VBP Rear Suspension Questions

[wrc3]

I pulled the rear trailing arms and sent them to get rebuilt. In the process I have installed a new setup from VBP with Carbon Spring, New Diff, and Adjustable strut rods.

and here are the stupid questions.

When putting the trailing arms back in do I insert them first and then pound the shims back into place? Or does it all go at once?

At what angle should the strut rods depart from the strut rod mount?

Should the Camber be adjusted initially while the vehicle is on the ground or on Jack stands?

Finally, Should I adjust ride height before or after camber adjustment?

Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

B

 

[Pancho]

Hi --

* When I put my trailing arms back in I found it easiest to balance the heavy end on a jackstand, work the pivot bolt all the way through (a magnetic pickup tool helps to hold it....), then thread the nut on QUICK while you can.....
The shims go in afterwards (...you did tape them together so you can put them back in roughly the same thicknesses at the old locations, right?).
Leave the long cotter pin and cotter pin for the castle nut out until after you get the rear end re-aligned, in case any adjustments are needed.

* Angle of the strut rods.... I'm not sure what you're asking since you won't really be able to adjust the angle that they make with the lower shock mount, unless this is some feature of the VBP setup -- in which case I don't know...

* Camber will be easiest to adjust with the weight off the rear wheels -- For mine I adjusted the new rods (are these the polyadjustable with locknuts?) to approx. the same length as the rods I took out; lower the car and roll it around to remove the side-stresses, then eyeball it..... then jack it back up, make an adjustment, back down, etc. This will at least get you close enough to take to an alignment shop.

* I'm not sure about which comes 1st, but since ride height will affect camber (and not vice-versa), I'd say do the ride height first.

Hope that helps,
Chuck

 

[wrc3]

thanks for the reply

Ya really all this work is being done just to get it good enough to drive to an alignment shop and let them get it all to spec. Thanks for the response I am looking forward to seeing how the new end sits.

 

[BeaterShark]

At what angle should the strut rods depart from the strut rod mount?

I'm assuming you have the Smart Struts.
If you want 0 camber change throughout the suspension travel (drag racing), set the camber rods parallel with the half shafts. If you want some camber change (auto-x or road race), then you want the strut rods at a different angle than the half shafts, with the greater difference giving more camber change with suspension travel.

 

[clar2001]

Good advice Pancho..................