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If you are running fender flares, my understanding is that you can run a 12 inch rim without offset trailing arms. I believe they recommend a 5" backspace on the rears with a 12 inch rim.
Odd that you're spending a whole wad of money on a Shark Bite suspension but don't want offset trailing arms. The trailing arms would probably be one of the least expensive parts of your build.
I'm replacing all suspension and now is the time to find out to go with offset trailing arms or repair my old ones. I think offset arms needed for 15 rims . And flarers I want to its little bit more than 2 inc QUOTE=keithinspace;1592613199]If you are running fender flares, my understanding is that you can run a 12 inch rim without offset trailing arms. I believe they recommend a 5" backspace on the rears with a 12 inch rim.
Odd that you're spending a whole wad of money on a Shark Bite suspension but don't want offset trailing arms. The trailing arms would probably be one of the least expensive parts of your build.[/QUOTE]
my 81 that had the wide body kit had 12" wide 15's and didn't have offset trailing arms but I do not recall tire size but that was 89 and you could still buy really wide 15's.
I thought the larger than stock back spacing was where you need the off set trailing arms when you try to stick a wide wheel with positive offset under the stock fender, but with flares negative offset looks far better and a 4" bs I thought that would be okay no matter how much wheel was out board?
I read on here cats run 5" bs but then spacers/adaptors...
I never gave it much thought I am trying so hard to stay old school and run 15's but ....
4" backspace will always be fine. I have 5.05" backspace on my 17"s, but shortened the spring, relocated the handbrake cable bracket and re-bent the swaybar for clearance. 18"s will have less issues as those things sit inside the wheel and I'm pretty sure there's people on here running 5.5" backspace with 18"s (and I believe I could run 5.5" backspace with the modifications I've made). No need for offset trailing arms with 17"+ wheels, relocating the handbrake cable bracket will provide just as much clearance, the area that's offset on offset trailing arms is inside the wheel on larger diameter wheels.
4" backspace will always be fine. I have 5.05" backspace on my 17"s, but shortened the spring, relocated the handbrake cable bracket and re-bent the swaybar for clearance. 18"s will have less issues as those things sit inside the wheel and I'm pretty sure there's people on here running 5.5" backspace with 18"s (and I believe I could run 5.5" backspace with the modifications I've made). No need for offset trailing arms with 17"+ wheels, relocating the handbrake cable bracket will provide just as much clearance, the area that's offset on offset trailing arms is inside the wheel on larger diameter wheels.
please give me some 101 I might be all back to front on my thinking.....on 15" with too much bs over stock what hits the stock trailing arm requiring offset arms and then with larger diameter rims how to they clear stock arms with greater than 4" stock bs?
Originally Posted by Gv66
Nice I will go with 18x12 and 18x11 in front now need to find a decent rims any suggestions?
well doesn't that depend on what wheels you like, I like old school styles, but most people who go to 18's also desire a modern wheel style and in that 100's to choose from....several wheel threads on here you can look up
please give me some 101 I might be all back to front on my thinking.....on 15" with too much bs over stock what hits the stock trailing arm requiring offset arms and then with larger diameter rims how to they clear stock arms with greater than 4" stock bs?
Here is a couple of pics from google with an offset trailing arm:
You can see that the offset is to create extra space closer to the hub, where the standard arms curve back more gradually:
Point is that the offset arm brings the clearance nearer the hub back to the same as the chassis rail. But the area on the trailing arm that is offset for extra clearance is inside the wheel rim on a larger diameter wheel, so the handbrake cable is the only thing limiting (in terms of the trailing arm) wheel backspace being increased until frame clearance becomes an issue.
Hope that makes sense. Kinda difficult to explain in words.
Yes thanks I bet a lot of people will find that helpful,
so in my case for now I run 15" stock bs im fine with stock trailing arms, even better if they are spaced out with adaptors,
So then offset trailing arms were for people running wide 15" with more than stock bs or too much bs on larger wheels?
Yup basically. They're for people running wider 15" wheels under standard arches (so need more backspace). And I guess they also do the job for people who don't want to modify their standard trailing arms (to relocate the handbrake cable) and want to run wider large diameter wheels - I personally couldn't justify the cost of offset arms given the ease of the modification. If running flares, standard backspace can be used with wide wheels, so no real need unless you want to fit as wide a wheel and tyre as possible.
Yup basically. They're for people running wider 15" wheels under standard arches (so need more backspace). And I guess they also do the job for people who don't want to modify their standard trailing arms (to relocate the handbrake cable) and want to run wider large diameter wheels - I personally couldn't justify the cost of offset arms given the ease of the modification. If running flares, standard backspace can be used with wide wheels, so no real need unless you want to fit as wide a wheel and tyre as possible.
so the trend where c3 owners get later model positive offset wheels and run them, trying to keep them under the stock wells, do the wheels clear the stock arms even with greater bs?
in my case I am trying hard to run 15" I think a 295 50 in the rear will make me happy on a 10" stock bs wheel, if it doesn't stick out enough to fill the flare that's where the adaptor comes in,
It is a modern 3 piece wheel with an old school BBS look (in my opinion).
That is a great looking wheel but 800 plus per wheel, ouch,
I have a old set of enkei that looks like BBS mesh, I loved that look on hammerheads custom,
I was so thrilled to get them in chevy pattern in 15" x 8 and 15" x 10 but now with flares I wanna do 10's front and rear so I guess I will flip the enkeis
I wonder if anyone ever runs the old original corvette grand sport wheels that AC cobras took over?
so the trend where c3 owners get later model positive offset wheels and run them, trying to keep them under the stock wells, do the wheels clear the stock arms even with greater bs?
Any more than ~5.5" backspace and you'll be into the frame rails. Anyone running wheels with more backspace/offset than that is either running spacers/adaptors or a different chassis.
I agree, not the cheapest, but its the look I am after and will be forced to go to 18" at some point. Im gonna start saving now!
Yeah, but they are nice, I am fighting that move from old school 15" to modern 18" but lack of tires might force that move, if I do I like these but don't believe I have seen them on a c3...but with all the ac cobras running them they are in all kinds of sizes, finish trim, the fake knock off style that hide the nuts are pretty neat...
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
C3 1977 fender flares + Wheel size?
