Offset trailing arms

[Last Ride]

Hey all--
I figured while I had the supension off, it might be time to do the trailing arms as well. I want to go with offset trailing arms because I plan on stuffing bigger meats back there. Is this very involved? Both trailing arms were rebuilt about two years ago, so they are in excellent shape. How much would they sell for? Thanks for your time!

 

[groovyjay]

Hi, as you might know I have pair of offset trailing arms on my 79. Yes, they will allow you to fit bigger wheel/tyres and up to 1.5" more back spacing. Since you have rebuild your stock TA's it shouldn't be hard to take them off, unlike mine which were badly rusted in place.
Why should one buy TA's? Like you I wanted bigger wheels and now I'm running 10" rear wheels under the stock body. Another good thing is that the offset arms are also Heavy duty and I can assure you that they are tough enough! The C profile used in the design is hard as nail.
There's basically nothing wrong with good rebuild stock TA's, but if you are willing to throw in the dough you can consider the offset arms as a upgrade. Onlything better would be the Guldstrands 5-link. Guldstrand also sells his own design offset arms and they are whopping 1000$ pair!!!!

I just took few shots for you to help you see how they differ from stock arms.

 

[matchframe]

Jay,

Do you have to cut the half shaft down, or do they stay the stock length? Are there any other mods you have to do to accommodate the offset TAs?

Bill

 

[groovyjay]

Jay,

Do you have to cut the half shaft down, or do they stay the stock length? Are there any other mods you have to do to accommodate the offset TAs?

Bill

Hi Bill, no you don't have to cut the 1/2 shafts and no other modifications are required, plug n play...

 

[Last Ride]

Jay--
What backspacing are you running on the rear? I am not going to be getting 20" rims (18" will be enough for me ), but shouldn't the backspacing be the same? I am trying to determine the backspacing so I don't order the wrong rims! I thought you were going to step up to a Guldstrand 5-bar in the future. Have you decided not to do it?

Bryan

 

[clar2001]

Nice pics good work and detail there did I notice the e-brake cable on top instead of the side of the T-A.......was that a change you made or did it mount that way?

 

[groovyjay]

Jay--
What backspacing are you running on the rear? I am not going to be getting 20" rims (18" will be enough for me ), but shouldn't the backspacing be the same? I am trying to determine the backspacing so I don't order the wrong rims! I thought you were going to step up to a Guldstrand 5-bar in the future. Have you decided not to do it?

Bryan

I'm running 5.25" BS at the back. If you are looking to fit 18"x10" rear wheels you might end up hitting the leaf spring. 'cause my wheels have 2" larger diameter the leaf spring fits nicely inside the wheel!

I'm gonna finish this car for now and will start a new project next winter, in the next project I will start from the GS 5 link kit!

 

[groovyjay]

Nice pics good work and detail there did I notice the e-brake cable on top instead of the side of the T-A.......was that a change you made or did it mount that way?

That's how it's mounted on every offset ta.

 

[Last Ride]

I'm running 5.25" BS at the back. If you are looking to fit 18"x10" rear wheels you might end up hitting the leaf spring. 'cause my wheels have 2" larger diameter the leaf spring fits nicely inside the wheel!

I'm gonna finish this car for now and will start a new project next winter, in the next project I will start from the GS 5 link kit!

Jay--
Sounds like a winner! I can't imagine ever "finishing" this car, but I am not sure what I will do when it is "done". I have been told that anything over 17" will allow the spring to fit inside, and I will be using a composite fiberglass spring, so hopefully, I can get it to fit. If not, I think you can order a shorter spring from Vette Brakes, but I will have to see. Either way, I will have to measure beforehand. Thanks for the help!

Bryan

 

[groovyjay]

Jay--
Sounds like a winner! I can't imagine ever "finishing" this car, but I am not sure what I will do when it is "done". I have been told that anything over 17" will allow the spring to fit inside, and I will be using a composite fiberglass spring, so hopefully, I can get it to fit. If not, I think you can order a shorter spring from Vette Brakes, but I will have to see. Either way, I will have to measure beforehand. Thanks for the help!

Bryan

Yes, you can get shorter springs so it won't be a problem. I can't wait to see your car finished, it is going to be a killer!

 

[71roadster]

how much spave left

Groovyjay, how much space do you have left between the trailing arm and the rim? how about the frame and the rim? Could you run another .25" of backspace? I really want to run 9.5 inch rims with 5.5" of backspace.


Chris

 

[Mako]

Re: how much spave left

Groovyjay, how much space do you have left between the trailing arm and the rim? how about the frame and the rim? Could you run another .25" of backspace? I really want to run 9.5 inch rims with 5.5" of backspace.


Chris

The recipie I used on my '69 is on my http://www.caspeed.com page under the New Shoes link. Browse through that and drop me a line if you have any questions.

I'm skeptical you will get -5.5" of back space due to the lower shock mount and the frame rail. 5" could maybe be do-able, perhaps.

You really don't need that much back spacing on a 70+ Shark due to the wider rear fenders. On my car a -4.75" would work, 5" would be too much and the tire would rub.

Consider offset trailing arms, a shortened rear spring, -4.75" back spacing on a 9.5" or even 10" rim and you should be able to stuff 275's (or even 285's on a 10" wheel) under the rear fenders no problem.

Verify those numbers with your own ruler first of course - my advice could be worth exactly what you paid for it

CYa!
Mako

 

[Last Ride]

Re: Re: how much space left

The recipie I used on my '69 is on my http://www.caspeed.com page under the New Shoes link. Browse through that and drop me a line if you have any questions.

I'm skeptical you will get -5.5" of back space due to the lower shock mount and the frame rail. 5" could maybe be do-able, perhaps.

You really don't need that much back spacing on a 70+ Shark due to the wider rear fenders. On my car a -4.75" would work, 5" would be too much and the tire would rub.

Consider offset trailing arms, a shortened rear spring, -4.75" back spacing on a 9.5" or even 10" rim and you should be able to stuff 275's (or even 285's on a 10" wheel) under the rear fenders no problem.

Verify those numbers with your own ruler first of course - my advice could be worth exactly what you paid for it

CYa!
Mako

Mako--
Not to get off topic here, but how do you like the Wilwood stoppers? Are they any better than the factory brakes? I know they are considerably lighter. By the way, thanks for the advice on the wheel/tire combo.

Bryan

 

[Mako]

Re: Re: Re: how much space left

Mako--
Not to get off topic here, but how do you like the Wilwood stoppers? Are they any better than the factory brakes? I know they are considerably lighter. By the way, thanks for the advice on the wheel/tire combo.

Bryan

The Wilwoods aren't on my car - they are on a friend's Shark. I thought the install was so cool that I got his permission to link to his page that shows the install. I think his Email address is on that page somewhere...

According to him the Wilwoods work great. He installed them as his stock calipers were sucking air.

I installed Stainless Steel Brakes re-worked calipers on my car, and they have been perfect.

The brakes on my Vette are far better than the brakes on my Z28, I've been quite happy with the stock setup so far. Get me on a road course however, and that may change, but for now I'm keeping my wallet in my pocket.

Glad to share what I knew on the wheels and tires fitment. For such a common mod, there's not much hard info out there on it...

CYa!
Mako