INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS FOR POLYURETHANE ADJUSTABLE STRUT RODS #42008, #42009
or #42010 1963-82 Corvette
(727)
345-5292
KIT CONTAINS:
ITEM # QTY DESCRIPTION ITEM # QTY DESCRIPTION
1 2 DOM Swedged Rods with jam Nuts, 3 4 I/2" Flat
Washer
Rod Ends, Polyurethane Bushings 4 4 Locator Washers
and Inner Steel Sleeves 5 4 Lipped
Washers
2 2 1/2"
- 20 NF x 3-1/2" long 6 2 1/2'’
- 20 NF Hex Nuts
(Grade
5) Hex Bolts 7 2 Lock
Washers
1. Jack up car and place securely on jack stands.
Rear parts removal. Do one side
at a time
1. Remove rear spring end bolt from trailing arm by jacking up spring. Use vise grips (on steel spring only) to prevent jack from sliding up the spring.
1. Remove camber cam/bolt that holds the inner end of stock strut rod to strut rod bracket under differential housing.
Unbolt lower end of shock absorber. Loosen and remove lower shock mounting shaft from rear bearing carrier. Remove stock control rod.
Installation of new strut rods.
1. Unbolt strut rod bracket from beneath differential housing. It is recommended that the existing strut rod bracket tabs be welded on each side of the strut rod bracket since they were only spot welded at the factory.(A total of 4 places, 2 on each bracket end). NOTE: If strut rod bracket tabs are already welded in place, omit this step.
2. Install the new poly adjustable rods (Item '11) into the strut rod bracket. Secure each with 1/2" hex bolt, flat washers, locator washers, lock washer and hex nut (Items #2 - 6). NOTE: The strut rod end with the 1/2" bolt/nut assembly goes into the strut rod bracket with lipped washers.
Reinstall strut rod bracket to differential (if removed).
3. Doing one rod at a time, place 5/8" 1.D. strut rod end in rear bearing carrier. Reinstall lower shock mounting shaft in rear bearing carrier. Reinstall the lower end of shock absorber. Reconnect rear spring. Replace all lock washers and hex nuts and fasten securely.
4. Lower car to ground. Roll car back and forth a total of 10 feet or more, three times. Check rear camber and adjust strut rods to achieve desired camber. A good place to start is 1/2" negative.
5. Adjust rear camber settings by loosening strut rod jam nuts, then turning rods. Each complete turn of the rod equals about 1/2" of camber. Shortening the rods decreases negative camber. Lengthening rods increases negative camber.
CAUTION: Never extend rods so there are too few threads engaged between rod ends. The male threaded
ends should always have the same amount of threads engaged at both ends of strut rod. Because these rods are a little shorter than stock and are designed to be used at stock height or lower, never
use these rods on a car that is jacked up in the rear to clear oversize tires, etc. If the adjustable rods are too short for your needs, return to Vette Products, Inc. and longer ones may be supplied to your specifications.
A simple way to estimate camber can be done with 2
identical wood blocks and a carpenters level. Tape
the two blocks the side of the level. Stand the level in a vertical
position parallel to the tires. Blocks will be at right angles to tire.
Adjust camber so blocks barely graze edges of tire rims. To achieve a
beginning point of ½
degree negative camber, the upper block should be about 1/8”
from upper tire rim on a 15-inch wheel. Adjust strut rods to desired
settings. Each complete turn of the strut rod adds or subtracts about 1/8”
in block-to-tire measurement, or ½ degree of camber.
How to Adjust
Rear Camber