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Topic: Rear End Camber Adjustment

in Forum: C3 Handling Components

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Rear End Camber Adjustment (1/11)
8/8/08 4:24pm

jp75vette
Former Member
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Bloomfield Hills, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Corvette coupe, 4 speed manual, 383 ci 9.5:1,Edelbrock dual plane Air Gap intake, Alum Heads,Comp Cam, roller Rockers, PS,PB,Tilt

Joined: 6/29/2008
Posts: 199

I just relpaced the differential on my 1975 Corvette. How can I do an adjustment of the camber?

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Rear End Camber Adjustment (2/11)
8/8/08 7:50pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20210

The camber adjustment is made with the two eccentric bolts that hold the strut rods to the diff. Loosen the nuts, and turn the bolts, and this will move the bottom of the tire/rim in or out.
It's not too hard to get close just by eyeballing, but it would be best to have a final alignment done at a qualified shop. But, if you're jus trying to get the camber set good enough to drive, then just eyeball it from the rear, and give the tops of the tires just a wee bit of tilt in.
You can set the camber really close with a spirit level, if you have a good, level surface in your garage/driveway. If you happen to have a level with an angle meter built in, even better!

Just place the level firmly against the rim, and adjust the camber bolts until it has about 1/4" negative camber. The level needs to contact the edge of the rim, top and bottom, so you may need to tape a block of wood, such as a 2x4 to the level, in order to get it to set nice and flush against the rim.
While this method ain't perfect, it's pretty dang close!
hth

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Joel Adams
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Rear End Camber Adjustment (3/11)
8/8/08 9:42pm

rraider1
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Woodland, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 10/14/2003
Posts: 1171

I have a vibration in my 77 at 60 MPH has anybody heard of this service buletin its pretty close to what I feel

1973 - 1977: Service Bulletin: Vehicle Vibration During Acceleration

Subject: Vehicle Vibration During Acceleration
Model and Year: 1973-1977 Corvette
Source: Chevrolet Dealer Sevice Technical Bulletin
Bulletin Number: 77-T-48
Date: July, 1977

TO: ALL CHEVROLET DEALERS

Customer complaints of vibration on acceleration which are not corrected by conventional methods, may be caused by the rear drive wheel(s) camber angle.

The typical Corvette torque shake is a vibration which occurs in the steering wheel and can also be felt in the floor pan and seat peaking at 55-60 MPH. This condition is also related to drive torque, that is, the vibration can be noticed during acceleration, but not during coast.

Torque shake can be corrected by readjusting the rear wheel camber to 0⁰ from the normal specification of -1/2⁰ +/- 1/4⁰.

Rear End Camber Adjustment (4/11)
8/9/08 8:26am

Adams' Apple

Too much camber in either direction will throw the u-joints out of whack, and create strange vibrations under acceleration.

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Rear End Camber Adjustment (5/11)
8/9/08 12:05pm

I made the camber adjustment as indicated. I also found a detailed article that describes how to do this with steel plates and round rods so that tires have weight on them and can freely move in and out. I used a 2*2 piece of wood to fit on the edge of the wheel rim, add 1/4" piece of wood at the top for the right camber and it was pretty simple to do.

Here is a link to that article; http://www.corvette-restoration.com/resources/technical_papers/Set_Rear_Wheel_Camber.pdf

jp75vette2008-08-09 12:22:33

Rear End Camber Adjustment (6/11)
8/9/08 6:49pm

rraider1
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Woodland, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 10/14/2003
Posts: 1171

Way Cool pretty soon We need no sticken mechanic

Rear End Camber Adjustment (7/11)
8/10/08 4:59pm

ranger3

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North Charleston, SC - USA

Vette(s):
1975 L48 AT AC T-top

Joined: 3/20/2004
Posts: 4176

After reading the procedure I thought I would throw out a warning. Do not raise the wheels of your Vette off the ground and idle the engine with the transmission in gear. That's a great way to tear up u-joints and other things if it breaks while running. If the trailing arms are not supported, in the normal driving position, the half shafts are in a steep angle and damage will occur.

Scott

Rear End Camber Adjustment (8/11)
8/13/08 6:27am

sgm2004
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Falls Church, VA - USA

Vette(s):
1975, 4 speed, L48, NOW Silver mist, Oxblood inside 2003 50th Av Torch RED little brother to 75

Joined: 3/22/2006
Posts: 232

GOOD Stuff Thanks all.

Guy

Rear End Camber Adjustment (9/11)
8/13/08 6:42am

sundevil74
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Leavenworth, KS - USA

Vette(s):
MM Red 1971 T-top,LS5,4-speed, black leather C5 seats, Hooker sidepipes. Previous: 64 Coupe, 65 Roadster L76 / N14

Joined: 1/24/2007
Posts: 426

FYI, the camber of 1/4 inch is total. That means 1/8 inch on each rear wheel.

Been doin' lots of research 'cause I've got to set up the entire rear end after new u-joints, spring, T/As, bushings, and checked diff.

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Rear End Camber Adjustment (10/11)
8/13/08 6:55am

Disregard the last post on camber. Need to make correction before the experts catch my gaff!! Guess I need to go back to the books. Confused

I was confusing the TOE-IN, which is a total reading. Divide TOE-IN by half to get reading per wheel.

BTW, since camber is measured in degrees, how did you guys come up with 1/4 inch??? Is there a conversion chart out there? I've seen a suggested camber readings of zero to negative 1/4 degree, but not in inches.

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Rear End Camber Adjustment (11/11)
8/13/08 8:18am

Here is a link that descibes the procedure and also converts the inches to degrees. It also has the detailled formula behind it.

http://www.corvette-restoration.com/resources/technical_papers/Set_Rear_Wheel_Camber.pdf

In re reading it, it looks like 1/4" is roughly -1 degree for my 15" wheels and this is likley too much. If the reading should be .25 degree, then I need to get a spacer roughly 1/16" thick. I will redo do this. Maybe that is why I have some vibration while driving.

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