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Topic: Camber adjustment

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


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Camber adjustment (1/16)
 5/25/17 8:04am
1968junkerjim
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Posts: 7

New member could you some help with my 77 Corvette just purchased it from older couple that had the whole rear differential rebuild at bars in Pennsylvania few years back. I noticed that the drivers rear wheel is tilted in lots of negative camber and with car on ground hands-on top of wheel I feel a little movement like spindle is loose when I jack it up I can barely feel it no movement from three to 9 o'clock at all parts on the car still look new question is first going to try to adjust camber which way do I turn the bolt after I unloosen the nut to bring top of tire out and how much do I need to turn the bolt need to move tire about a 1/2 inch thank you
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Re: Camber adjustment (2/16)
 5/25/17 3:22pm
1968junkerjim
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We'll got over my fear and got my camber set close , but I still have a little movement up and down the half shaft move with it. Should hAlf shafts move at all ? Both side move some , but drivers a little more The couple couldn't remember when work was done maybe 8-10 years but very little miles and parts still look new. Probably their grandson got hold of it. Lol
Re: Camber adjustment (3/16)
 5/25/17 4:08pm
stingrayjim jrLifetime Member
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SHELBYVILLE, TN - USA

Vette(s):
1976 L48 auto

1978 L82 4speed

1994 LT1 6speed


Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942

in reality there should be no movement at all, but..... a few things could be going on here... wheel bearings, u-joints,differential side yolks, trailing arm bushings..... 

Best thing to do to determine the issue is to remover the half shaft and spring... this frees up any tension on the wheel bearings, and will also let you see inspect the u-joints properly.  Then from there you can pull.push on the side yokes to make sure no excessive play there...its a little tedious,  but, few hours in an afternoon can ease a lot on one's mine.(I always had a fear of a u-joint coming apart and having a half shaft flail around... but have had wheel bearings fail and weld themselves to the axle shaft, going down the interstate, fun...)

Also when you are pushing/pulling on the tire at 12/6 o'clock positions, look at the trailing arm and see if it is moving also with the tire... dad's 76 vette had this issue,  bushings were worn and allowed the whole trailing arm to flex a little bit...



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StingrayJim
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Stingray's '76���������������������������� StingrayJr's '78���������������������������Lil Red '94

(click each one to see a bigger version)

Re: Camber adjustment (4/16)
 5/25/17 4:36pm
1968junkerjim
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Ok that what's the best way to remove spring? Put jack under and slowly lower? With tire off And when I put pry bar in outside of hub hole and lift I see half saft and trail move some but no slop. No side to side movement will take it apart to get better look
Re: Camber adjustment (5/16)
 5/25/17 6:35pm
1968junkerjim
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Posts: 7

We'll got it tore apart left the spring on. half shaft off. looks like bearings can't see it , but can feel it no side to side just in and out wonder if sitting in one spot can damage them ? Have to do some research maybe can get bigger shim thank for your help. Jim
Re: Camber adjustment (6/16)
 5/25/17 7:03pm
stingrayjim jrLifetime Member
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SHELBYVILLE, TN - USA

Vette(s):
1976 L48 auto

1978 L82 4speed

1994 LT1 6speed


Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942

wow, someone's been productive this afternoon.... when you say you can feel the axle move in and out, just how much movement?... this is where a dial caliper and a magnetic mount comes in to play to see how much in  and out movement there is.... while i am no expert by any means, and cannot recall off the top of my head(and hope someone else(JOEL??) ) the maximum amount of endplay should be before having to replace the bearings(for some reason 0.015 inch comes to mind, but...might be 0.01...) 

