Rear Trailing Arm, standard or offset
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: McComb Ms.
Rear Trailing Arm, standard or offset
Hi guys,
I am fixing to purchase a rear trail arm from one of the vendors. Before i order i want to make sure my arms are standard. Can anyone give me a measurement method to go by? i would assume i put a straight edge on the flattest,straightest inside area
of the arm mount at the front and take a measurement from that straight edge to the furthest solid part at the rear??? Can anyone give me dimensions and possibly a more correct way of measuring so i don't buy the wrong unit. Also the measurements of standard or offset? Do i possibly need a micrometer or is there a signifigant spread in the two arms? I will be measuring the drivers side control arm to get the proper measurements for the passenger which is what i'm replacing. Are there any differences in the two arms measurements?
Any help is appreciated as I've got to move this car within the month. Will i need to have a machine shop remove the bearings etc from the old trailing? If so should i just buy a unit complete with bearings etc? Which vendor would have the most similar arm? I am in a position i want the most reasonable price but i don't want issues with a substandard part. Thanks Guys & Gals!
I am fixing to purchase a rear trail arm from one of the vendors. Before i order i want to make sure my arms are standard. Can anyone give me a measurement method to go by? i would assume i put a straight edge on the flattest,straightest inside area
of the arm mount at the front and take a measurement from that straight edge to the furthest solid part at the rear??? Can anyone give me dimensions and possibly a more correct way of measuring so i don't buy the wrong unit. Also the measurements of standard or offset? Do i possibly need a micrometer or is there a signifigant spread in the two arms? I will be measuring the drivers side control arm to get the proper measurements for the passenger which is what i'm replacing. Are there any differences in the two arms measurements?
Any help is appreciated as I've got to move this car within the month. Will i need to have a machine shop remove the bearings etc from the old trailing? If so should i just buy a unit complete with bearings etc? Which vendor would have the most similar arm? I am in a position i want the most reasonable price but i don't want issues with a substandard part. Thanks Guys & Gals!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Do you have any reason to believe a previous owner changed trailing arms? There were no offset trailing arms on regular production Corvettes. All of them were "standard." Offset trailing arms are not GM and are available through Corvette aftermarket providers to allow mounting wider than stock wheels on the rear.
If your Corvette is stock, it has standard trailing arms.
If your Corvette is stock, it has standard trailing arms.
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
If your TAs are 2 C sections welded together then it's standard, if it looks like it's made out of quality steel then it's aftermarket. Unless you want straight stock then I'd go with the Van Steel offset TA's. Everything mounts in the same places, the only difference is that you can run wider wheel/tire combos. Stock wheels & tire looks exactly the same on an offset unit as they do on a stock unit. If money or NCRS is the issue, then stock style is the way to go. You can move between stock & offsets at will, so buy what you want.
NCM Grand Opening Veteran
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,979
Likes: 384
From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
Go to vansteel.com & look at their products. They are all top notch. I'd buy the complete unit, it is set up & ready to go. Why put old parts back onto a new TA? The cheapest route would be to send Van Steel your current TAs & let them rebuild them. The best way is to buy a new offset TA assembly and never have to worry about it again. Here's one other hint - replace the halfshaft u-joints also since you are there anyway. Take those down to a local driveshaft shop & have them replaced with quality non-greasable u-joints.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: McComb Ms.
hey all and thanks, i think mine are stock from these posts, my tires rub a tad in a quick turn onto a steep curbed drive. i thought my tires were oversized but i just looked and see they are P235/70R15's on 10"X15" rims with a 3.5 backspace. i was thinking they were P265's for some reason and yes the TA's seem to be split welded c's but i will double check tomorrow. My u-joints were all recently replaced so i will have a look at that too when i get it apart. I am now realizing what offset means, they follow the same runnin pattern as stock just have an offset to allow for further inset tires. 
I'll have a look at the setups at van steel site and take mine off and examine them. I hope the pins aren't frozen 
I should have it apart tomorrow afternoon if all goes well....i'll let you know...thanks again
I'll have a look at the setups at van steel site and take mine off and examine them. I hope the pins aren't frozen I should have it apart tomorrow afternoon if all goes well....i'll let you know...thanks again
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: McComb Ms.
i went to van steels site and didn't see the whole setup including discs etc. I will take mine off tomorrow and contact the vendor afterward about pricing on the whole setup. thanks again for the help.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i have the standard off set of those and they are a sweet set up....any body who has seen the stock ones deform under the bearing install knows of the poor design of the original set up....not one of GMs finer moments.....i do not have over size tires so i can't comment on that aspect but you will like these trailing arms
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: McComb Ms.
i take it this means no poly bushings? Also i won't be changing tire size, my tires fill the fender wells nicely. i just thought i'd get the offset if the price is comparable to standard. I'll have a talk with the vendor about price and make a judgement then i guess on which to purchase..thanks bob
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
Go to www.vansteel.com and there will be catagories listed on the left in red. Check out rebuilding services. You can click on either rebuilding services and go to T-Arm or click on Exchange Units and go to T-Arms.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
i take it this means no poly bushings? Also i won't be changing tire size, my tires fill the fender wells nicely. i just thought i'd get the offset if the price is comparable to standard. I'll have a talk with the vendor about price and make a judgement then i guess on which to purchase..thanks bob
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: McComb Ms.
thanks VanSteel, i was looking in wrong category, i will be giving you a call mid to end of next week about my order if nothings froze and delays me I will be looking towards rubber bushings instead of poly.I hope you carry both...hey Bob thanks alot for the heads up. I'll repost with before/after pictures for you guys once the projects complete.
I will be looking towards rubber bushings instead of poly.I hope you carry both...hey Bob thanks alot for the heads up. I'll repost with before/after pictures for you guys once the projects complete.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: McComb Ms.
Got my passenger trailing arm off and sent VanSteel an email clarifying some things on their products before i order. My trailing arm pin looked like a new one when i tapped it out. Those frozen ones i hear so much about must be up north where they salt the roads etc.
Nice having this forum in these times , thanks again everyone
Nice having this forum in these times , thanks again everyone
