Well after 30 years I finally got a Vette. I managed to trade the wife's 97 Monte Carlo for it. It needed a lot of work, but I've seen worse, besides I only had around $400 into the Monte. I'm a pretty good mechanic, and ex dragracer which is working to my favor, cause I have been medically forced to retire at 42. I'm now on a fixed income, and don't have a lot of extra cash, so I'm looking for precise answers, not guesses.

So my question is; When I shift gears, or accelerate/decellerate, the rearend shifts side to side. Its not bad, and it does get worse with the top off (obviously). Now I'm not sure if this is a normal charactoristics of the car, or if its bushings or what. Any help, or input would be greatly appreciated. Peace. h

 

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your first Vette!

For percise answers were going to need your information, such as the year, model and transmission(auto, 4+3 or 6 speed) and mileage!

I can tell you that a shifting rearend is not normal! Could be the bushings or u-joints, have you looked under there? Vette rearends have alot going under there!

Oh and we love to see pictures of your new ride when you get a chance!

 

had this happen to my "84"the inboard rt center tie rod had play of 1/2"

under acceleration it would drive the wheel out, steering back of the car to the center line. decell and would steer back to ditch.

check the toe links on the back of the bat wing diff cover assembly asap. the tie rod attaches to the rear hub, much the same as a front hub. if the tie rod ends wear or get loose, does just what you describe.

 

If I understand correctly, the car wants to move one way or the other depending on whether your car is accelerating or decelerating. If that is happening, there is a good chance your thrust angle is off causing the rear to push to one side or the other when on or off the throttle.

 

nt real sure what you mean by shifting side to side..my 86 does that when i nail it..its the posi traction grabbing hold as/when each tire loses traction. That being said, thanks for the post...reading the answers..I am gonna crawl under mine and check the links.

 

Well Ive been looking for the "add images" button. But I am "*** u me" ing, I have to have a certain amount of posts, before I can add pics. It was in horrible shape on the outside. Normally I can rub out a car by hand, but for this old girl, she needed a buffer, so after about 10hrs, she looks pretty hot. In fact, I took my mother along to pick her up, and she doesnt believe its the same car. Also the stock wheels were, well,, UGLY! And 1 tire was really bad, or the rim was bent, so I found a set of 02 chrome 5 spokes on CL. They are in perfect shape, and have new tires. The 2 fronts were having trouble holding air, but after some sanding, and polishing along the beads, they seem to be golden!

Thanks Bud! Thats exactly what she is doing. I will check her out as soon as the rain lets up a bit. Good ol Washington! Lol. Peace. h

You definatly understand! Mad respect to you also Bro! As a fellow racer, I know what it takes to dial them in. Mine looks a lot like yours but the frontend doesnt come off the ground!...Lol.....Yet! Do you have a fix for me? I did get a Chiltons with the car, but for the most part they a worthless. Need an FSM but moneys tight before Xmas. Normally I would assume its control arm bushings, but there is a lot more going on back there. Peace my friend! h

Really I dont have to nail it. Say 25 in 2nd, and not even aggressively, get on, and off the throttle, and you get a bit of rear steer. I have nailed it a couple times, and she gets a bit sideways, but as I said earlier, before I know whats going on, Ive been taking it easy on her. Thanks for the reply though! h

 

Are you using photo bucket to load pictues?

 

No I havent. Other forums Ive used always had a link, so like I said I assumed! Is that the SOP here? h

 

No, you can use any program, I just use photo bucket.

 

Ok, here is a link to the bucket. Cross you fingers! Lol. h

http://s1310.beta.photobucket.com/us...rvette%20Monte

 

If you had a toe gauge you could adjust the rear toe and set the thrust correctly. Place a straight metal bar touching the rear tires. Sight along the bar and mark the spot on the garage floor where the imaginary line intersects the center of the fronts. Do this on both sides. Measure the distance between this mark and the front tire. I will bet this measurement is different between the two sides. If you had a toe gauge, you could adjust the rear toe and set the thrust correctly. If you don't you can even out the measuremets by turning the toe rods the same direction until the measurements are identical. This will leave the toe the same, but the thrust angle corrected. Hope this makes sense. This is a picture of the toe gauge I use and a picture of the bar I am talking about.

 

Its the tie rod assy. Been there done that....
BTW, welcome to my world !

You need to go to fleabay and find a set of used FSM books if you want to survive owning a Vette...

Next,. the rear toe assy is delicate. The inner are just ball & socket,non-adjustable non-servicable.

The outer is typical tie rod end. That end is slipping up/down in the knuckle mount. Thats what the wiggle is when you step on the gas....and a shift the other way when you let off the gas...
Get this looked at ASAP . Its dangerous ! You haven't seen ugly until you've seen a vette rear end take a hard right turn at 60 from a broken tie rod...

Test the rods...
Take the ends out of the knuckle. Lift the rod up. It SHOULD stay up if the ball & socket inner rod assy is ok. If its loose, and falls, it must be relaced. The rods DO come out of the plastic socket. Non-servicable. Shop FleaBay for some used rear toe assys...as long as the rod is semi stiff in the socket it is ok for street use.

The outer...if the tie rod end is worn out the stud is damaged ......thats where your slack comes from,. the stud walking up/down as the torque of the rear wheel pulls on the toe rod assy. Let off it goes down...car goes right...step on the gas the stud goes up car goes left.Try to tighten the crown nut as much as possible. Otherwise its just worn out. Watch that inner rod assy...if its loose dont mess around.

 

Ya I get it. I have some straight edges, so I will give that a try. Do you want it perfectly even, or is there a tow out like the front? Thanks Bro. h

 

Right on Bro, I'll hit the bay next. Is there a heavy duty peace I cant break? h

 

if you simply want to post a pic next to your name, go to forum CP, up in the left hand corner..you can add a pic there by simplying uploading from your computer.BTW, welcome to the forum.

 

Lol, Not much to choose from! h

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...6030&_from=R40

 

Thanks, and Thanks! h

 

I chased this same problem for years. Replaced all the above with new.
And much, much, more in an attempt to resolve the problem.

The final solution was the toe setting.

But before any alignments are accomplished, the mechanicals must be tight.

 

How much are we talking? In, or out? Peace. h

 

You won't be able to set the toe without some kind of gauge. You can do your straight edge thing on the front of each rear tire and the rear of each rear tire and measure the difference from side to side. If they are equal, you will have zero toe. I used to set mine just slightly towed in. The front and rear track are different, the rear being wider than the front so you can't just aim the rears even with the front.