I'm looking to buy a pair and noticed VBP has theirs on sale for less than $320.00. Are these of good quality? Anyone using their brand? Also they list the L/H arm a penny more than the R/H arm, what's up with that?

 

$320 looks like a good deal. I bought VBP offset trailing arms. I took them to Tom's Differential when I had them do my rear wheel bearings. I was surprised to find that Tom's also sells their own design. Anyhow, Tom's seems very fussy just about everything but nevertheless they were happy with the VBP trailing arms. In particular they mentioned that the dimensions of the trailing arm were very accurate. Apparently there are other sources of offset trailing arms and some are not that accurate.

Two things: One is that the standard VPB offset trailing arms have the spring attach bolt location in the stock position. This is OK, but if you're going to order offset trailing arms, you really should order a shorter rear spring. OK - with offset trailing arms your rear wheel doesn't dig into your emergency brake bracket on the stock trailing arms. But with the stock spring - now you have to worry about the spring digging into the tire. (tyre for english folks) With the offset arms, you should order a spring that's 1/2 inch shorter at each end. VBP's steel and fiberglass springs are available at the 1/2 inch shorter dimension. Also, VPB offers trailing arms drilled for springs 1 inch shorter on each end. This is for the really bigger tires. (Also I believe Van Steel sells the same selection of trailing arms.) Tom's Differential's trailing arms are drilled for 1 inch shorter springs.

Two: Ask VPB to package your trailing arms correctly. Mine just got thrown into a big box with paper straw. When they arrived, they had banged against each other and the nice powder paint finish had a lot of nasty gouges. One of the trailing arms had started to stick out of the box when it arrived . VBP appologized and said they would take care to better package their arms. They offered to have me return the arms and they would send me new. I decided not to and just accepted them. I painted the gouges with POR-15 and they look pretty good. It was nice that VBP offered to have me return the arms for a new set.

 

Lynn I got mine from Dan at Van Steel, VERY pleased with my purchase. Jim

 

I've got VBP offset T/As. They are excellent quality and built very strong. I'm pleased with them...

 

I have the VBP ones but don't really see the advantage. Even though I could theoretically use a rim with more backspace now, if I use a tire larger than 26", it will contact the frame pocket reinforcement. Basically, after measuring they appear to allow me to use maybe 1" extra offset. But since I want tall tires, that won't do me any good without having the frame modified (not doing that!). I do see that if I used a 17" rim and short tires, the spring should go inside the rim if increased backspace was used, so you may not have a problem there. But no tall tires in 17" so that doesn't do me any good! Just some thoughts... good luck with your purchase!

 

I don't know about VBP offsets but Van Steels standard offsets don't need a shorter spring. Only the double offsets need a shorter spring. I did run into a problem with my regular offsets this weekend trying to align mine but I attribute it to a bad t-arm pocket that I fixed with my grinder. I posted about if you want to know the details. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=952831

Great product. They are alot stronger that stock t-arms and look great too.
Van Steels offset t-arm:

Installed on car:

 

Guys for anyone that can do a little welding you can quickly modify the stock ones in about an evening. It is simple to do and no jigging required. Just minor fabricating skills.

 

Thanks guys for the info and pics! I'll be running 17's or 18's and flares on the rear. I have coming some info on some new flares for 80-81's that supposedly look really good. As soon as I hear something I'll post about it.

 

, if you cut the boxed section away on the side where you need the clearance but leave the back wall intact and then add the required boxed section to the other side you can build those arms quickly without a jib and it will be stronger than stock also because you will end up with a backbone inside the arm.

 

Do yall have one thats off the car? A fella on here wants the specs... and any other parts ya might have suspension wise!

In here! http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=953122