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Offset Trailing Arms

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Old 04-25-2012, 08:44 AM
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929nitro
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Default 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.
Old 04-25-2012, 11:40 AM
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69 Chevy
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It's obvious that the major disadvantage is price. Plus the cost of installing the wheel spindle/bearings/shims in the offset TA.
Old 04-25-2012, 12:20 PM
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929nitro
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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.
Old 04-25-2012, 01:21 PM
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theandies
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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.
Old 04-25-2012, 03:31 PM
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BadBaran
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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

Old 04-25-2012, 04:11 PM
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Dustup7T2
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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.
Old 04-25-2012, 08:15 PM
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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.
Old 04-25-2012, 08:18 PM
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I bet the welds on the offset TA's are better then stock ones

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