Trailing arms, anyone got the early Alloy ones?
Trailing arms, anyone got the early Alloy ones?
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Discussion

jchase

Original Poster:

572 posts

281 months

Tuesday 27th April 2004
quotequote all
I couldn't find a thread on this, so thought I'd start a new one.

While attempting a rear bearing replacement on the passenger rear side, I noticed I have different construction trailing arms on each side!

It says in the Wedge Bible to replace both to the newer type in the event of a single replacement being needed, and this is re-iterated in the parts manual. I'd like to know why, but there must be a good reason, so I think I should make the effort to get them matching.

Does anyone have an Alloy drivers rear trailing arm or a single piece passenger rear trailing arm they want to sell ?

-Jim

wedg1e

27,002 posts

287 months

Tuesday 27th April 2004
quotequote all
Alloy castings are expensive; it was probably cheaper to have the whole arm fabricated from steel.

No real reason to change them as long as excessive corrosion or impact damage has rendered them unsafe.
Jaguar have used cast alloy hub carriers for decades with no problems (in fact they were cast in the same foundry as certain castings for TVR).

Ian

sevans

1,178 posts

289 months

Tuesday 27th April 2004
quotequote all
I believe that the later solid ones were stronger and that some of the Tasmin race cars broke the earlier alloy ones, so they moved on to the later ones. It may be possible to pick up an alloy one from one of the race guys. Try Moore Racing.

jchase

Original Poster:

572 posts

281 months

Wednesday 28th April 2004
quotequote all
I'd be very interseted to see the failed part.
I may try a posting on the TVRCC eGroup.

-Jim

Graham

16,378 posts

306 months

Wednesday 28th April 2004
quotequote all
Some of the racers still use the alloy unit as it gives you "slightly" less un sprung weight. but as plenty have snapped around the hole for the bolt that takes the rear control arm and damper bottom mount i run all steel on mine.


moore-racing.com or rt racing are probably the place to call to try and find a replacement either way

G

uriel

3,244 posts

273 months

Wednesday 28th April 2004
quotequote all
The hub/bearing carrier part of my nearside original alloy one shattered in an attempt to get the truly seized steel pin out (went a bit overboard with hammer and hydraulic press!). Didn't want to shell out for 2 new ones.

I was concerned because the bible etc. says to replace both, but I spoke to David Gerald or Richard Thorpe or maybe even both (can't remember now) and they said technically you should, but they have seen loads of cars come in for work that have had one of each.

I got a new one piece steel one from the factory and compared it with the sperarate arm/carrier alloy assemble and it's the same size and everything is positioned the same so I couldn't see what difference it would make to get two steel ones. The weight difference hasn't made any difference to the handling.

>> Edited by uriel on Wednesday 28th April 20:33