Rolling Chassis

[Dick G.]

I mounted wheels on my 1965 corvette rolling chassis. It is all new or rebuilt. Van Steel did the trailing arms and strut rod. The original spring easily met spec. and is also back on chassis. Problem? Without any real weight on chassis I have binding in the rear of chassis when I roll chassis forward or backward, I get binding (I believe ujoints). I tried to push out the bottom of tires with the strut rod adjusting cam bolt. It helped but could not push enough to alleviate binding. I believe binding is from the u-joints/yokes. Is this problem to be expected till I get weight onto chassis. The new park brake cable armour is lightly rubbing on the inside of driver side tire. The park brake cable is loose. Any help appreciated!

[Terry F.]

Re: Rolling Chassis

Your observations are correct. Nothing is wrong. Terry

[Dick W.]

Re: Rolling Chassis

The binding is the rear half shaft u-joints. This will stop when the weight of the body compresses the rear spring. I learned this the hard way, on the first body off restoration that I did. I could not figure out what I had done wrong. Set about 500# on the rear of the chasssis and problem went away. Sure wish that this board had been in existance when I started doing restorations. You can glean more knowledge in one hour here that you could by reading for two days.

[Dick G.]

Re: Rolling Chassis

Thanks for the response. I wanted to hear it from someone else before I rolled my chassis out of my old shop to my new one. This forum is great because of the people.

[Rob A.]

Re: Rolling Chassis

Dick,

I had the exact same concerns during the frame-off on my '67, particularly the binding. I tried putting several hundred pounds of sand bags on the rear cross member, but it's just not the same as when the car is completed. I put several postings like yours here and was assured everything would be fine when the car was completed, body on, gas tank, spare tire, etc., and they were absolutely right. My car is complete now, and the rear spring almost horizontal and everything operates properly. I know it's hard to believe at the stage you're at, but like everyone told me, don't worry.