shimming rear control arms

[Dave K.]

I'm putting the chassis back together on my 67' and looking for suggestions on shimming the control arms. Should it be shimmed so the control arm is centered in the frame rail or is there a std shim size technique that should initially be used prior to getting an alignment?

[Mike M.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

if its a short trip to the alignment shop, the corvette will not be hurt if u leave all the shims out. the alignment shop can install the proper thickness of shim pak. mike

[Duke W.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

Is the body off the chassis?

Duke

[Michael H.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

I would put shims in equally on both sides that way at least the alignment shop will have something to start with.

Mike

[John H.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

I would put shims in equally on both sides that way at least the alignment shop will have something to start with.

Mike

And you'll probably need to take an assortment of thicknesses of your own shims to the alignment shop with you - most shops don't stock Corvette rear shims.

[Joe L.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

And you'll probably need to take an assortment of thicknesses of your own shims to the alignment shop with you - most shops don't stock Corvette rear shims.

John-------


...and most shops includes the VAST majority of Chevrolet dealers these days.

[Rich C.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

Good advice! I just inquired about having an alignment done on my '73 at the dealer. He said to bring shims. In fact they just did an alignment on the '96 and he claimed he had to scrounge shims for that!???!


1973 LS-4 454 coupe owned 24 years
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[John H.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

Good advice! I just inquired about having an alignment done on my '73 at the dealer. He said to bring shims. In fact they just did an alignment on the '96 and he claimed he had to scrounge shims for that!???!

Rich -

I think you'll find that the vast majority of Chevrolet dealers these days have no technicians on staff who know how to set rear toe-in or how to properly install the shim packs on the rear of '63-'82 Corvettes; the last car that needed this procedure was built 35 years ago.

[Stephen B.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

I know how to do them
a dieing breed it is in the manuals if you have one bring
it with you

[David H.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

Dave,

Is the body off the frame? If so, the "Van Steel" Suspension Rebuild DVD/Tape has a section on Q&D rear alignment (starts at 57:45 minutes into the video).

Basically when assembling the rear suspension, they first set the trailing arm at about ride height (no rear spring attached). Their method is to install the t-arm/bolt (with no shims) in the frame. Then they lift the t-arm up and place a 9/16" (half inch drive) socket UNDER the t-arm in order to support it at approximate ride height. Next they install the shock mount bolt/rear strut rod assembly.

Using a level placed vertically against the spindle flange (no disk brake installed in the video), they adjust the camber bolt until the spindle flange is vertical. They then tighten the camber adjusting bolts as the t-arm is at ride height.

A long level (straight edge) is then placed horizontally against the spindle flange and forward along the frame. The t-arm is then pushed/pulled along the t-arm bolt until the straight edge runs parallel to the frame (equal gap between the straight edge and the frame). At this point they install the shims on either side of the t-arm to give a rough alignment.

If the body is off the frame, the Van Steel Suspension Rebuild DVD will be helpful.

[Duke W.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

Is the body off the chassis?

Duke

The OP appears to be AWOL.

Duke

[John D.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

Rich -

I think you'll find that the vast majority of Chevrolet dealers these days have no technicians on staff who know how to set rear toe-in or how to properly install the shim packs on the rear of '63-'82 Corvettes; the last car that needed this procedure was built 35 years ago.

Almost all technicians at Chevy dealers are paid on a flat rate for each job and wouldn't want to touch a rear alignment on a C2 unless they were very familiar with the job. I'm not sure what the Chilton's labor time guide pays (hrs.) for a rear alignment but if they've never done one they would be underwater time wise very quickly. Of course if you agree to pay clock time at close to $100 an hour I'm sure there would be no problem..

[Joe L.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

Almost all technicians at Chevy dealers are paid on a flat rate for each job and wouldn't want to touch a rear alignment on a C2 unless they were very familiar with the job. I'm not sure what the Chilton's labor time guide pays (hrs.) for a rear alignment but if they've never done one they would be underwater time wise very quickly. Of course if you agree to pay clock time at close to $100 an hour I'm sure there would be no problem..

John-----


Mitchell's allows 2.3 hours for a 63-82 Corvette rear alignment. However, I doubt that any technician could do it in that time and there's no way in hell they could do it in that time if the "two hole" shims were used. Most of the alignment shops I know of do 63-82 Corvette rear alignments only on an actual time basis. Front alignment is usually flat-rated but not the rear.

[Terry M.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

I very much doubt any of the computers used on today's alignment equipment even have the specifications for C2 or C3(pre-radial tires) Corvettes, much less the flat rate for the work. Thus you a re likely to get actual time for the whole job. Just to be prepared you are best off bringing the alignment specifications you desire with you.

One thought is to have the alignment done with slotted shims and then, if judging is your concern, replace the slotted shims with the same thickness of two-hole shims yourself. If this is your game plan, you might want to inform the person doing the alignment to go light on the front control arm bolt so the shims can be more easily removed by you. A thorough and frank conversation with the person doing the alignment before the job begins is essential.

[Dan B.]

Re: shimming rear control arms

John-----


Mitchell's allows 2.3 hours for a 63-82 Corvette rear alignment. However, I doubt that any technician could do it in that time and there's no way in hell they could do it in that time if the "two hole" shims were used. Most of the alignment shops I know of do 63-82 Corvette rear alignments only on an actual time basis. Front alignment is usually flat-rated but not the rear.

I very much doubt any of the computers used on today's alignment equipment even have the specifications for C2 or C3(pre-radial tires) Corvettes, much less the flat rate for the work. Thus you a re likely to get actual time for the whole job. Just to be prepared you are best off bringing the alignment specifications you desire with you.

Sounds a lot like my experience with the 64. First shop had a brand new machine, but it did not have the older specs and even though I could supply them they did not want to do the job. Lucky for me, I found an old time shop with an old timer (my age ) who did the work. He let me work with him and it took about 4 hrs since we did some test drives and tweaked the specs to get it perfect. Unfortunately, he is gone now and those type of shops are few and far between anymore. Dan