Offset Trailing Arms
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
Offset Trailing Arms
What are the advantages, or disadvantages of offset trailing arms. Besides the obvious of being able to run wider tires. I will be running 18X9.5 5" B.S. with 285/40 which I see people have run without offset arms. Thanks for the help.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
I have to replace the bearings and possibly one spindle anyway. Just thought if there was any advantage to them I would consider going with offsets. Don't know the actual condition of my trailing arms.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,363
Likes: 1,059
From: Virginia USA
I have them. Got them from Van Steel allready built up so all I had to do was put my caliper on and drive to an alignment shop. They are stronger than OEM and powder coated to last. I like'em.
I still have to get some wider rims now though.
I still have to get some wider rims now though.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 154
Likes: 1
From: Hanover Maryland
They are definitely built stronger and the powder coating will help them to last longer and stay looking nice. I mainly bought mine for those reasons and to fit wider wheels without clearance issues. Plus mine needed to be rebuilt anyway so why not upgrade. Here are some pictures for comparison
Terrorizing Orange Cones
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,572
Likes: 17
From: Northern CO
Hi 929N. I'm like the other guys who installed a pair and I'm using almost the exact wheel-tire setup you describe in your opening post.
I was rebuilding the entire suspension on my tired old mule and wanted to explore all the advantages of possible upgrades. This is what the rear axle ended up as, before remounting under the car:
Another nice advantage of the offset arms was having the e-brake cable rerouted over the top of the arm for no interference to tire's sidewall.
In the following link, I posted my experiences with clearances, beginning with post #27 then more specific, in posts #41 and #43. Those last two may offer some insight and because you plan on .5 inch less offset than I chose, you may not encounter any rub like I mention.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ictures-2.html
Hope that helps. Good luck and keep us posted on what you select.
I was rebuilding the entire suspension on my tired old mule and wanted to explore all the advantages of possible upgrades. This is what the rear axle ended up as, before remounting under the car:
Another nice advantage of the offset arms was having the e-brake cable rerouted over the top of the arm for no interference to tire's sidewall.
In the following link, I posted my experiences with clearances, beginning with post #27 then more specific, in posts #41 and #43. Those last two may offer some insight and because you plan on .5 inch less offset than I chose, you may not encounter any rub like I mention.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ictures-2.html
Hope that helps. Good luck and keep us posted on what you select.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
Thanks for the info. Dustup7T2 looks like the same setup as I am planning on going with the VBP street slalom setup suspension upgrade along with Coy C5 in Black Chrome, Good minds think alike. 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
