Rear Suspension for Autocross/New U-joints

[tnova]

I'm rebuilding the rear suspension on my '91 for autocross. DRM trailing link bracket and camber links, VBP toe links, Prothane bushings throughout. Lowering car 1/2" front and rear. Installation this weekend.

Denny's Driveshafts has packaged Spicer1310/1350 u-joints and straps/bolts into a kit for $180. Quick service and received what was advertised. http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p423_dennys_5_1350x_pkg3_rebuild_kit_4_dana_spicer _5_1350x_4_3_70.html

See pics.

Tony-Tnova

[RussMcB]

Looking good!

[WVZR-1]

How long have you had the DRM parts? Have you done a "trial fit" of the trailing arm brackets to the chassis? I seem to recall issues with brackets to frame rails in the past. DRM corrected the fabrication I believe but if yours are older you might want to be aware.

[tnova]

I bought the DRM parts in the past year or so as part of the discount the Registry arranged. The brackets fit perfectly. As for the VBP toe rod to differential cover bracket, that is another story. Pics and fix to follow.

[tnova]

The VBP "toe rod" bracket didn't fit. From picture 1, you can see the misalignment between the bracket and the differential cover. In picture 2 it's obvious the bracket bends are not 90 degrees. I suspect that when bending the bracket they didn't get the angle right or they didn't weld and cool (both are required) the seam weld and the gusset weld with the bracket in a jig. When the welds cooled, the metal shrank. The fix was to cut the welds with a die grinder and cutoff wheel, picture 3; bend the metal back to 90 degree angles (very big hammer), reweld the seam and gusset, and then quickly mounting the still hot bracket onto the differential cover so it acted as a jig, picture 4, as the welds cooled. Half later, two hours of drying new paint, and the bracket now fits, picture 5. It was disappointing to have to do this but I waited for weeks to get the toe rods, am under a time crunch to get the car off the jack stands in my driveway, and wasn't sure I won't get back the same problem if I returned it.

[WVZR-1]

It was disappointing to have to do this but I waited for weeks to get the toe rods, am under a time crunch to get the car off the jack stands in my driveway, and wasn't sure I won't get back the same problem if I returned it.

So ... MAYBE ideally if a person hasn't purchased the VBP product you fabricate your own from the start? Did you maybe make templates of the mounting?

[tnova]

Unfortunately I did not. There are other sets out there but I wanted the lubricated heim joints and that was VBP.

If you think this is disappointing, the bump steer correcting front tire rod ends from Zip are a disaster. The threaded bodies are too long and the tapered fitting won't go in far enough into the knuckle to even tightened the nut down to the cotter pin hole.

I can't believe I'm the only one with these issues but I haven't found similar discussions on any of the Vette forums. Hopefully this will prevent others from these problems.

[ssrszz4]

Very bad stuff to hear, when a person pays a bunch of money for parts they should expect quality.

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