I'm ordering complete front end suspension rebuild kit from Wilcox and had a question concerning the offset "A" arm sharts. I have seen some discusion about the extra 5deg. adjustment helping with straitline control. Is it worth the money and does it help with 80 + mph handling as some have suggested? I not racing but here in Texas some free ways are increasing speed limits to 75 and from San Antonio to Austin (SH130) it goes to 80 and 85! You know what that means to keep up with the pack! Anyway, I'm open to comments on these shafts while I'm ordering. Thanks

 

I believe the purpose of the off-set A arm shafts is so you can align the suspension properly when the frame has sagged. As these old frames age and sag, fewer and fewer shims are needed, to the point where no shims are too many. The off-set shafts "restore" the front end so shims are needed again. I wish I had them on my '69' it has very few shims on both sides.

Pete

 

I've got VBP offset front arms, not sure how much they do as I did lots of mods at once, that said, the reason old cars had very little caster was because lots were manual steering and more caster is harder to turn.

Then they realised more caster aids straight line stability so cars got more and more caster to the point now where even a small car won't come with manual steering due to people being lazy and more inbuilt caster ( imagine a shopping trolley).

A stock c3 has about 1.5 degrees of caster and a c5 has between 7 and 9, that says it all, so yes more caster is good, although it'll move your front wheels slighty towards the rear as the new upper ball joint position is further rearward.

Look a new Mercedes on full lock, the strange angle is lots of caster

The new arms give up to 4.5 degrees (from memory), and my car does handle well


Others can give a more detailed reply but that's kind of all you need to know really.

Oh and yes I can cruise at 100+ one handed

 

Thanks! The extra caster was what my alignment guy said would help. Some of the new tubular replacement arms already have some added, or so I was told. Thanks again for your responses.

Flatop

 

No worries, this is one mod that isn't a 'race' idea put on the street that will make your car horrible to drive, it's basically an OEM upgrade

 

Hi Aaron,

Do you have the VBP offset A-arms which are designed to give up to 6*of caster, or do you have the original A-arms with the VBP offset cross shaft?

I was under the impression that the offset cross shaft will help with Camber due to the sagging of the suspension towers, but not with the Caster.?

 

I've just reread the OP first post and he's asking about the shafts

http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...aft-Set-4.html

, I thought he was talking about offset top arms,

i.e -
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...num-Cross.html

My mistake, I have the VBP offset top arms, VBP gives no info what use the offset cross shafts are for.

I just looked on Global West's website and yes they are to correct 'camber' issues, this has nothing to do with the 'caster' advice i've been giving!

Global West -

The Corvette front suspension from 1963, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 sometimes can use help repairing the alignment camber or caster issues. Global West makes a offset upper arm cross shaft that when rotated in the arm can increase positive or negative camber depending on how you install the shaft on the car. The shaft can be used with stock upper control arms and most aftermarket
tubular a-arms.

Global west on their tubular upper a-arms

-Global West has produced a replacement tubular upper control arm for 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 Corvettes. The arms are designed with more positive caster for improved straight line stability. Caster will also increase the cars ability to self center. The A- arms entitled G-Plus have billet cross shafts, Del-a-lum bushings, upper bump stops, and ball joints already installed. The Del-a-lum bushing has grease fittings and works similar to a bearing. The bushing allows the arm to pivot smoothly without bind and without deflection. The ride is not harsh and because of the durability of the bushing your alignment will maintain even during hard corning.

 

Thanks guys, I am leaving the stock front end and just looking at the caster issue. Wilcox also said his offset shafts adresse sagging frame and shim issues. I found a post I read some time back by norvalwilhelm-Picture of my slotted cross shaft which may be the poor boy fix.Sorry, I'm not real savy on posting or attaching the picture. He milled the oiginal shafts forward approx. 1/4" giving additional caster then set alignment as usual but allowing 4+ deg. more caster. He cut a metal rod the same dia. as the hole in half and used it to plug/fill the original hole location. Another question for you guys since you are being nice enough to help. Is it really worth the money for Bilstein HD shocks since I'm not going all out for an ultimate handling suspension? Would a lesser shock be more practical for my rebuild?

Flatop

 

offset arms help with better caster and not having too long of bolts on the upper a-arms

 

http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...num-Cross.html

was looking at them. ( also a spreader bar vb&b suspension kit , in transport now )

Soz for butting in, but very interesting thread.

But is that 419 each or both. Also do they have a offest a arm shaft and the ball bearing tilt. I read it as yes right?

 

WARNING!!!

For VBP upper Controll Arms: Part#: 42120

Link:
http://www.vbandp.com/C2-C3-Corvette...num-Cross.html

Even if they are described as "stronger then stock" they are NOT up for the job!!
Those A-arms are WEAKER then stock!

They are propably good for dragracing and slow cruising but they cant take offensive hard braking.

Trust me, just check the supports for the bushings at the aluminium cross.. The are only supported at ONE side witch leads to that the Controll Arm flexes and loosing its shape!!

Heres a link to a video i did send VBP half a year ago, witch they yet have not responded to!
The controllarms are about 2 years old on the video and have seen about 6 trackdays + very Little road use.

I have mailed VBP and also phoned them but they keep turning me away and do not respond to my mails.

My suggestion is:
By something else instead!

//Ricky.

Link:
http://s830.photobucket.com/user/RBB...tml?sort=3&o=2

 

My alignment guys suggested offset shafts to correct my alignment issues. I bought a pair, but ended up installing a speader bar to correct sagging issue. I have a brand new pair, never used, that I bought from Van Steel . . . PM me if you are interested.

 

can anyone point to any good upper ones then?

 

I have not tested my new ones yet but they do look solid and the bearings are supported both ways.

I now got the SPC adjustable ones instead.
http://spcalignment.com/performance/...tion&pid=94370

But there are more controllarms out there witch are just fine.

//Ricky.

 

Not to jack the thread but how do you like those SPC A-Arms? I just got a set that I haven't installed yet. Any set-up tips?

 

Im sorry, i installed mine this winter and we still have snow here in Sweden so i havent had a chans to test them yet.

//Ricky.

 

That's not good I'll check mine out this week, I don't have the ali cross shafts, I bought mine around 4 years ago.

 

Check them out and if bad let VBP know about it, maybe they will listen to you.

//Ricky.

 

The Global West A arms appear to be stronger

 

Mine are VBP part number 42101
http://www.streetperformance.com/par...955-42101.html

They are different to yours and look tougher