offset trailing arms

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Sep 15, 2002 | 05:08 PM

bustnu2

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Cruising

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 13

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From: rockford IL

offset trailing arms

Looking for some help on offset trailing arms. Does anybody have them and what possible rim and tire combinations are being used. The catalog said you can run the 10" rims with them but what back spacing do you need ? I know originally the corvette is 15x8 with 4" back spacing. With the trailing arms does that mean 15x10 with 6" backspacing will work and keep them under the fender wells ? Is anybody running them with 16 or 17 inch rims ? Any help would be appreciated ! Thanks.

Sep 15, 2002 | 05:17 PM

mrvette

Team Owner

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 65,492

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From: Orange Park Florida

Re: offset trailing arms (bustnu2)

IF it's a centerline flange wheel to start with, that tread should remain at the same offset as stock with any aftermarket wheel......

so IF your examples of 8" and 4" back is stock.....and the new wheel is 10 inches...the back should be 5"......bringing the inside of the rim toward the tarm by one inch....and the outside extended by one inch....

GENE

Sep 15, 2002 | 05:48 PM

VetteNut72

Pro

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 594

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From: Tucson AZ

Re: offset trailing arms (bustnu2)

In theory, the offset trailing arms should allow 2 inches more tire and keep the tread under the wheel wells. That would mean that a 15x10 w/6"BS would work. Unfortunately, there are other issues that come into play. Some 15" wheels will not clear the caliper assy. Then you have to worry about the sway bar and rear leaf spring fitting inside the wheel for clearance. I have installed the offset ta's on my '72 but have not experimented with wheel and tire sizes yet. I believe that it would take a 17" wheel to clear all the rear stuff but I can't say yet. I'm sure that there are many others out there that have already figured this out.

Here is a pic of mine when I installed them.

Sep 15, 2002 | 05:54 PM

flynhi

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 6,273

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From: Austin TX

Re: offset trailing arms (bustnu2)

I think vettenut is correct about 17s being required to clear other stuff.

Sep 15, 2002 | 06:05 PM

groovyjay

Le Mans Master

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 8,220

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Re: offset trailing arms (bustnu2)

I have offsest TA's with 10" wide wheels and 20" in diameter. I have 5.5BS. It is very close fit, but it clears everything. If I had the change to go vack and order the wheels one more time I would go for 5.25 BS I'd consider it as the ideal BS with TA's and 10" wheels. :cheers:

Sep 15, 2002 | 06:51 PM

VetteNut72

Pro

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 594

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From: Tucson AZ

Re: offset trailing arms (groovyjay)

Good information groovyjay :cheers:

Sep 15, 2002 | 06:56 PM

Tom454

Le Mans Master

Joined: Apr 1999

Posts: 6,134

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From: Raleigh North Carolina

Re: offset trailing arms (groovyjay)

Another example...

I installed offset TA's on both my 70 and Jennys 80 and just tried some BF Radials on both cars... 295-50-15.
The height of these tires is very close to original specs to keep the speedometer in range.

The 70 has factory Rally rims (8") and the 80 has factory mags. The tires cleared everything except the long VB&P spring end bolts on Jennys car. I had to cut about 2 inches off those.

The tires are just a hair (1/4"?) outside (or even with) the fenders on both cars.

fyi