Bee Jay's VBP A Arm install
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,910
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Bee Jay, have you ever lifted your vett from just the center under the engine? via the crossover? your, or at least mine, shocke toreres will spread apart.. at this time you could adjust your spreader bar very easly, and this may give you what you are looking for..
btw, Chris, my middle son , you meet him a few times, put in some new LED headlights in his jeep... they are all plastic and give amazing ligh... and weigh at about a pound less each light... know its not a lot, but there is 4 pounds right there!!!!
good luck brother! p:-)
btw, Chris, my middle son , you meet him a few times, put in some new LED headlights in his jeep... they are all plastic and give amazing ligh... and weigh at about a pound less each light... know its not a lot, but there is 4 pounds right there!!!!
good luck brother! p:-)
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
As discussed earlier in the thread, the problem with the VBP upper arms is lack of support for the legs of the control arm to the cross that allows them to flex and bend.
I would say that ANY control arm with a better and more solid construction is stronger then the VBP:s.
I would say that ANY control arm with a better and more solid construction is stronger then the VBP:s.
Bee Jay, The post wasn't that the SPC arm was better or worse than the welded up arm but that they are proven to work. I enjoy following your car and if searching for something your topics are some of the ones I'd click on first. Hopefully all of our posts will help other forum members
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 118
Likes: 2
From: rancho cucamonga ca
This seems to be a big problem in the world today, not with just automotive parts but just about everything, a manufacture sales us a product that is junk!!!!!!!!!!! & we are expected to fix it! and it seems to be ok with everyone??????? very confusing
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I think that 1-2 neg camber for track is allowing for a-arms with slop and rubber bushings. Maybe even stockish tall sidewall tires. I have all poly and a IR heat gun to test the heat across the face of the tire.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
For some reason, even though I no longer own a C-3, I read through this entire discussion. maybe because I enjoy technical discussions.
One thing that jumps out at me, is that nobody from VB&P has stepped in to either defend their product(s), or explain why they built their parts in the way they did. One other thing I find interesting, is if you look at pictures of VB&P parts, and the VanSteel parts that were pictured, they look almost identical.
Given that C-3 modifications and/or restorations are a popular activity, at least in the Corvette world, they are nonetheless "small potatoes" in the overall automotive aftermarket. I highly doubt that there are "many" manufacturers of parts, but there are probably many repackagers/resellers. Therefore, buyer beware!!
One thing that jumps out at me, is that nobody from VB&P has stepped in to either defend their product(s), or explain why they built their parts in the way they did. One other thing I find interesting, is if you look at pictures of VB&P parts, and the VanSteel parts that were pictured, they look almost identical.
Given that C-3 modifications and/or restorations are a popular activity, at least in the Corvette world, they are nonetheless "small potatoes" in the overall automotive aftermarket. I highly doubt that there are "many" manufacturers of parts, but there are probably many repackagers/resellers. Therefore, buyer beware!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
I did a search on their user "VBP" and the only posts I see from them are advertising. No support posts or answering questions. That is their right as a supporting vendor, but I still find it unfortunate that VBP only uses the forum for ads.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
CCW stepped in on both sites and explained both the offer they made to the "whiner", to replace the cracked centers at cost, as well as explaining that these wheel centers are 3 designs old. The wheels have been updated, due to increased stresses now generated by grippier race tires.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
think they are sold by "truck light"
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
You race a LOT more than I.. Thus, I'll go with what you think... but i am running all poly except the motor mounts and rear end snub. The A-arms are stock, and I want to replace them... but I do like the design of SBC arms much more.. they seem to have a lot more adjustably, and did I read somewhere they had bearings instead of rubber or poly??
Is that it makes many more points of failure. Once you are exceeding about 100- 120 mph in an un-roll caged car without a 5 point harness , neck brace, and Snell rated helmet. kiss your *** good bye when anything to do with steering goes.I don't know if you have ever seen a Vette in a wreck. They just come apart. Years ago BJ took the metal guard rails out of his doors. To save weight. I lightened my car and added 1 3/4 .134+ wall heavy DOM mild steel cage, 5 point seats, fire system, and seam welded frame and bracing
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
The thing that scares me about multi adjustable tubular A-arms with lots of jam nuts. Is that it makes many more points of failure. Once you are exceeding about 100- 120 mph in an un-roll caged car without a 5 point harness , neck brace, and Snell rated helmet. kiss your *** good bye when anything to do with steering goes.
I don't know if you have ever seen a Vette in a wreck. They just come apart. Years ago BJ took the metal guard rails out of his doors. To save weight. I lightened my car and added 1 3/4 .134+ wall heavy DOM mild steel cage, 5 point seats, fire system, and seam welded frame and bracing
Is that it makes many more points of failure. Once you are exceeding about 100- 120 mph in an un-roll caged car without a 5 point harness , neck brace, and Snell rated helmet. kiss your *** good bye when anything to do with steering goes.I don't know if you have ever seen a Vette in a wreck. They just come apart. Years ago BJ took the metal guard rails out of his doors. To save weight. I lightened my car and added 1 3/4 .134+ wall heavy DOM mild steel cage, 5 point seats, fire system, and seam welded frame and bracing
yea,,, thats something I wasn't thinking of...
very good point
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 698
Likes: 8
From: Stockholm Sweden
The safety part was also in my mind when I discovered my VBP control arms where loosing their shape..
When it comes to the SPC arms with their jam-nuts, this is the same system already used in other places in the front end/steering on Corvettes an numerous other cars.
However, if one are not happy with the jam-nuts only, one can always drill small holes and install securing wires as used in the aviation industry.
I just checked my jam-nuts on my SPC arms after a weekend on the track and they seem to be OK.
When it comes to the SPC arms with their jam-nuts, this is the same system already used in other places in the front end/steering on Corvettes an numerous other cars.
However, if one are not happy with the jam-nuts only, one can always drill small holes and install securing wires as used in the aviation industry.
I just checked my jam-nuts on my SPC arms after a weekend on the track and they seem to be OK.