Usually not recommended to just re-shim the bearings..if you have to take it apart, put new bearings in.... races can be a judgement call if it wasn't to long ago they were replaced...if in doubt, put new ones in...but, definitely new bearings if you are in it that far... 

quite possibly they were not correctly spaced when they were installed...i've seen that happen too, bearings installed to proper endplay and a few days later they get a little sloppier.. maybe the set-up tool was not "just right" or the axle has a little more wear than the set up tool...not enough torque, too much torque.... or in my case usually too much whacking with a sledgehammer.... (dont laugh).... you'll know what i mean if you decide to remove the axle yourself. :) 

best way i've found getting the spring off is with a floor jack...and wheel off.  Obviously have the car secure on a jack stand, place the jack under the spring, if possible most floor jacks have a cup with slots, try to have the spring in-between the cupped slots to help keep it from slipping off the jack...then jack up the spring to take the pressure off the bolt, remove the cotter pin, then castle nut and then SLOWLY lower the spring...keep you wits about you, it can get hairy really quick.  




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StingrayJim
NCM Lifetime Member #1936

Stingray's '76���������������������������� StingrayJr's '78���������������������������Lil Red '94

(click each one to see a bigger version)

Re: Camber adjustment (7/16)
 5/25/17 10:39pm
gtr1999
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CHESHIRE, CT - USA

Vette(s):
1969 350 4 spd drop top 1972 350 auto coupe


Joined: 5/2/2016
Posts: 64

You can check the play in the axles, both inner and outer with the 1/2 shafts out. If all is good there should be no play in the outer axles( trailing arms) and little in the inners ( differential).

For comparison my builds are as follows but these are built beyond common tolerances.

Differential axles- 005-007" with a tuned posi and rebuilt axles. If you have the original axles in the diff then those are soft faced, original axles from about 72 -79 were very poor and wore down and if not corrected will wear into the housing seal bores damaging them.

 

Trailing Arms- I machine fit them not for the common 002 endplay you will read about all over the net. I set them for -0- lateral play which will be about 001-0015 endplay. At 003" endplay you will be able to push the axle in/out by grabbing a wheel stud. The factory spec is 001-008".

Forget about trying to take them apart to regrease or shim. These are, or should be, press fit on the inner and outer bearings. If you take them apart you have to rebuild them, new bearings. Also some think you can reuse the shims with new bearings, forget that too, they will not fall into the correct setup spec.
 
I wrote a lot of information on this work over the years and it is available online. I don't know if it's proper protocol to link them here or not. If not I can link them.
 
For your question can bearings go bad just sitting- yes. If the car sat a long time with exposure to moisture the bearings in the arms, steering box teeth, and even manual trans bearings can corrode. A perfect example is with a LH trailing arm sent to me years ago. The car was from CA and was parked on grass a year or more. Never moved. The new owner bought the car and started driving the car and noticed a rumbling noise from the LH arm. He removed it and sent it to me, I found the bearing rollers actually ate into the race. I posted pictures of this on my TA thread.





|UPDATED|5/25/2017 7:39:00 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: Camber adjustment (8/16)
 5/25/17 10:55pm
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

Haven't seen any forum restriction on posting links.

1968junkerjim: Are the strut rod rubber bushings is good shape?




|UPDATED|5/25/2017 7:55:45 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: Camber adjustment (9/16)
 5/25/17 11:05pm
stingrayjim jrLifetime Member
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SHELBYVILLE, TN - USA

Vette(s):
1976 L48 auto

1978 L82 4speed

1994 LT1 6speed


Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942

see, i knew someone out there had more specific info than i could give.  very knowledgeable group of folks here.  
and as far as i know posting a link for informational purpose is allowable :)

and yes, the shim that is in the bearing assembly will undoubtedly not be the correct one  for the next set of bearings... rarely would anyone be that lucky(if so, get a lotto ticket quickly)
 
would've been nice if they had a little easier design for the bearing assemblies on these cars instead of having to press them in/out.....seems they could have just done a crush sleeve like they do on the pinion gear of a rear gear assembly...maybe it couldn't handle the stress??....


|UPDATED|5/25/2017 8:05:50 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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StingrayJim
NCM Lifetime Member #1936

Stingray's '76���������������������������� StingrayJr's '78���������������������������Lil Red '94

(click each one to see a bigger version)

Re: Camber adjustment (10/16)
 5/25/17 11:32pm
gtr1999
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CHESHIRE, CT - USA

Vette(s):
1969 350 4 spd drop top 1972 350 auto coupe


Joined: 5/2/2016
Posts: 64

ok if this is ok fine, if not then you can pull it. If you want the diff threads I can link them too. Maybe you have seen these? I can't believe it's been 10 years since I wrote these, man time flew by.
 
