: Westminster Maryland
Hello,
Heres a link dealing with caster/camber.
What you're seeing is an alignment issue.
Depending on how much of a mechanic you are you might do it your self or need to take it to a shop to have it done.
Regards.....
https://www.townfairtire.com/information/wheel-alignment/caster-camber-and-toe-alignmen
Heres a link dealing with caster/camber.
What you're seeing is an alignment issue.
Depending on how much of a mechanic you are you might do it your self or need to take it to a shop to have it done.
Regards.....
https://www.townfairtire.com/information/wheel-alignment/caster-camber-and-toe-alignmen
Last edited by Alan 71; Feb 7, 2026 at 01:00 PM.
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,137
Likes: 4,248
From: US-PNW
Could also be a wear issue such that the bushings have sloppy connections. Inspect the bushings at both ends of the strut rods and the trailing arm bushings in the pockets where they attach to the frame. If they're worn out they need to be replaced first. If everything looks OK, then it's an alignment issue with the strut rods pushing out the wheels at the bottom.
Last edited by barkingrats; Feb 7, 2026 at 01:54 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,396
Likes: 1,011
From: Various places in Southern California.
Sounds like you have excessive negative camber. The strut rods adjust this via an eccentric at their inner mounting point. You should be able to get under the car (on a lift or jackstands) and loosen the eccentric nut then turning the eccentric bolt so that the strut rod is pulled inward. Some cars will have aftermarket strut rods with adjustments on the rods themselves; if you have those you can adjust them like you'd adjust a tie rod end.
While you're at it, check for excessive play in the suspension. While the car is in the air, see if you can move the wheels in-out or side-to-side. There should be very little play.
The problem you have could be as simple as an adjustment or as major as needing a full suspension rebuild. Start with the easy stuff first, though.
While you're at it, check for excessive play in the suspension. While the car is in the air, see if you can move the wheels in-out or side-to-side. There should be very little play.
The problem you have could be as simple as an adjustment or as major as needing a full suspension rebuild. Start with the easy stuff first, though.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
1- Check camber
2-Inspect the bushings, all of them
3- Check the inner axle endplay- common issue
4 -Check the outer axle bearing play
If the car was maintained over the years, has a correctly built differential, good outer axles, it can be simply loose strut rod bolts or worn bushings. If the car is an original one, never touched look for those things mentioned. If the car was worked on by hacks, many out there today and since the time I put a wrench on a vette- 1978, then you may be for a whole new experience. If you do your own work all the better, if you bring it to a common shop, repair work could cost more than the cars value. So it all comes down to you doing your homework carefully.
2-Inspect the bushings, all of them
3- Check the inner axle endplay- common issue
4 -Check the outer axle bearing play
If the car was maintained over the years, has a correctly built differential, good outer axles, it can be simply loose strut rod bolts or worn bushings. If the car is an original one, never touched look for those things mentioned. If the car was worked on by hacks, many out there today and since the time I put a wrench on a vette- 1978, then you may be for a whole new experience. If you do your own work all the better, if you bring it to a common shop, repair work could cost more than the cars value. So it all comes down to you doing your homework carefully.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,509
From: Virginia
There may be other, much more expensive things wrong, but I'll bet you a beer that the strut rod bushings are shot.
Rather than installing new bushings, consider a heim-jointed strut rod that keeps it's adjustment.
Rather than installing new bushings, consider a heim-jointed strut rod that keeps it's adjustment.
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
And the most common reason I've seen is worn yokes in the diff.
Which can be very expensive if your jobbing it out.
Get the wheels off the ground. Grab them at 6 and 12. Push in and out. Very little movement. Good. A bunch of movement? Watch the yokes were they enter the side of the diff. Movement? Bad.
Which can be very expensive if your jobbing it out.
Get the wheels off the ground. Grab them at 6 and 12. Push in and out. Very little movement. Good. A bunch of movement? Watch the yokes were they enter the side of the diff. Movement? Bad.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 281
From: New York
My solution was to heim-jointed strut rods. It solved the problem and always for fine adjustment. My guess is the heim-jointed strut rods flex less than rubber, and with a proper alignment, you might feel the car handle much better due to more rubber on the road.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 281
From: New York
BTW: If you must get an alignment, consider purchasing stainless steel shims for the toe setting. You can check yours, but they may be very rusty. You will also find that most shops do not stock the rear shims needed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,914
Likes: 229
From: Oakbank Manitoba
Wear of the differential stubshafts is the biggest reason you see some alignment shops bend the stock strut rods. Post #6 and post #10.
If your stock strut rods (with good bushings installed) can't be adjusted in far enough to get the camber back to stock then you can bet the stubshafts are worn excessively.
Also a sagging/worn rear spring will cause the ride height to be lower in the back resulting in excess negative camber. Post a side view shot of the car if possible and one from the rear.
The use of heim jointed strut rods can usually get your camber back to stock but if your main issue is the fact the stubshafts are wearing then unfortunately, at some point in the future, the stubshafts could start wearing into the side of the differential.
If your stock strut rods (with good bushings installed) can't be adjusted in far enough to get the camber back to stock then you can bet the stubshafts are worn excessively.
Also a sagging/worn rear spring will cause the ride height to be lower in the back resulting in excess negative camber. Post a side view shot of the car if possible and one from the rear.
The use of heim jointed strut rods can usually get your camber back to stock but if your main issue is the fact the stubshafts are wearing then unfortunately, at some point in the future, the stubshafts could start wearing into the side of the differential.
Last edited by KENS80V; Feb 9, 2026 at 03:08 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 7,658
Likes: 2,470
From: Indiana
I started back working on my corvette, and I noticed that the rear wheels are laying out at the bottom. Anyone have an idea of what could be causing this?And just how expensive should it cost to fix? The right side, the bottom is sticking out 3/4 of an inch more than the top and the left side is bottom is 1.25 inches out versus the top.
here's a few subjects discussed.
