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size51 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2014 Posts: 25 Location: COLORADO
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 8:10 pm Post subject: Trailing arm Identification |
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This is a Sand Rail I'm thinking of buying to transfer the components to my BAJA build. Can someone identify the front arms and let me know if they are decent.
Thanks,
Cy
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KrAzY-BaJa Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2008 Posts: 1409 Location: Sacramento CA.
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Vanapplebomb Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2010 Posts: 5412 Location: Holland, MI
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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You can measure the length for yourself. Stock linkpin arms have a perpendicular length of 150mm from center of the link pin to the center of the beam. Thats about 6" for the metricaly impaired. Trailing arms come in pretty standardized lengths, measured as an addition to the stock length. So, if your arm measures ~8.5 inches from the axis of the link pin to the axis of the beam, that would be a 2.25 or 2.5inch longer arm. If the spacing is about 10 inches, you are looking at a 4 inch longer arm. Smaller sizes exist, but it looks like yours is at least a 2.25/2.5 longer arm. _________________ 1800 Type 4 Berrien 295
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021 |
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Iguana Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2008 Posts: 922 Location: SOCAL
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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They look like 2" over Latest Rage units. |
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dustymojave Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007 Posts: 5802 Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 1:05 am Post subject: |
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I agree with Iguana here. When I 1st saw that type of arm, I was very skeptical. But I've seen some Class 5-Open cars use them with quite good results. I was surprised how well they held up. I suspect they are forged rather than cast. _________________ Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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size51 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2014 Posts: 25 Location: COLORADO
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Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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So I should be confident with this set up?
Thank you for the information.
Cy |
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Vanapplebomb Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2010 Posts: 5412 Location: Holland, MI
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Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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I don't like the way you are using coil over shocks with stock spindle carriers...ALL of the supporting force for the front suspension is running through the "bridge" of the spindle carrier, so it is a pretty flimsy set up as is.
If you weld a 1/4in thick gusset on the front of the spindle carrier, that will beef things up a lot, and will be a lot less likely to bend to the point of no return. _________________ 1800 Type 4 Berrien 295
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021 |
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dustymojave Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007 Posts: 5802 Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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One way you can tell they are forged rather than cast is the very wide mold parting line along the length of the arm. If they were cast, the parting line would be narrow, almost like a butter knife edge.
For the use of stock spindles and links, the long arms will reduce the impact loads on the spindles and such because the longer travel allows the suspension to go over a hit which would break with stock length arms. But one should not expect to be able to hammer stock spindles as one would with combo link spindles. And gusseting the stock spindle carrier links would help them survive better.
Also note that this car as shown has sand front tires and wheels. So if the Baja is also intended for sand use, it is not likely to get hit as hard as a car to be used on desert or forest trails. _________________ Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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Iguana Samba Member
Joined: April 19, 2008 Posts: 922 Location: SOCAL
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 11:59 am Post subject: |
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I have a Baja Bug in the shop at the moment with the same arms ( tweed spindles) and it has had a lot of abuse and shows no issues.
I have never run them myself but if you search out Baja5 here and on ShopTalk he might be able to fill you in as it was his Baja Bug they are on.
I think as long as you build to what you drive and understand the potential result of failure then you will be fine. |
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Vanapplebomb Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2010 Posts: 5412 Location: Holland, MI
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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Agreed, nothing wrong with the arms. Its the spindle carrier in the OPs case that is a weak link. The bridge on the front of the spindle carrier is doing major overtime. It isn't very strong in tension. It is less of a problem with torsion bars because the load is shared by the upper and lower arms. In your situation, its all on the lower arm. That puts substantial more tension on that little bridge. Gusset that sucker up and you will be much better off. _________________ 1800 Type 4 Berrien 295
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021 |
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size51 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2014 Posts: 25 Location: COLORADO
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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To confirm:
This is a link pin front end with stock spindles and forged trailing arms.
The bug is intended for trips to Mexico, car shows, Cruzin and maybe some trail rides. Not racing or serious abuse.... maybe a little... But not everyday.
As far as reinforcemnet of the spindle. Do you all have any pictures of this? Is there a kit? What would be a good replacment/aftermarket spindle?
Thanks,
Cy |
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Vanapplebomb Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2010 Posts: 5412 Location: Holland, MI
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size51 Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2014 Posts: 25 Location: COLORADO
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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Ok. Purchased the front end and found that all of the link pin spindle parts are really loose. Is there a rebuild kit for these?
Also one of the trailing arms shaft that goes into the beam is loose and wobbling around. Can this be repaired? Or is it junk? Can you buy just one arm or do they always come in sets?
Thanks again.
Cy |
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flashho Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2012 Posts: 240 Location: Mulege, Baja
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2015 5:34 am Post subject: |
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Kits are available, here is one supplier
http://www2.cip1.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=833
Ck out youtube for `how to` videos _________________ rant _ classified ads with out pics are almost worthless |
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dylandran9 Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2018 Posts: 16 Location: california
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: Trailing arm Identification |
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what kind of front trailing arms and where could i find these? |
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dustymojave Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007 Posts: 5802 Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: Trailing arm Identification |
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Those are +4" fabricated aftermarket arms. There are a number of manufacturers. You might start in the classifieds on this site. Try shopping. _________________ Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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Vanillagurilla Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2017 Posts: 1061 Location: California
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: Trailing arm Identification |
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Remember that any arms longer then stock SHORTEN your wheel base. I'd leave the 2.5 arms on the unless you front half the car and push the front beam forward. Lots of guys do this to run the 4in arms. |
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veeweeman Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2009 Posts: 940 Location: New Port Richey, FL
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: Trailing arm Identification |
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dylandran9 wrote: |
what kind of front trailing arms and where could i find these? |
That is one bad @$$ baja right there. ..is this the same one I saw the videos on YouTube?
VeeWeeman |
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dustymojave Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007 Posts: 5802 Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:21 pm Post subject: Re: Trailing arm Identification |
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Those arms are probably Latest Rage. I've seen them used to very good result in offroad race cars.
The one arm being loose in the beam is probably NOT the fault of the arm. It's probably the bushing that needs to be replaced.
The inexpensive alternative spindle assembly to replace the relatively weak stock ones would start with EMPI or Latest Rage "Heavy Duty" spindles. Stronger than stock, but not serious for off road. Next step up (and last I looked, a SMALL step up cost wise), would be Tweeds fabricated or Latest Rage forged Combo Link Spindles. _________________ Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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dylandran9 Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2018 Posts: 16 Location: california
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: Trailing arm Identification |
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ok And i have the extra clerance, But what if i went stock in the back would it give it a little bit more of that prerunner styled look? |
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