Reproduction trailing arms

[Donald H.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

Don, Bair's supplied me with 2 sets(a 66 & a 67) and are excellent. I had them do the rebuild with their new arms.

You might want to try to convince them to scuff and shoot semi-gloss on the arms before assembly if you have them do the rebuild. It was a lot of masking to prime and paint.

Thanks Rich, as always yours look great. I'm not particularly worried about the gloss level on the arms. This 67 is a very good driver, but likely will never see NCRS judging.

Don

[Joe R.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

Don,

I'm sure that you are competent to do the job but as you may know the tools to do the job once are a little pricey and if you only doing one set in your lifetime it's more economical to farm the job to someone else.
Most of the builders set the rear bearing clearance from 0.0005 to 0.0015. Setting the clearance at those numbers will be within specs when the new bearings are run in!

JR

PS. On the spindle, probably someone screwed up the threads in the past and turned it down and re threaded for another nut.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

Years ago Pat Ikerd bought the original dies to stamp the trailing arms from a scrap yard and had them reconditioned after a lengthy law suit with GM. I think Bairs uses those dies to make the pieces so they would be just like the GM ones as far as the stamping goes.

[Richard M.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

Don,

I just measured a new spindle I have here from Bair's. Threaded end is 3/4". The one you have with the 5/8" thread..... maybe in the past the threads were damaged and someone re-threaded to 5/8"? Seems unusual though. I think all should be 3/4".

Rich
PS I sent you a email.

[Gary R.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

Rich that appears to be a Spencer Forge axle, made in the USA and available from Brian Bair. These are the best stock 17 spline axles out there in my opinion. I have used a lot of them. Look at the front cast area for an S with an arrow through it. They also use the "TR" studs. I would use them into the 400 hp range but if the car is going to be pushed hard Tom's 31 are the way to go - as long as he is still in business.

[Gary R.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

Gary------


Actually, the current reproduction arms I've seen look identical to the GM SERVICE arms during at least the last 10 years, or so, of their availability. These GM arms were supplied with installed bushing and gloss black, "powdercoated" finish. There was no welding spatter on them. So, I think that someone (maybe Bair's?) located the manufacturing source used by GM and that manufacturer using the original tooling makes them now. They probably make them for a single Corvette parts vendor who orders them in a "minimum order" quantity and that vendor wholesales them to the other vendors.

That could be Joe, I don't know.

[Gary R.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

Don
Sounds like you are finding things as I do many times, not correctly assembled or modified. The axle should have 3/4-20 threads on them, don't even consider using the under cut one. I have seen axles snap at the base of the threads and going smaller here is a bad idea. If you attended my past seminars you know you can do a lot of work if you take your time and possibly sub out some processes. If you have any questions you can call me and I'll go over the whole job with you, what you should look for on the new parts today that have to be fit, etc.

[Richard M.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

Rich that appears to be a Spencer Forge axle, made in the USA and available from Brian Bair. These are the best stock 17 spline axles out there in my opinion. I have used a lot of them. Look at the front cast area for an S with an arrow through it. They also use the "TR" studs. I would use them into the 400 hp range but if the car is going to be pushed hard Tom's 31 are the way to go - as long as he is still in business.

Gary, Yes it has the S with the arrow, from Bair's.

[Mark E.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

There's more to this but I don't want to hold an online seminar.

I like the idea of an online seminar. The most useful posts that I learn from are by folks who take the time to share details. Like this one.

[Mike E.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

Don,
I think your putting these on a small block car, if so make sure the new ones are not drilled for the sway bar. A few vendor stock only the ones with holes.

Mike

[Gary R.]

Re: Reproduction trailing arms

I like the idea of an online seminar. The most useful posts that I learn from are by folks who take the time to share details. Like this one.

Hi Mark
I have a very long post on TA's on DC. I still have PB 3rd party posting for pictures ( for now) so if you have any questions or just want to see the pictures refer to that or email me and I'll send you the link.