I'm considering strengthening the trailing arms.
I have looked at the steel plates people add to wrap around the stock trailing arms and I can understand that this may increase the strength of the trailing arm some, but the weight it adds seems counter-productive and a band-aid solution at best.
I know that this is how dad did it and it's been working pretty good up until now, but I keep thinking there might be a better way.
My idea after looking at my trailing arms for the better part of the last 2 days is to add some stiffeners through the arm box similar to the tube running through the arms to access the inner brake pad adjuster.
The tube is welded to both sides of the box and would serve to keep the two sides from deflecting. This is a brace, and would stiffen the tube member significantly without adding much weight.
I'm thinking the addition of 2 additional tubes would decrease deflection more than the plate stiffeners and will be no where near the weight.
Anyone else think this?
I'm sure in the last 40 or so years, someone else has had this same idea.
I would love to see some pictures or see some results (I hate to reinvent the wheel if I don't have to)
Thanks for reading.
Some pics of the process. This adds only ounces and really stiffens the arms. More so than the factory kits.
First, 1" holes are milled into the arms. The pattern is triangulated off the original inner adjuster tube for the stock handbrake:
Here you can see a test fit of a 1" steel tube through the arm:
The next step (not shown yet) is to have the arms media blasted to bare metal:
Once we have fresh metal to weld with, the tubes are welded into place and trimmed. After the welding the entire arm goes into powder coating:
Prototype gussets should help shaft tube flex:
Sneak peak on the car:
I like it !!!!
Perfect!
Thanks Eric!
The pictures are great. Thanks a bunch.
I spent the past 2 hours looking through 5 year old threads where Chris added a bulkhead sheet metal stiffener then went through 5 or more pages of FEA that may or may not have supported any stiffness increase.
I still think this has to strengthen the arms without adding much work or weight (regardless of the neigh-Sayers).
You wouldn't have any dimensions for the triangular gusset plates do you? (now I'm being real lazy).
Thanks again.
I've done it; go to post #98 at http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=83031
Stats I heard were 50%for these.
I don't have the measurements for the gussets but I think RonS had a drawing that may help. Easy to eye up otherwise.
E.
I strengthened the rear trailing arms by inserting 3/8 inch rods at diagonals in 2 places.
Drilling the holes:
Holes Drilled
Finished product:
Spoke - thanks for sharing
I had not seen this version yet...what do the gurus have to say?
totally tubular dudes!
I have a set that have external triangulated tube for strength done by race shop from Eastern PA. Would be happy to send photos although I would need to take them.PM your address as I can never get photos posted.
Chris, I had a similar idea to Spoke, but never followed through. I think it would be beneficial, although I would keep an eye out for stress cracks. The welds on the end of the rod are small compared to the welds on the tube method.
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