Tire Leaning or Tilt
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Joined: Jun 2004
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Tire Leaning or Tilt
Ok I know that Im a NEWB and that this is probably posted already, but I couldnt find the thread. What I want to know is my driver side wheel more so than my passenger side, although both do lean, leans inward at the top. It is very noticable, what could this be? I also here a rubber squeak sound coming from that wheel when I first pull out from somewhere. It goes away at 10 MPH or so. Bad wheel bearing? or what? And then after you give me your opinion on what it is, would you mind telling me how to fix it? Thanks! 
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 452
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From: Newark, DE
The tire angle is from your aligment. If it's on the front, it's most likely from worn out control arm bushings. If it's the rear, it's from your strut rods, which don't hold alignment worth crap. The squeaking is probably from your U-joints on the rear half-shafts.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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its the rear driver side that leans in, and i hear that it could be the spindal or something? is this true? like $300 from the GM dealer. im worried about the cash. lol but the driver rear is in like 2 - 3 inches, major lean. But maybe just bearings? and the squek how do i fix that?
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 452
Likes: 158
From: Newark, DE
That lean is almost definitely from the alignment. You can adjust it yourself, but you won't get it quite right. Take it to a shop and get it aligned. To get rid of the squeak, you can try taking the U-joints out and lubing them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Here is the best way to check the bushings and bearings. Jack the rear up and grab the tire top/bottom. Pull hard and see if there is any noise or slack. That will test the strut. Side to side will test the bearing. Any popping, metallic, or thug noises are bad.
Sounds like the strut bushings are bad and load is making the bearing bad.
Sounds like the strut bushings are bad and load is making the bearing bad.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,102
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From: Fair Oaks, OK
Originally Posted by Budman78
Sounds like the strut bushings are bad and load is making the bearing bad.
If your tire really is leaning as much as you say it is, you probably shouldn't even be driving your car. By driving it, you're putting stress on parts that don't need that kind of abuse. You also risk breaking a u-joint and having a half shaft destroy your battery box and possibly worse. I would be extremely suprised to hear an allignment would fix the problem.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
nobody told you what its going to take to fix this and it could be really expensive, if your trailing arms, rear wheel bearings, strut rods are shot this is really going to hurt, make sure you take this to somone who knows what they are looking at, if they don't and just start guessing at what to replace it will cost you several thousand dollars. My repair was an expensive nightmare the trailing arms had rusted, the bearings were shot, the strut rods had been jacked up on and where distorted, and the rear end needed to be rebuilt. ouch it reallyhurt paying that bill. So make sure you have good independent perspectives on the repair before you let someone start wrenching on it.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 399
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From: Chambersburg PA
The tire lean in the rear is probably a result of a strut rod no longer holding. the yokes can wear and cause this lean to get worse....driving in that condition will only wear the yoke faster putting all kinds of binding load in the whole assembly. I would find a Vette knowldegeable shop in your area and have them help diagnos the problem. My first move would be swap out the Strutrods for VBP Smart strut assembly. The smart struts have Miles more adjustability and can allow the shop to align the car even with warn yokes. Do not waste your money on origional GM strut rods they do not have the adjustability you need.
It is not a difficult swap but ya may want to have the shop do it if your not very mechanical...Those Shockmounts are a PITA if your car has any rust. I would talk to these guys as well before talking to a shop http://www.vbandp.com/ They are very good guys and will give you things to look out for and check so you don't get soaked by a shop.
It is not a difficult swap but ya may want to have the shop do it if your not very mechanical...Those Shockmounts are a PITA if your car has any rust. I would talk to these guys as well before talking to a shop http://www.vbandp.com/ They are very good guys and will give you things to look out for and check so you don't get soaked by a shop.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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thanks!
sorry ive been really busy lately and just got the frame fixed yesterday. so im back in the game again with fixing things but mother winter is setting in so i may have to break out the car cover and dream about it till spring, thanks for all the help though! im going to replace them myself as I am fairly good with cars, thanks for the pointers though! ill keep you posted with results.
