Offset Trailing arms: Should I?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 130
Likes: 10
Offset Trailing arms: Should I?
So I have completely redone the front suspension of my 79 (new 550 springs, QA1 shocks, all new bushings, bearings, tie rods, ball joints, etc) and ordered the VBP 360 lb rear mono spring and QA1 shocks for the rear.
Now, having had to use a sawzall to cut the bolts off to remove my rear trailing arms, I am doing the rear too.
I have brand new, BFG tires on the factory rims right now, and want to be able to still run them, but also want to be able to throw on my c6 wheels once the new set for the c6 gets here, so I am thinking about buying either the Van Steel or VBP offset trailing arms, while I am re doing everything anyways. The arms, $499 at Van Steel or $440 from VBP, would be slightly more expensive, but if I take my factory arms and powder coat them, it would be about $100, and then new bushings that the off set arms already come with would be another 70, so the price difference is down to $270 to 330 difference. Now if I could sell the factory arms for $200, I am really only out an extra $70 or so, which has me really wondering if this would be the right move.
What are your thoughts? And any reason not to by the arms from VPB over Van Steel since they are cheaper by $50?
Now, having had to use a sawzall to cut the bolts off to remove my rear trailing arms, I am doing the rear too.
I have brand new, BFG tires on the factory rims right now, and want to be able to still run them, but also want to be able to throw on my c6 wheels once the new set for the c6 gets here, so I am thinking about buying either the Van Steel or VBP offset trailing arms, while I am re doing everything anyways. The arms, $499 at Van Steel or $440 from VBP, would be slightly more expensive, but if I take my factory arms and powder coat them, it would be about $100, and then new bushings that the off set arms already come with would be another 70, so the price difference is down to $270 to 330 difference. Now if I could sell the factory arms for $200, I am really only out an extra $70 or so, which has me really wondering if this would be the right move.
What are your thoughts? And any reason not to by the arms from VPB over Van Steel since they are cheaper by $50?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,000
Likes: 299
From: New York
A lot of times the custom parts are very similar or the same and sold by different vendors with there name on them .. Both IMOP are fine.
What Qa1 shock did you get and What spring ? Was it a kit or individual items
What Qa1 shock did you get and What spring ? Was it a kit or individual items
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 130
Likes: 10
diehrd - I went with the 550# front spring and the non-adjustable QA1s. I have the QA1 coil overs on my trans am, but I dont ever mess with the adjusting and figured I would give these a try since they were only $100 vs. the $$ of the coilovers. I didnt buy any kits because I wasnt planning on redoing everything, but one thing led to another and here I am.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Measure the distance from the wheel/rotor mating surface to the edge of the tire on the current wheels.......then measure the gap between the tire wall and the trailing arm.
Post those measurements here so other members can check their wheel clearance and confirm if you need offset arms.
(I had 11" wide tires on 8" wide Vette stock rims and still had 1/2" gap between the tire inner wall and the side of the trailing arm....of course I could not do any hard cornering without the inner walls of the tires rubbing slightly on the side of the trailing arm....and I had to remove the bracket for the parking brake)
Post those measurements here so other members can check their wheel clearance and confirm if you need offset arms.
(I had 11" wide tires on 8" wide Vette stock rims and still had 1/2" gap between the tire inner wall and the side of the trailing arm....of course I could not do any hard cornering without the inner walls of the tires rubbing slightly on the side of the trailing arm....and I had to remove the bracket for the parking brake)
Last edited by doorgunner; Jan 28, 2016 at 06:05 PM.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,597
Likes: 7,046
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
If you later change your wheels, having offset arms already installed will make the switch much easier.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
I went with the Global West offset trailing arms.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
I'm using 15 inch wheels. Van Steel told me a 9 inch wheel with P275/60/15 tires would be the biggest that I could use with the Global West trailing arms. I haven't got the trailing arms on yet so I haven't been able to do any measuring yet.
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 319
Likes: 65
From: Spring TX
I installed 18x10 wheels, with 5.75" backspacing, and the tires are 295/40-18.
Instead of using offset trailing arms, we modified the existing arms, had to "notch" them, and we welded in some 3/8" steel bar stock where is was notched, plus several inches beyond the notch. I believe they are much stronger now than they were, and saved me all the hassle of replacing them.
If you went with less wide wheels and/or less backspacing, you wouldn't need to do this. I did not want them to stick out, and now they are tucked in nicely.
what I did, was figure out what size wheel and tire I wanted, then made the modifications necessary to make them fit.
Do you know what size wheel and tire you want?
Instead of using offset trailing arms, we modified the existing arms, had to "notch" them, and we welded in some 3/8" steel bar stock where is was notched, plus several inches beyond the notch. I believe they are much stronger now than they were, and saved me all the hassle of replacing them.
If you went with less wide wheels and/or less backspacing, you wouldn't need to do this. I did not want them to stick out, and now they are tucked in nicely.
what I did, was figure out what size wheel and tire I wanted, then made the modifications necessary to make them fit.
Do you know what size wheel and tire you want?
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 78
Likes: 16
From: Concord California
FWIW I decided to go with the Van Steel offset arms for my BB 68. The parking brake tabs on my original arms had been cut off and they were pretty hammered looking. I am not sure what wheel and tire combo I will be using yet as that is a ways off (I'm doing a body off resto) so maybe I didn't really need the offset arms, but boy they sure look nice and I know they are well made. Van Steel was really good to work with and took time to explain things when I had questions, I would recommend their parts or services.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I'm not going to bother looking it all up, but C-6 wheels might require 4 inch or wider adapters.
I use 2 inch adapters with my 6.5 BS wheels for my 335 width rear tires
I use 2 inch adapters with my 6.5 BS wheels for my 335 width rear tires