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Tue Jun 10, 2025 3:44 pm

I installed a 2" narrowed Empi beam yesterday in my '61 with Empis narrowed leaves and red urethane seals.

On installing the trailing arms noticed all 4 grub screws didn't line up with the countersink in the leaves. All are about a 1/2 hole off.

Some have told me to sand down the seals to fit, some say it's common to install trailing arms on one side and squeeze the other side on and sanding seals down if needed be.

I installed the leaves while the beam was out of the car so I know the leaves are centered with grub screw.

I drew a crude picture of my stock beam and leave measurement from the tube to counter sink, they all measure the same, below that is the Empi beam...all different.

What is the proper way to set this up, maybe remove leaves and measure 1st and see what work day they were at at Empi?

Tue Jun 10, 2025 4:35 pm

I don't have the answer(s), but a couple thoughts to offer....

First, your sketch of measurements is exactly the direction I'd have headed; suspicious parts from the get-go. I was going to suggest a slightly different measurement, but looks like you've accomplished the same result (I was going to suggest outer divot to outer divot comparison between stock and EMPI, should be 4 inches difference, instead, it looks like you've found even worse issues, inconsistency (which is highly probable since they came from the Far East).

Second, ignore somebody's notion of tightening one side then the other side is drawn tight and out of range; as you've indicated, the centers get locked down then everything else should fall into place.

Lastly, I'd be curious about any thickness difference (i.e.width) from stock seals and EMPI's red ones (red ones thicker?).

I'd get all your data and return to sender, to use an old phrase. Best of luck, looking forward to a positive outcome (but not positive camber!) :wink:

Edit: by the way, it's normal for them to be offset a little bit, they get drawn in upon torquing so as to compress the seals a bit.

Wed Jun 11, 2025 7:45 am

Those red bushings are junk. Throw them away and get original ones

Wed Jun 11, 2025 9:35 am

Perhaps the red bushings are spacing the arms too far out. I seem to recall my Stock bushings are thinner, (if memory serves).

Wed Jun 11, 2025 9:44 am

I had this exact same issue with my 4" narrowed beam. I tried a few different bushing, some cheap some expensive. None of the worked right. I ended up getting a new beam from limebug and everything fit like a charm. best of luck!

Wed Jun 11, 2025 1:49 pm

jitbba wrote: Those red bushings are junk. Throw them away and get original ones

might just have to, but still doesn't explain the difference on measurements from side to side?

Wed Jun 11, 2025 1:49 pm

Apostle_ wrote: Perhaps the red bushings are spacing the arms too far out. I seem to recall my Stock bushings are thinner, (if memory serves).

I'll have to look into that.

Wed Jun 11, 2025 1:50 pm

Bielakt13 wrote: I had this exact same issue with my 4" narrowed beam. I tried a few different bushing, some cheap some expensive. None of the worked right. I ended up getting a new beam from limebug and everything fit like a charm. best of luck!

Yikes, I think I'll narrow my original beam first before I do that. I thought Empi quality control improved?

Wed Jun 11, 2025 3:51 pm

You can make up the difference in offset with the link pin shim stack. I've seen beams that were way worse, get shimmed so the camber was correct..
The red seals are terrible. Get the black ones form Wolfsburg West, and a big bar clamp to draw the arm into the seal. You can hook one end of the seal around the beam mount, and the other over the end of the arm.
At the end of the day it's an imperfect Empi thing, but if you're determined you can make it work.
SD

Wed Jun 11, 2025 7:29 pm

Ok so today I removed the leaves from the beam, cleaned and layed out on a table, squared a corner and did some measuring.

The first thing I noticed right away was the center counter sinks were off from the upper and lower leave stacks. I positioned them how I had them in the beam. When measured they were off set from each other and not in the center. I then turned the upper leave stack 180 degrees and the counter sinks lined up but still off center 1/8".

All other measurements were good.

I'll try again with leaves in this order and purchase some rubber seals.

Sat Jun 28, 2025 4:29 am

So....my advise would be, before you install leaves lay both sets out like I did and make sure all countersinks line up, then install positioned that way.

I ended up with stock rubber seals and with a clamp pulling torsion arm inward slightly they lined up nicely.

Arms were in check when installing spindle and shims.