How is the wheel alignment adjusted on a C5?

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Aug 8, 2003 | 02:10 AM

OutlawDon

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From: Redwood City, CA

How is the wheel alignment adjusted on a C5?

Just curious cause I don't see any bolts to move up in the engine bay. Is it adjusted by going under the car?

Aug 8, 2003 | 02:32 AM

C5 Frederik

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Re: How is the wheel alignment adjusted on a C5? (OutlawDon)

Quote:

Is it adjusted by going under the car?

Yes, that´s how it´s done.
Frederik

Aug 8, 2003 | 04:27 AM

User 81424

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Re: How is the wheel alignment adjusted on a C5? (OutlawDon)

The bolts you are talking about are from cars with Macpherson struts. Most modern cars have Mac struts. Our vette has a SLA or short arm, long arm front suspension.

Aug 8, 2003 | 06:09 AM

leadfoot4

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From: Western NY

Re: How is the wheel alignment adjusted on a C5? (CPT Z06)

Quote:

The bolts you are talking about are from cars with Macpherson struts. Most modern cars have Mac struts. Our vette has a SLA or short arm, long arm front suspension.

Very true, however many earlier GM cars adjusted the camber/caster on the upper control arms, rather than the C-5's use of the lower control arms. Therefore, even though a car might not have struts, it's possible to have the adjustments made "under the hood".

Aug 8, 2003 | 11:54 AM

carpe dm

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Re: How is the wheel alignment adjusted on a C5? (OutlawDon)

Like any car with a standard chassis; all good shops will have the specs. :)

Aug 8, 2003 | 09:05 PM

Bill Dearborn

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Re: How is the wheel alignment adjusted on a C5? (carpe dm)

You use both the lower control arm cams and the upper control arm washers. With the upper washers removed and the cams all the way out on my 97 I was able to get -2.3 degrees camber. However, the upper arms need an equal number of spacers for each of the 4 bolts. My 97 required 1 washer per bolt on the left side and 2 washers per bolt on the right side to get a good street alignment.
Bill

Aug 9, 2003 | 07:47 PM

NEED FOR SPEED

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Re: How is the wheel alignment adjusted on a C5? (Bill Dearborn)

Bill Dearborn, where did you get the upper control arm washers and do you know the size of the washers? ( inside and outside diameter) I can't get enough caster with the bottom adjustment. :seeya

Aug 9, 2003 | 07:53 PM

Bill Dearborn

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Re: How is the wheel alignment adjusted on a C5? (NEED FOR SPEED)

They are available from your Chevy dealer and they are not cheap. Each one has a little ring of plastic or rubber on the inside. Check behind each upper control arm to see if you have any mounted there. To check all you have to do is loosen the bolts and feel behind the bushing bracket. If there are some behind the bracket pull each one of the bolts individually and grab the washers as they fall. Then put the bolt back in and go to the next bolt. If there aren't any all you have to do is snug the bolts back again.

Bill