Strut rods

[Frank K.]

What are better for the C3 , fixed or adjustable?

[Michael W.]

Re: Strur rods

Neither, it's two different ways to achieve exactly the same thing. Avoid either type with poly bushings.

[Steve G.]

Re: Strur rods

Contrary to popular belief, they are not the same and do not do the same thing. The oe setup moves the pivot point while keeping the arm exactly the same length to adjust the camber. The adjustable rods changes the length of the rod to change the camber. That is a very significant difference.

The front and rear of your car uses a suspension system known as long arm/short arm. Google for a complete explanation, but in a nutshell, the different length radii carve different arcs as they swing through their travel. The outer end of the short arm travels a tighter arc so as it swings the top moves inboard more than the longer arm through the same amount of travel. This causes the bottom of the tire pivot at the outer end of the strut rod and to "kick out" so as to maintain track width at the contact point with the road.

The difference in the length of these two members was not arbitrary, but rather was carefully calculated to create the correct amount of correction at the bottom of the tire. Changing the length of one of the arms throws that movement off.

I've heard some say that the change in the length of the arm is to small to make much of a difference. I disagree with that. I have seen where you can easily change the length from the original by half an inch to achieve correct camber with an adjustable rod, especially if your stub shafts are worn. The difference in length between the half shaft measured at it's pivot points and the strut rod is only about 2". Changing that dimension by 1/4 to 1/2" represents a 12.5 to 25% change to a crucial dimension.

Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: Strut rods

What are better for the C3 , fixed or adjustable?

Frank-------


Personally, I recommend and use ONLY stock-type strut rods with stock-type bushings.

One thing I will add, though: 1963-74 Corvettes used strut rods with 1-1/4" bushings. 1975-82 Corvettes used strut rods with 1-3/8" bushings. The 1975-79 strut rods are also SERVICE for 1963-74. I feel pretty confident that GM made this change for a good reason. I can also tell you that my original 1-1/4" bushing strut rods had the bushings deteriorate and "squeeze out" fairly quickly affecting, among other things, rear wheel camber. At some point I changed to the 75-79 rods. After that I never had any problems whatsoever with the bushings or rear camber.