This is the TA thread. I wrote it as an educational tool for those thinking about doing them or if they sub them out what questions to ask. I have actually changed some procedures over time but I haven't had time to go back over to edit this long thread. I think the point is made, grammar errors included.
 
I am not saying the OP issue is a bearing issue but it could be.
 


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Re: Camber adjustment (11/16)
 5/26/17 11:23am
1968junkerjim
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Posts: 7

Thank for all info guys. Thank is a great link! But I am a little confused is the outter axle the flange that bolts to spindle ? You say no play in outter axle ,but spindle nut should have .001-.008 (bearings). I have very little play on inner axle my strut rod looks good when I adjusted camber nut wasn't very tight maybe 50 foot pounds. I did hook up my dial indicator on spindle nut has .007 end play I can feel and here it move. u joints look new, castle nut new, no rust on any parts. If spindle moves .007 wouldn't that move outer axle flange, half shaft, and inner axle flange. 007? Just seems like a lot of movement my first corvette.
Re: Camber adjustment (12/16)
 5/26/17 11:41am
gtr1999
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CHESHIRE, CT - USA

Vette(s):
1969 350 4 spd drop top 1972 350 auto coupe


Joined: 5/2/2016
Posts: 64

I am sure if Bairs rebuilt the diff they took care of the inner axles and that is why they have little movement. I would measure the inner axle end play since you have it apart now. With a stock built diff and posi up to 040 can be expected, again I never send them out over 010" and I don't like that but sometimes I am limited by the lack of quality machined rebuilt axles out there today.
 
The outer axle play of 007" is in spec but I would never use it or send out an arm like that.  You can if you like. You can check the end play in the bearings at the face of the axle or the axle nut. Axle is the same as spindle in this terminology.  The nut should be torqued to 100 ft/lb and pinned.
It should spin by hand smooth but not free wheel. There should be no rock in it if you lay your hands on the rotor at 3&9 or in any position. The front bushings should be rubber but many use poly, they should be tight as well.  Shims in place long & cotter pin through them.
 
 


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Re: Camber adjustment (13/16)
 5/26/17 12:15pm
1968junkerjim
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The couple I got corvette from are 76 years old they said when they went to Arizona for the winter they drop off at Blair's ( 2 hours away from me )and rebuilt rear ,plus what ever it needed. but no paper work and could not remember year, so who knows who really did the work. The body is excellent and under carriage is rust free. Only wanted 5 k so I grab it , drove it home 10 miles. hope I'm still driving a Corvette when I'm 76 super nice couple. Rotor just have in out play ,put my dial indicator on rotor has same amount .007 play guess the best thing to do , take trailing arms off and have fresh bearings put in. All the shims with cotter pin on upper control arm look new.
Re: Camber adjustment (14/16)
 5/26/17 12:51pm
gtr1999
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CHESHIRE, CT - USA

Vette(s):
1969 350 4 spd drop top 1972 350 auto coupe


Joined: 5/2/2016
Posts: 64

Rotor run out through 360* should be under 003" although 005 will work the closer to -0- the better and don't turn a chip on them. There's little room for machine work and unless they are machined on the axle will still have runout in them.

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Re: Camber adjustment (15/16)
 5/26/17 3:46pm
1968junkerjim
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Posts: 7

Ok thank you for the help.
Re: Camber adjustment (16/16)
 5/26/17 3:51pm
gtr1999
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CHESHIRE, CT - USA

Vette(s):
1969 350 4 spd drop top 1972 350 auto coupe


Joined: 5/2/2016
Posts: 64

Glad to help, if you or anyone needs any coaching call me direct 203-776-2813 x139

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