I finally got my right T/A project finished. I sent the right T/A to Malcom at
www.http://stores.ebay.com/VetteRx-Inc-1-888-838-8379. Did a great job and turned it around in three days. My pin came out easily, but I replaced it anyway. I wire brushed my old shims and reused them. I installed new rear spring-to-T/A links/bushings as well. Malcom had everything I needed.
It went back together much more easily than it came apart. The result is NO MORE GROWLING NOISE from the rear. (It was the worn bearing after all, not my diff. In fact, it was so worn the spindle had to be replaced; it was worn too thin for new bearing races to seat.) Now all I hear is engine and wind, the way it is supposed to be in a Corvette! It also eliminated the rest of the vibration I felt, which I thought was a poor job of wheel balancing. It is more driveable than ever, which is the whole idea: making it nice enough to stay in the driver's seat instead of under the vehicle.
I can highly recommend Malcom. He is a professional and courteous man with a great knowledge of his business. His son also works in his shop, and is likewise knowledgable and friendly. They offer phone help with every step of the process, and they are very interested in your absolute satisfaction. I will give him my business in the future.
My other recommendation: If you are pndering replacing your C-3 parking brakes, why not consider a T/A rebuild, and have the shop do it at the same time, for nearly nothing extra? Replacing the parking brakes is the most frustrating and difficult job I have ever done on the Corvette, no thanks to the book instructions. (My experience with the right side, over five hours, made the right side go in only one hour once I understood what I was doing.)
I bought a power steering control valve from him while I was at it. The replacement will be the subject of another entry once I complete that. (Hoping to eliminate the 2-3 degrees of free play in the steering wheel, which is present even after replacing all the front end components.)
