62 Front end alignment w/radials

[John F.]

Are the alignment specs from the Servicing Guide the same for radial tires versus the bias-plys?

John

[Timothy B.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

John,

I think radials only require a small amount of toe in where-as bias spec is more.

[John H.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

I've found that zero-to-1/16" total front toe-in works very nicely on both C1's and C2's when changing from bias to radial tires.

[John F.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

Thanks John! Hope to get it done tomorrow.
John

[Gary B.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

From my notes.

Front End Alignment for 1962 Corvette











Toe out on Turns
+ - 2
Outer Wheel 24 + - 2


Alignment Notes

Assuming (which one should never do) all is well with the front end. Set the toe-in at 0 to 1/16th and the caster to the maximum. Caster should not affect tire wear but this setting is better suited to radials.

The stock settings should not be wearing the tires very much. Without knowing something about the miles you've put on the tires since alignment it's difficult to know if you have a problem. Is the wear equal on both sides of the car?

One thing you may look at are the upper control arms for elongated holes at the shafts.

set . It has worked for him for 25 years

[John F.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

Gary, Just had the front end rebuilt with the package from Paragon and will try to get aligned tomorrow. It has radial tires, that is why I was asking if the spec are any different or what is working best.

John

[Timothy B.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

John,

The more caster the more return to center feel the steering wheel will have. Caster will also increase steering effort on manual steering cars.

Some will have more caster on passenger side as this helps for roads with lots of crown, it keeps the car from wondering down.


I aligned my 63 in the garage, the most difficult thing for me is toe setting. Good info in archives if your interested.

[John F.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

After the front end rebuild, it was put on the Hawkeye Alignment machine:
Front:Left Front:Right Front
-0.7* Camber 0.0* Cross Camber -0.7*
-0.4* Caster -1.0* Cross Caster -0.6*
0.07* Toe 0.08* Cross SAI -0.5*
4.4* SAI 4.9* Total Toe 0.15*
5.1* Included angle 4.9*

Rear:Left Rear:Right Rear
-0.1* Camber -0.4* Cross Camber 0.3*
-0.30* Toe 0.46* Total Toe 0.16*
Thrust Angle -0.38*
Steers and feels a whole lot better than before. They said to bring it back in a month to recheck, once the suspension settles. Any thoughts?
John

[John H.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

After the front end rebuild, it was put on the Hawkeye Alignment machine:
Front:Left Front:Right Front
-0.7* Camber 0.0* Cross Camber -0.7*
-0.4* Caster -1.0* Cross Caster -0.6*
0.07* Toe 0.08* Cross SAI -0.5*
4.4* SAI 4.9* Total Toe 0.15*
5.1* Included angle 4.9*

Rear:Left Rear:Right Rear
-0.1* Camber -0.4* Cross Camber 0.3*
-0.30* Toe 0.46* Total Toe 0.16*
Thrust Angle -0.38*
Steers and feels a whole lot better than before. They said to bring it back in a month to recheck, once the suspension settles. Any thoughts?
John

John -

Front camber shows 3/4* negative on the left, and zero on the right; did they mention why they set it like that?

Caster is negative on both sides - should be 2* positive for tracking and steering returnability.

Negative camber on the rear on both sides is difficult to imagine with a solid axle, as is toe-in on both sides.

[John F.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

John Z, I will have them recheck in a couple of weeks. I may not be readind the printout correctly. The way it printed out some of the colors were red, green, or black. Some reds had a (-) and some did not. Same with a few of the black numbers. Not sure if that means that all red are (-)? I may have to repost and just show it as is regardless of color.
John F

[Valeria H.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

Sorry for my ignorance but does this mean that every time I change from my radials which I use to drive the car on a regular basis to bias with the original wheels for show I have to have the tires realigned?
Embarrassed to put my name

[Timothy B.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

Valeria, No, I would not worry about it.

[Bill M.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

They said to bring it back in a month to recheck, once the suspension settles. Any thoughts?
John

Makes sense if the control arm bushings are rubber; they will settle. Yours are steel. I wouldn't PAY for a re-check...

[John F.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

90 day warranty on the alignment!
John F

[Gary B.]

Re: 62 Front end alignment w/radials

Just a point....
About 15 years ago before driving our `62 to the Steamboat Springs National Convention I had it alighned. Their bad job wore out a set of tires.
When I put new tires on I had it alighned at a different shop. I took the service manual and let them use it for information.
We think the first shop did not know how the front end adjustments really worked.