Trailing arms & thrust
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 6
From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
Trailing arms & thrust How does it work?
Ok, I just finished replacing my trailing arm assemblies with all new stuff. As I was installing everything, a thought occurred to me.
It appears that the only thing bearing the thrust that the rear wheels generate to propel the car is the long skinny bolt that goes through the trailing arm bushing. I must be missing something here?
It appears that the only thing bearing the thrust that the rear wheels generate to propel the car is the long skinny bolt that goes through the trailing arm bushing. I must be missing something here?
Last edited by RobbSalzmann; Sep 27, 2011 at 04:34 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
Your big thing is setting the rear toe in. I set mine for 1/16th per side for a total of 1/8th Some people go for more like a 1/4 inch total for less agressive driving
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,557
Likes: 9
From: Oquirrh Mountains
St. Jude Donor '09
Shear Capacity of a 1/2" grade 8 bolt (I think that's the size of that bolt) is somewhere approaching 18,000 lbf. The trailing arm mount configuration is a double shear connection so between both left and right trailing arms, you have 72,000 pounds of carrying capacity. I think you're probably safe. Not even 427Hotrod or 632C2 will be able to break those.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 6
From: Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '12
Thanks for the explanation guys. It makes sense when you think about it in terms of shear strength of the bolts x4 (2/side). A measly blown 406 is no match for those four little bolts.