Smart struts installed...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Smart struts installed...
This is a very unfair comparison, and I really can't tell any of you the difference between the stock strut bracket and the smart struts, because the stock bushings in my car were shot BEYOND BELIEF. Ok, not beyond belief, but pretty damn bad. Some of them were missing at least half the bushing.
Before...
After...
Not much to look at, but the new rods sure are shiny! ;)
The tires make less noise in the corners and the car tracks better. I was not in the mood, plus the car was loaded, so I have not given them a good hard cornering test yet. The guys at the shop couldn't believe how bad my old bushings were. :) Judging from my shock mounts, I'm still running the original ones. Lucky me, haven't had to pay to replace them yet! I'm sure they'll break the next time. :)
Trailing arms this summer!!
-Steve
Before...
After...
Not much to look at, but the new rods sure are shiny! ;)
The tires make less noise in the corners and the car tracks better. I was not in the mood, plus the car was loaded, so I have not given them a good hard cornering test yet. The guys at the shop couldn't believe how bad my old bushings were. :) Judging from my shock mounts, I'm still running the original ones. Lucky me, haven't had to pay to replace them yet! I'm sure they'll break the next time. :)
Trailing arms this summer!!
-Steve
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,077
Likes: 27
From: Northeast South Dakota
Re: Smart struts installed... (Pacin'California)
Looks good. You didn't have any problems with your tailpipes hitting due to the lower strut rod mounting bracket I take it????? I had to lower my pipes an inch and a half in the back to get them to clear the smart struts bracket. If the pipes were closer to the middle of the diff I would have been alright, but they are slightly to the passenger side so I had some clearance issues. I may have my pipes reworked a little bit to get back in the center of the diff and bring them back up one day. We'll see.
-Justin
-Justin
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: Smart struts installed... (Dalannex)
I managed to get my smart struts in fine, but had to do a pullup on the pipe in order to squeeze the bracket into place. The leaf spring was FAR easier to squeeze through than the SS.
I had a helper. Job took 2.5 hours total... not so bad, I think!
-Steve
I had a helper. Job took 2.5 hours total... not so bad, I think!
-Steve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 3
From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
Re: Smart struts installed... (Pacin'California)
Looks good from what I can see. Did you have to do an alignment after
installing the smart struts?
Thanks for sharing the pics.
:seeya
installing the smart struts?
Thanks for sharing the pics.
:seeya
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: Smart struts installed... (DMONSVETTE)
Yes, but I installed them at their shortest setting. When the car hit the ground, camber was +1.2/+1.9. I adjusted to -.5 on both sides. The smart struts are VERY easy to adjust for camber. I used an alignment machine at my dad's shop, but there are ways of measuring with a carpenter's level and wood blocks. Tell me if you'd like to know more.
-Steve
-Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 8
From: San Jose California
Re: Smart struts installed... (Pacin'California)
When the car hit the ground, camber was +1.2/+1.9. I adjusted to -.5 on both sides.
Your car has to be a real blast to drive now that you've got new shocks and springs too. You probably do, but just wanted to make sure that you know that the car must roll about 30 feet once it is let down off a jack to get accurate camber measurements.
It's been too long. Lets get together after your finals are over.
Chuck
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: Smart struts installed... (Chuck Harmon)
Sounds good, Chuck. I was actually over at Tom's house last Sunday, checking out his new grocery getter. (As well as his Top Flight in the garage).
I swung by your house, but no Z in sight, so I just rolled on by. Starting to get a good feel for the neighborhood. Give me another year and I might be able to figure out how to get somewhere other than your two guys' houses!
I'd be more than happy to give you a ride, or better yet, let you take the 78 around the block again. It's night and day compared to what it was when you drove it.
-Steve
I swung by your house, but no Z in sight, so I just rolled on by. Starting to get a good feel for the neighborhood. Give me another year and I might be able to figure out how to get somewhere other than your two guys' houses!
I'd be more than happy to give you a ride, or better yet, let you take the 78 around the block again. It's night and day compared to what it was when you drove it.
-Steve
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Quebec
Re: Smart struts installed... (Pacin'California)
You're gonna love these struts. The -0.5 rear camber setting is great. I ran that setting for a year and 10000 miles and the tire wears straight. The car handle much better with the smart bracket.
Enjoy.
Stephan
Enjoy.
Stephan
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: Smart struts installed... (Van Steel)
Dan- So far, I've had a little bit of fun with my baby. The limit seems to have gone up by a good margin, and the car felt more compliant then before. Just a lot "smoother", more like a new vette. I will continue to do investigating and maybe write another report next week after I've driven the car a bit more.
-Steve
PS Alignment is CAKE with the new rods.
-Steve
PS Alignment is CAKE with the new rods.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: Smart struts installed... (pws69)
http://www.vettebrakes.com/Instructi...t/42009-10.htm
You can use trig to figure out the angle/gap relationship otherwise.
Install is relatively straightforward.
I had to remove the shocks, spring end link nuts, shock mounts, and lower the exhaust so I could feed the brackets through. The stock heat shield never went back on the car, but my exhaust piping looks fine. (I have a good 2" from the spring at that point.) The job took me 2.5 hours w/ air tools. Expect to need a hammer and a pry bar to get the shock mounts and old strut rods out.
-Steve
You can use trig to figure out the angle/gap relationship otherwise.
Install is relatively straightforward.
I had to remove the shocks, spring end link nuts, shock mounts, and lower the exhaust so I could feed the brackets through. The stock heat shield never went back on the car, but my exhaust piping looks fine. (I have a good 2" from the spring at that point.) The job took me 2.5 hours w/ air tools. Expect to need a hammer and a pry bar to get the shock mounts and old strut rods out.
-Steve
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville VA
Re: Smart struts installed... (Pacin'California)
Noticed the heat wrap on your pipes- is this enough to protect the 'glass spring? (I'm putting one on & am nervous about the potential problem...)
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Re: Smart struts installed... (PureSilver)
Yes- I can barely touch the hot, bare metal pipe, but can wrap my hands around the wrapped area for a long time. It's amazing how much cooler it is in that area.
-Steve
-Steve
