Noticed something odd about my rear end
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Rockland County NY
Here's another thought...did your car have spacers on it when you got it and maybe when Meineke did the work they had the wheels/spacers off and forgot to put one back on? Dumber things have happened....
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Stroudsburg PA
Double checked the wheels and at least the tires are correct. Both fronts are 255/40R17 and rears are 285/45R17.
When I get home I will measure the inside-to-outside rim distance on both.
One more note...and I will post pic later, but notice on the drivers side that the top of the wheel looks further in than the bottom. The pass side looks perpendicular to the ground and the driver side looks tilted in at the top.
When I get home I will measure the inside-to-outside rim distance on both.
One more note...and I will post pic later, but notice on the drivers side that the top of the wheel looks further in than the bottom. The pass side looks perpendicular to the ground and the driver side looks tilted in at the top.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Stroudsburg PA
It looks like the issue existed before I purchased it. I bought it from a dealer in New Port Richey, FL and drove it back to Stroudsburg, PA...1100+ miles.
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 388
Likes: 1
From: Louisville Ky
There is the chance that it was wrecked and they used the wrong year parts to fix it. I can't remember what years are different, and what is different about them. But there is a difference. I think the 84 through 87 are different than the rest of the C4s. One thing is for sure, something is not right and I wouldn't drive it until I found out what is is.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 269
Likes: 1
From: Anniston BAMA
A previous post suggested a wreck. Just brainstormin here, wouldn't a report from a certain carfa_ company show insurance claims and accident reports?
Any unusual noises on the road, especially going around corners?
Does the car pull to one side or the other or wander?
Vettes have 4 wheel alignment. It seems extreme from the fotos I don't think theres that much adjustment. Something to check tho.
Any unusual noises on the road, especially going around corners?
Does the car pull to one side or the other or wander?
Vettes have 4 wheel alignment. It seems extreme from the fotos I don't think theres that much adjustment. Something to check tho.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Stroudsburg PA
A previous post suggested a wreck. Just brainstormin here, wouldn't a report from a certain carfa_ company show insurance claims and accident reports?
Any unusual noises on the road, especially going around corners?
Does the car pull to one side or the other or wander?
Vettes have 4 wheel alignment. It seems extreme from the fotos I don't think theres that much adjustment. Something to check tho.
Any unusual noises on the road, especially going around corners?
Does the car pull to one side or the other or wander?
Vettes have 4 wheel alignment. It seems extreme from the fotos I don't think theres that much adjustment. Something to check tho.
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Carfax originated in the mid to late '90's, any accident prior to that period may not have been reported. Purchased my car new in 1990 one year later took it to the dealer for a trans leak. They left the car in the parking lot with the keys in the car...............you guessed it someone stole the car. Furthermore if you run carfax today the damage resulting from the theft does not appear.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,447
Likes: 14
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
first thing is to make sure your offsets are the same. I'm guessing someone hit sonthin and replaced a wheel with the wrong offset. just for chits and giggles swap the two wheels around to see if the problem changes sides. If not, get out your wallet cause it's going to be spensive. Also when the wheel is off check for spacers on the drivers side.
good luck and keep us posted.
good luck and keep us posted.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Rockland County NY
Ok, I just had half the techs in the shop looking at your pictures and they all agreed that if the rear tires shifted two or three inches side to side like you think, you'd be dropping parts out of the *** end of the car like a bad night at Taco Bell! We decided that the rims must be wrong...or the backspacing. If you've been driving it like that for well over 1,000 miles, it CAN'T be the suspension! Our money is on mismatched rims...
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,447
Likes: 14
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Ok, I just had half the techs in the shop looking at your pictures and they all agreed that if the rear tires shifted two or three inches side to side like you think, you'd be dropping parts out of the *** end of the car like a bad night at Taco Bell! We decided that the rims must be wrong...or the backspacing. If you've been driving it like that for well over 1,000 miles, it CAN'T be the suspension! Our money is on mismatched rims...
perzactly
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
my guess: wheels were mixed up while replacing the tires. the 285's were put on the wheels meant for the front, then bolted to the rear of the car. the 255's were mounted on the rear wheels and bolted on the front of the car. do the front tires look really strectched over that wheel? if true, ur getting brand new tires for free! places like meineke hire hourly workers who may not be that experienced or are just over worked and got in a hurry. lol i used to work at firestone, i know what its like
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,525
Likes: 2
From: Houston TX
Could you have been mistaken about the offset issue "flipping sides"?
