So I have had my '86 Corvette for about a month now, and thought that anytime I put it up on the ramps in my garage, once I had the ramps laid down they were crooked....as if my car was coming at an angle instead of straight. I would also notice that one tire would go all the way to the back stopper of the ramp, while there would always be a gap between the back and the tire on the other side. I never thought much of it, and just assumed the car was "dragging" one of the ramps across the floor for a second before the tire caught it (the front end is lowered quite a bit).

Tonight when I was looking for something else, I could definitely see that there was a MUCH bigger gap between the front of the tire and front nose, than there was between the back of the tire and the back of the wheel well. So I got a tape measurer out, and did some quick eyeball measurements, and the tire on the passenger side is 1/2" further back than on the driver's side! And looking down over the top of the tire, you can tell the knuckle where the upper control arm connects to the spindle is much further behind the top of the shock on that side, as well.

Carfax has no report of any accidents nor major repairs. I was curious if anyone knows what could POSSIBLY cause this?

It seems as though the car is wrecked, since there are several problems with the passenger door. However, the car lines up perfectly, and the door opens and closes fine.

 

look at the pivot shaft in the upper a frame, front and rear bushings should line up on same axis...ez kill in any action...if bent, not recommended to straighten due to potential cracking (it's aluminum)

 

Update:

Looks like the upper control arm is bent where it connects to the spring. The metal between the two points on the top of the "V" is definitely curved instead of straight.

 

I am sorry, I am not mechanically savy AT ALL.....treat me as if I've never looked under a hood before LOL

But are you talking about the same part I am in the post under you?

I'm hoping just buying a new upper control arm should fix the problem?

Thanks!

 

sounds like we're both same page...that 'V' thing if stood against your wall would be almost an 'A'...it pivots on the inboard side on the 'pivot shaft', but that shaft is bolted to part of the frame not the spring...there is another 'A' frame below that the spring does sit on, that 'lower A frame' does not have a pivot shaft (only has bolts thru brackets on the frame).

replacing that upper frame will likely cure the problem, but needs a visual exam by a 'real' vette guy for any other damage...front suspension alignment must be done.

 

When I first got my C4 I noticed the passenger side wheel was farther back than it should. Turned out to be shimmed wrong which solved the problem.

 

I am wondering if this is what I found.

I looked back and forth several times, and have found that what I originally thought was bent, is actually not.

The two large bolts that bolt the "bar" I'm talking about on the other side of the wheel well, I'm assuming this is where it bolts to the spring? Well, there are little "spacers" where the bolt meets the spring (or frame or whatever it's bolted to).....like very thick washers.

There are 2 or 3 of these on the back connection, yet there are like 8 on the front connections, which forces the front side of the control arm to be pushed further outwards (directly towards the wheel), causing the whole assembly to be crooked......which in turn is also forcing that wheel to be pushed back about a half inch.

I hope I described that well, I don't feel like I did lol

I'm about to head to the dealership and see what they can do.

 

'crose enuf' on description...those 'little spacers' are properly called 'shims'...every car should have a few...large variation from 'front shim stack' to 'rear shim stack' or between shim stacks right side/left side indicates either heavy collision damage or incompetant mechanic doing front end alignment.

'what the dealership can do': take all your money...tell the 'service writer' that the 'shims look wrong' and you want the alignment checked.

general note: the C4 bodywork forward from the windshield forward is very 'flexible' and 'adjustable'...general visual evaluation is OK but don't be overly concerned with 'variations' of hood/lower fender (gill)/ bumper position vs wheels... a decent 'body man' can do a lot in few minutes to improve 'body hang' (or weeks to get everything 'perfect)