Rear strut/shock mount

[john1977]

Just got my t/arms and struts back from the rebuild shop and having trouble getting the strut/shock mount to seat all the way. Have tried using air impact and it just won't pull the mount all the way in, about 1/8" from seating all the way. Has anyone had this problem and if so please tell me how its done.

 

[1979toy]

Try putting some liquid like Liqud Wrench or other bolt removal compound on them.

 

[john1977]

I will try that tonight, just did not want to get it stuck, not all the way seated and not be able to get it back out. I even tried tapping with a hammer while useing impact. Had coated them with anti-seize compound but will try another type. Thanks

 

[JohnZ]

Some of the reproduction strut/shock mount shafts have excessive-diameter knurling on them; they may need to have the knurled portion filed down some. They should NOT be that difficult to get seated.

 

[john1977]

Ok got the strut/shock mounts in now could someone tell me what the castle nut on the mount ,torque should be. Also is there a way to get the camber ( i think that is what you call it ) close?

 

[john1977]

Another question I forgot to ask is how tight should the bolts from the trailing arm to the spring be? I have the composite rear spring & short bolts.

 

[cwerve74]

My book for 1974 says 70-80 ft-lbs for the camber strut castle nut attachment--- plus additional torque to get the cotter pin in the hole. I did 75 plus a little to get the pin in.

As for setting the camber --I installed camber arms that adjust by rotating twist of the strut. I Replaced the orginal off center hole adjuster nut. This set up worked for me might not be as practicle if you have the orginal adjuster.
Part 1)
You need to get the t-arm to the correct ride height. I used a floor jack on the bottom of the camber stud to move the t-arm to what I though was the right place. Run 2 lug nuts on the brake rotor to square it up. Measure on the disk rotor using a simple level. Get the wheel to perfectly vertical by adjusting the camber strut.
Part 2)
Once every thing is all back together an on the floor and you have adjusted the ride height plus moved the car around the block to settle the suspention check the camber again with the level on the wheel rim. If near zero then just take it to the alignment shop. Which by the way is a must.

Lastly for the spring. It is not a torque you are looking for. It is the ride height that is set by the position of the spring bolt/nut on the t-Arm. I donot have the composit spring so someone can correct me. Put the nut on the spring bolt with several threads showing at the bottom. With the car on the ground and the suspention settled you should be 28 in +/- 1/2 inch to the top of the wheel arch on the body. Run the nut up the bolt to raise the car. Again my experience is with a 1974 So the measurements might be different on yours. This measurement can be effected by the front springs so if you see a difference from left side to right side it might be the front. Another measurement is the vertical height of the bolts on the rear camber struts. Measure to the center of the bolts on each end of the rear camber sturt. Should be 2.2inch +/- .25 in difference from the floor.

Ride height effects the other adjustments so set it to what you want prior to going to the alignment shop.

 

[john1977]

Thanks, Cwerve74 for your reply, but would you have any idea as to how tight the nut on the shock/strut mount should be? The one Im referring to is the large nut that has the cotterpin thru it that goes thru the strut eye.

 

[cwerve74]

The 1974 assembly manual has the spec as 75 ft-lbs. plus what ever additional rotation you need to get the cotter pin in the hole.

This is the nut that holds the camber strut connection to the t-arm. I will attach a picture to be sure we are looking at the same part. I am talking about castle nut P/N 582103. Diagram from a corvette central catalog.

 

[john1977]

Thanks again cwerve74; I think I have got everything back together tonight. Just need to bleed brakes and put the wheels back on. Again Thanks for all your help jw