Help with Upper A-arm set up

[TLeBlanc]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of installing my new Coilover (front) Shocks. While I am at it, I am also freshening up the a-arm bushings, ball joints, etc. My question is pertaining to the upper a-arm shaft. The new shaft has an offset (approx 5 deg) and the original shaft did not have this offset. I understand this offset allows for a wider range of alignment adjustment.

Should the offset face the tire side or engine side ??

 

[Sky65]

Hi everyone,

I am in the process of installing my new Coilover (front) Shocks. While I am at it, I am also freshening up the a-arm bushings, ball joints, etc. My question is pertaining to the upper a-arm shaft. The new shaft has an offset (approx 5 deg) and the original shaft did not have this offset. I understand this offset allows for a wider range of alignment adjustment.

Should the offset face the tire side or engine side ??

I don't have the offest shafts so don't have real world experiance. That said I would base my 1st try off the shim stack installed with the stock shafts. If you have a large stack of shims pulling the control arm in, then I would install the offset direction pulling the arm in. I think your alignment with all the new bushings and parts will be the real indicator of which way they should be installed. I am just guessing here because I have never used them.

Which coilovers are you using?

Tom

 

[Wilkinshc]

Tom,

You are right, if your alignment setting were where you wanted them. Ie you need a large stack to get it where you need it then turn the offset to the outside pulling the ball joint in or if you have no shims and still need it to go out to get you desired setting then then the offset to the inside which will move the ball joint out. I had to ask and ask to find out, everybody keep saying it depends. I have the VBP a-arms and on my driverside I had to turn it outside because I had about an inch in shims but on the passenger side and no shim and I had to turn the offset to the inside. So on my the offsets are turned different on each side.

hope that helps

 

[TLeBlanc]

Thanks guys. That was my thought process too. I have one side with minimal shims and the other with a boatload of shims. I will set up accordingly.

I went with the QA1 coilover setup. I am anxious to get it completed and road test.