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Been there done that - Narrowed IRS Trailing Arms
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slalombuggy
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SoCalJes wrote:
dnielsen wrote:
I got my narrowed trailing arms at aircooled.net over 10 years ago, but they haven't sold them for a long time. I don't know who was building them back then but maybe John can point you in the right direction.


I've looked everywhere and they seem to be the pink elephant in the room. The closest I've come across are buggy builders but they make them longer not shorter.

Basically I'm just going to buy some chrome moly tubing, the bearing carriers, shafts and build my own.


Really?????? a search of "narrowed arms" in the classified like NJ John suggested, netted 2 builder who make them and have them in stock. Unless you are an experienced fabricator and REALLY know what you are doing this is not a DIY project. There are several angles that must be EXACT or you will never get the car aligned propperly

brad
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MotoGreg
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
There are several angles that must be EXACT or you will never get the car aligned propperly


I agree. Bugzilla, who did mine, has a jig for doing these. The jig is adjustable so that they can be narrowed whatever amount you want, while maintaining the correct geometry.

By the time you fabricate a jig off of your stock arms, and then buy the new bearing carriers and other materials, you would have been way better off to have just had them narrow your arms for $250.
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SoCalJes
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just spoke with Mark Johnson over at Blind Chicken Racing and he's got a pair so I can skip the whole jig build and the project moves on.
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Jesse
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1969BugConvertible
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not sure if this will help, but I was wanting to fit a 15X8 Fuch under the rear of my 1969 Bug Convertible and was searching for an answer. I ran across an article in the June 1994 Hot VW's on how to narrow your IRS. As mentioned, it is not simple, but not rocket science. Their method was to cut out the bearing carrier of the trailing arm and move it in 26mm and re-weld. In the article it mentions using Type III automatic transmission, left side only axles as they are 26mm shorter than standard Type 1. I can fill you in more if interested.
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SoCalJes
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 6:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is what I did...but if you have info to add I'm sure there are many that would benefit
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Jesse
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slalombuggy
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 6:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You need to brace those shock towers back to the rear transmission mount. They were never meant to hold up the rear of the car and will eventually bend at the torsion housing.

brad
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SoCalJes
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not that ive never seen one because its never happened, I've never seen one cause I never seen one...

Are you talking about a truss bar? I have one just haven't installed it yet
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Jesse
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Fiatdude
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I went to the dual pattern discs on my '70 and used 16" teladials Porsche rims -- -- I ended up having to use a 13mm spacer to center the rims and I've put a 225/50R16 in the back with a little bit of fender rolling for clearance

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These brakes were bought over a year ago during the build -- IF I to do it over again right now -- I would look for a set of 17" porsche rims and go with the new killer front disc system that Mendeola has out now for the larger rims......

However,,,, My friend, Mike Lawless, made custom trailing arms and went to coil overs and did some mini tubes in the rear and has a 10" tire back there... Now Mikes is a SHOW CAR that runs 9.60's, so if you want to have something that works then Mikes is it -- http://lawlessdesigns.com/wkrswingtoirs.html
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SoCalJes
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice job. I've talked to mike before, super nice guy, Im totally into his setup.
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Fiatdude
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The thing keeping me from going wider on the tires is the spring plates, which will have to be removed, and a swap over to coilovers or bagged --- Just didn't want to get into that right now
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SoCalJes
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know what you mean, I just took advantage that the body is at the body shop waiting for paint. They were cool enough to let me leave the body there for as long as I need while I do the pans and suspension
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