Offset Upper Control Arm Shafts
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
From: Garner NC
Offset Upper Control Arm Shafts
I see the subject shafts offered in the Vette Brakes super front end kit, can anybody tell me what they do? Do they provide for more camber adjustment, easier/harder to install. Any info will be appreciated.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 213
From: Pittsburgh PA
Re: Offset Upper Control Arm Shafts (CHEESERAL)
Chuck,
I found them fairly easy to install. The trick is to take off the nuts versus trying to take out the bolts. The bolts are accessable through the wheel well, so it looks easier to back them out from there, but they run through the frame, the old a-arm, the shims and the nuts. That's a lot to torque through. Removing the nuts, you can slip the old arm off of the bolts and install the new one the same way.
Taking the nuts off is a bit of a challenge given the fan shroud. I had to loosen the fan shroud in order to get the rachet socket on the nut.
I put back the shims the way they were, and with the new A-arm, the camber is way too strong. I called VBP and they said the new set up is designed to greatly reduce the shims to better solidify the suspension.
If you find any write-up on the benefits of the new A-arm, please share it.
I found them fairly easy to install. The trick is to take off the nuts versus trying to take out the bolts. The bolts are accessable through the wheel well, so it looks easier to back them out from there, but they run through the frame, the old a-arm, the shims and the nuts. That's a lot to torque through. Removing the nuts, you can slip the old arm off of the bolts and install the new one the same way.
Taking the nuts off is a bit of a challenge given the fan shroud. I had to loosen the fan shroud in order to get the rachet socket on the nut.
I put back the shims the way they were, and with the new A-arm, the camber is way too strong. I called VBP and they said the new set up is designed to greatly reduce the shims to better solidify the suspension.
If you find any write-up on the benefits of the new A-arm, please share it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
From: Garner NC
Re: Offset Upper Control Arm Shafts (foundvettelifeisgood)
Thanks for the info, right now my front end is completely apart. I pretty much had to remove the radiator and shroud to get the passenger a arm out, so everything is out and I have all new hardware to install.
It sounds like you got new a arms, i was just talking about the offset upper a arm shafts unless that's the only difference. If so it sounds like a nice upgrade for the money and I'll go with the super kit.
It sounds like you got new a arms, i was just talking about the offset upper a arm shafts unless that's the only difference. If so it sounds like a nice upgrade for the money and I'll go with the super kit.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Offset Upper Control Arm Shafts (CHEESERAL)
I saw an article on a camaro where they drill 2 new holes, lower and a little back from the stock holes then cut off the top where the old holes were. This allows the A arm to be mounted lower which improves the geometry while cornering. Our vets suffer from too short a spindle. Ball joint spacers overcome this but so far not many go this route. Also moving the mounting point slightly back increases the postive caster without shims.
If I had my front end apart I would seriously consider doing this.
Our cars go into positive camber when cornering hard. This rolls the tire under itself. It's like leaning a bike to the outside when cornering hard. You would fall over.
Long spindles cause the tire to go to negative camber when cornering hard. This plants the tire or like the bike on hard cornering leaning to the inside of the turn. This can be accomplished by increasing the length of the spindle by a few inches.
Newer cars have this longer spindle but they have rack and pinion steering so we can't use them on our older cars.
I hang around a race shop and all the race cars have the inner bushings on the A arms lower then the ball joint.
Just more to think about
If I had my front end apart I would seriously consider doing this.
Our cars go into positive camber when cornering hard. This rolls the tire under itself. It's like leaning a bike to the outside when cornering hard. You would fall over.
Long spindles cause the tire to go to negative camber when cornering hard. This plants the tire or like the bike on hard cornering leaning to the inside of the turn. This can be accomplished by increasing the length of the spindle by a few inches.
Newer cars have this longer spindle but they have rack and pinion steering so we can't use them on our older cars.
I hang around a race shop and all the race cars have the inner bushings on the A arms lower then the ball joint.
Just more to think about
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Re: Offset Upper Control Arm Shafts (CHEESERAL)
offset shafts or offset bushings allow major adjustments with a minimum of shims. I have a set of MOOG offset shafts in all three of my racers.
...redvetracr
PS: for the street don`t bother
...redvetracr
PS: for the street don`t bother
