I am trying to see what is wrong with my front left wheel. The inside wheel lip is rubbing on the upper control arm bushing (NOS). Way too tight here. I can slip my hand between this upper contol arm bushing and the wheel on the right side. I notice when I removed the old suspension components that the left side had a right hand contol arm installed in the left position. Strange indeed. I have no idea what the life of the car these old parts came out of. I beleive the car got hit on the Left side.
All the front control arms are NOS, now.
The spindle/knuckle may be bent. The wheels are chinese ZR1 repos to fit a C4.
What else could cause this control arm be that far off?
Has anyone tried using adjustable control arms. Would this help with this problem?
How do I determine if my front spindle/knuckle is bent causing this problem?
I have not swapped the wheels around from the left to the right. Longshot but easy.
I need to determine if my spindle/knuckle is bent.
Any experienced ideas are appreciated.
Thanks

 

I saw an earlier post where you asked how you could tell right from left with no replies. How have you determined that there was a right mounted on the left? You mention NOS a couple times. What is NOS? Control arms? How many are NOS if you mean control arms?

How long have you driven it with the wrong parts installed that you've mentioned? The wheels you're attempting to install have never been on this car? Have they ever been on another car? You confirmed the back-spacing of the wheels are correct for the car?

What did you use for shim thicknesses and spacers when you changed control arms?

Control arms on the forward facing leg will have a number, a diamond trademark and a letter L or R. If the upper shafts are installed correctly there is a large diameter washer on the inside of the rear leg. There will be no similar washer on the inside of the forward leg. The washer is maybe something larger than 2" in diameter.

 

Thanks for the reply.
NOS means New Old Stock, GM not reproduction.
This car has maybe 4 miles on it. It is a 1960 corvette restormod with 95 front and rear suspension.
There are Letters L and R and I assume they are L for Left and R for Right.
Yes ,you are correct the large (washer) should be on the rear of control arm.
I bought this suspension complete front and rear.
I went and looked at my Old crusty upper control arms and discovered that a previous owner used Right control arms for both sides L and R. WTF
The old spacers are positioned as I received them.
I marked the control arm as I diassembled with a yellow paint stick.
I looked at my old photos and proved this out. I missed this.
The wheels fit great, designed to fit C4 cars. 56 offset
This car has not been aligned, only by me to roll it and for a short test drive.
I added to 2 1/8" shims behind each control arm bolt, attempting to get the face of the wheel level. The left hand side is still about 3/4" from being level. I cut a board the diameter of the wheel and held it onto the wheel vertically and put a level onto it and the left was still 3/4" off in on the top.
Today I will be jacking up the front end swapping out the wheels from the left to the right and look at the gap. If still tight I need to determine if my Knuckle/spindle is bent.
If the spindle is not bent, then what is going on?
I can only assume this donor car was hit in the left front wheel and maybe the old left control arm was not usable.
One more challenge with this old car.
Thanks

 

I knew what NOS is but I wanted to know what was NOS for the install, arms or hardware. Did you use the entire C4 suspension member? I would think NOT and it's a tubular chassis of some sort. Whose chassis? If you used for some reason the entire suspension member I'd be inclined to think that maybe the suspension member was collapsed or as you mentioned maybe a spindle issue. I'd wager a suspension member issue if you used it in it's entirety.

It's very difficult to measure a spindle for integrity. If I were in your position I'd buy or borrow a correct spindle because it's easiest to change. If it were in a suspension shop or a collision shop it would get a spindle now!

Do you know for a fact that you have all '95 components?

Where are you located? ** Who's frame did you use? SRIII OR?

** I just noticed your location so I can't offer the lending of the spindles that I have.

 

Billy Dawson's Corvette Correction frame. An excellent frame.
I used the center cradle with all the steering and suspension components. I changed out all 4 control arms and swapped them out for the NOS control arms because the arms were cheaper than rebuilding the old arms. I am leary of buying a spindle/knuckle at this point. I don't need another bad one.
I know that the rear end is a 1995 by its stamping.The other components are assumed correct for 1995.
Thanks

 

If the suspension member was a direct bolt in and required no "force fit" and you have correct control arms then you certainly have a spindle issue, it's the least expensive and certainly the easiest part to replace.

You can use '91+ for the spindle. Post a WTB here on the CF or maybe just try local salvage. See4Parts might be the guy to contact here in the parts section. His prices certainly can't be beat if he has it. I've never bought but I don't recall hearing bad!

 

The knuckle is a cast aluminum part. As thick as it is I doubt if it would actually bend at all without breaking or at least cracking.

 

Update: I compared the wheels, Not it.
I measured and measured and finally I used a straight edge about 4 inches long on the upper tower, outside edges, of the knuckle going to the upper control arm and she is Bent inward. I took pix with my phone. I would guess about 1/8". This inward bend would push the upper control arm outward towards the wheel.
I need a new or excellent used LH knuckle.
I will be on the phone after this post. Corvette salvage told me 135 yesterday. I know of one guy who has new ones but he did not offer to sell me one.
Whats a new one worth?
Thanks