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> Bent trailing arm, how to tell?
blitZ
post Feb 23 2013, 10:43 AM
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I hit a 4x4 in the road a few years ago, hard enough to bend my wheels. Since then I've had more negative camber on the drivers side. I think my trailing arm is bent. Is there anyway to measure? I'm in the process of going 5 lug, so think I might just replace it.
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ChrisFoley
post Feb 23 2013, 11:38 AM
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Its really hard to measure on the vehicle, although you might find a bulged or puckered area on the box section somewhere if the damage is significant.
If the car sits on a very flat (not necessarily level) surface it may be possible to take the required measurements and determine the amount of negative camber inherent in the trailing arm. -1.5 degrees is correct.
That is to say, with the pivot shaft level and at the exact height of the stub axle centerline, the negative camber should be 1.5 deg.
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JoeSharp
post Feb 23 2013, 12:07 PM
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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Yeah what Chris said. I think it would be really hard to bend the trailing arm. It seems to me that the suspension ear would move first. If it just camber just reshim it.
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ChrisFoley
post Feb 23 2013, 01:00 PM
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QUOTE(Joe Sharp @ Feb 23 2013, 01:07 PM) *

I think it would be really hard to bend the trailing arm.

Its actually not that hard to bend one enough to be noticeable when aligning the car.
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914Sixer
post Feb 23 2013, 02:00 PM
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Porsche had a jig that you put them in to test. They had a jig for the front control arm and the steering rack also. Most dealerships and independent shops had one back in the day. Now they are scarce.
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blitZ
post Feb 23 2013, 02:18 PM
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I have both arms off as I am replacing the bushing, bearings, etc. I don't see any noticeable damage, but I would think a few mm would make a difference.
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Mike Bellis
post Feb 23 2013, 07:00 PM
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QUOTE(Racer Chris @ Feb 23 2013, 11:00 AM) *

QUOTE(Joe Sharp @ Feb 23 2013, 01:07 PM) *

I think it would be really hard to bend the trailing arm.

Its actually not that hard to bend one enough to be noticeable when aligning the car.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

I bent one on my 911... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Try having someone follow you and see if the car is pulling the rear sideways... Like a crab on the beach.

When I bent the 911 arm, the car immediately pulled and I had to clock the steering wheel 1/4 turn to keep it straight... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
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Dave_Darling
post Feb 23 2013, 08:41 PM
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There's a picture with measurements in the Haynes manual. I think it shows the arm held in a vise, and gives a couple of measurements for lines that are supposed to be parallel.

--DD
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Sneezy
post Feb 23 2013, 10:17 PM
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You can put two 3' rods through the 2 holes. They must be straight. They must be shimmed perfectly or fit perfectly. You can sight along them and see if they're parallel and then measure the distances between the ends.
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ChrisFoley
post Feb 24 2013, 06:56 AM
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QUOTE(Dave_Darling @ Feb 23 2013, 09:41 PM) *

There's a picture with measurements in the Haynes manual. I think it shows the arm held in a vise, and gives a couple of measurements for lines that are supposed to be parallel.

--DD

IIRC, that spec shown in Haynes is for the outer bracket alignment.
It only applies to stock suspensons with rubber bushings, and has nothing to do with the trailing arm shape.
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SirAndy
post Feb 24 2013, 02:22 PM
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I have seen a factory drawing of the 914 rear trailing arms with all the correct measurements.

Of course now i can't find it ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

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ChrisFoley
post Feb 24 2013, 09:54 PM
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12.5 deg toe, -1.5 deg camber.
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blitZ
post Feb 25 2013, 06:33 AM
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I've sourced a couple of good arms, just to be sure. I'm ready to press in bushings and bearings.

Thanks
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