Many of the vettes you see will have one tire offset more than the other due to the body tub (and for that matter the suspension) not being perfect centered to the fenders. Almost every car I see has more offset on one side than the other (mine included). But your offset does seem a bit more pronounced than normal which may be exagerated by the alignment issues in the rear.
I am not saying that someone could not have replaced one of the rear wheels with 17x8.5" (just ckheck the icasting on the inside of the wheels), but it may just be the alignment and poor tub alignment with the fenders.
Get it aligned or crawl under and udjust the camber yourself and then see how different they look.
Good luck wit the repair.
Aaron
Many of the vettes you see will have one tire offset more than the other due to the body tub (and for that matter the suspension) not being perfect centered to the fenders. Almost every car I see has more offset on one side than the other (mine included). But your offset does seem a bit more pronounced than normal which may be exagerated by the alignment issues in the rear.
I am not saying that someone could not have replaced one of the rear wheels with 17x8.5" (just ckheck the icasting on the inside of the wheels), but it may just be the alignment and poor tub alignment with the fenders.
Get it aligned or crawl under and udjust the camber yourself and then see how different they look.
Good luck wit the repair.
Aaron
2019 Z06 2LZ A8 Coupe
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Atlanta GA
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 638
Likes: 1
From: Robesonia Pa
I have an 88 coupe base suspension. I took a 6 foot level and with my car in the garage I measured the distance from the body to the level. In my case with the level up against the tire on both sides and the level being plumb the body was a short distance from the level. I got about a 1/2 inch on pass side and 1/4 inch on Drivers. I then took a standard level and verified that both sides had the same amount of camber which in my case was about 1/2 inch.
Good luck
Could this be an issue with the transvers spring in the rear?
I have a way old car like 1930 and this spring on that car keeps the rear in postion right to left as well as the radius rods on that car. Just an idea as I am not that knowledgeable on the Corvette rears
Good luck
Could this be an issue with the transvers spring in the rear?
I have a way old car like 1930 and this spring on that car keeps the rear in postion right to left as well as the radius rods on that car. Just an idea as I am not that knowledgeable on the Corvette rears
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,696
Likes: 1
From: MA
my guess: wheels were mixed up while replacing the tires. the 285's were put on the wheels meant for the front, then bolted to the rear of the car. the 255's were mounted on the rear wheels and bolted on the front of the car. do the front tires look really strectched over that wheel? if true, ur getting brand new tires for free! places like meineke hire hourly workers who may not be that experienced or are just over worked and got in a hurry. lol i used to work at firestone, i know what its like
Id say you are correctAlmost had that happen to me on my 93 till I said something before they mounted tires on rims.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Stroudsburg PA
Ok, I just had half the techs in the shop looking at your pictures and they all agreed that if the rear tires shifted two or three inches side to side like you think, you'd be dropping parts out of the *** end of the car like a bad night at Taco Bell! We decided that the rims must be wrong...or the backspacing. If you've been driving it like that for well over 1,000 miles, it CAN'T be the suspension! Our money is on mismatched rims...
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 52
From: Jefferson City MO
While searching for a C4 this winter, I found one at a dealer that was exactly like that. I drove the car and it drove just fine, but the rear was definitely shifted just like you car, but the driver side was pushed out. After showing the problem with the dealer, he came clean. As it turns out, the dealer was out having too much fun in the car and tried to do a lateral slide into a parallel parking space too fast. The back passenger tire hit the curb and broke the wheel. They replaced the wheel with a correct size, but did not notice the shift in the rear. He took it that day, had it realigned, and it fixed the problem. He showed me the invoice and if I remember right, it was an expensive alignment, but no new parts were needed. I passed on the car, so I can just offer what fixed it, just do not know if that was the permanent fix. It really looked odd from the back!!!