Alignment after rear Xmember out?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 722
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From: N.Canton Ohio
Alignment after rear Xmember out?
After having the rear X member out for clutch or differential service,is it necessary to have an alignment?
If anyone has had an alignment afterward,was rear alignment out of specs due to the X member removal/installation?
If anyone has had an alignment afterward,was rear alignment out of specs due to the X member removal/installation?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
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From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
I have had it out three times and never gotten an alignment. Since the pins located it to exactly where it was before I contend that it is not needed. Don't see any mention of it in the service manual either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Originally Posted by leaftye
In a recent thread, Danny Popp said there's lots of play. Maybe to mere mortals like us there's no play in the assembly, but to a National Champ like him, it's worth doing.
I'm keeping a very close eye on my tire wear.. I should just go ahead and get it done again, but damn, the guy we use (very, very good) charges 125.00, plus it's an hour away from home.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
Likes: 21
From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
I had to have mine done after I dropped my rear cradle for my clutch/tranny job. I think the main thing is if you pull the control arms. Otherwise, if you scribe around the large bolts/washers, you can put the cradle back in its original place. Thats what I plan to do when I put in the DTE brace.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
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From: Roxbury NJ
Originally Posted by eRiCdWoNg
I had to have mine done after I dropped my rear cradle for my clutch/tranny job. I think the main thing is if you pull the control arms. Otherwise, if you scribe around the large bolts/washers, you can put the cradle back in its original place. Thats what I plan to do when I put in the DTE brace.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Originally Posted by Flareside
If the pins don't locate it, why doesn't the cradle move under hard braking and accelerating? There's no way the nuts alone would hold all that force. I can't see a need for alignment.
Apply your own logic and re-read your comment again.. How is it that two (only two) locating pins "hold the cradle in place" under the forces at play during braking and accelerating, but four larger (and made of steel, not Al.) bolts at the corners can't?
The locating pins are just that.. They are there to assist on the assembly line. There is a lot of free play between the hole in the frame and the locating pins.. It's not even remotely a tight fit. So again, by your logic the subframes (on bother ends of the car) would be constantly shifting back and forth..
Last edited by Dan_the_C5_Man; Mar 17, 2005 at 02:02 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,148
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From: Roxbury NJ
Originally Posted by Dan_the_C5_Man
Apply your own logic and re-read your comment again.. How is it that two (only two) locating pins "hold the cradle in place" under the forces at play during braking and accelerating, but four larger (and made of steel, not Al.) bolts at the corners can't?
I can believe that a combination of the bolts and the pins locate and hold the cradle in place because they both protrude through the frame and cradle, but I highly doubt that the nuts keep the cradle pressed up against the frame with enough friction between them hold the position.
When I mounted my cradle this past winter, it would not move at all before I installed the nuts. Once it was in position, it was tight.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 439
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From: Fort Worth TX
Alignment
Scheduled mine for this Monday, 4 wheel align. I believe the mechanic said anytime anything is removed it must be re-aligned. Had new gears installed, shocks, sways, and front leaf spring. Should take about 2 hours and its only $140. I would do it anyway just for peace of mind. A lot cheaper than new tires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,472
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From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '11
Originally Posted by Flareside
When I mounted my cradle this past winter, it would not move at all before I installed the nuts. Once it was in position, it was tight.
IIRC (if I remember correctly)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
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From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Originally Posted by Flareside
Sorry, but I just don't see your logic, I never even mentioned bolts. My car is assembled with studs and nuts...
I can believe that a combination of the bolts and the pins locate and hold the cradle in place because they both protrude through the frame and cradle, but I highly doubt that the nuts keep the cradle pressed up against the frame with enough friction between them hold the position.
When I mounted my cradle this past winter, it would not move at all before I installed the nuts. Once it was in position, it was tight.
I can believe that a combination of the bolts and the pins locate and hold the cradle in place because they both protrude through the frame and cradle, but I highly doubt that the nuts keep the cradle pressed up against the frame with enough friction between them hold the position.
When I mounted my cradle this past winter, it would not move at all before I installed the nuts. Once it was in position, it was tight.
Anyway, I've seen a few of these, and the cradles DO move; the locating pins are not necessarily designed to keep the frame from shifting all by themselves.
That said, have you ever seen the wheels ripped off of a C5? I have, and those 4 "whimpy" bolts seemed to hold up just fine!
Last edited by Dan_the_C5_Man; Mar 17, 2005 at 03:09 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
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From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
I agree, I put my car into a curb sideways at approx 20 MPH, broke the 2 right knuckles but the cradle stayed put. While I was fixing the car the left side alignment was still intact. Had it shifted there is no way it would have stayed aligned.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: N.Canton Ohio
Upon reassembly after clutch job,when the x member was jacked up into place and the alignment pins were all in the holes,the x member could be moved slightly side to side and frt to rear.In the arena of suspension alignment tolerences,I feel that the amount of movement would be sufficent to affect the alignment specs unless by chance or adequate markings the x member was placed in its exact prior position.
looks like alignment is in the future.
looks like alignment is in the future.
