Lengthening rangie trailing arms - Updated!

Joined: 22 Oct 2002 Location: On a mission...

I'm getting to the business end of the rear suspension on my zook and now want to lengthen the trailing arms.

Initially I was going to sleeve them but anyone I have talked to so far has told me just to cut the arm, get the same diameter tube and weld them together just butted up.

This doesn't seem like it would be too strong to me but as a few people have told me it should work fine i'm having 2nd thoughts.

What have y'all done in this situation???

Joined: 26 Oct 2002 Location: Geelong

Thats the bootie fab way.

I use 40*20 dom tube for my rear links.

Regards
Michael.

Joined: 22 Oct 2002 Location: On a mission...

Are they built from scratch?

I dont want to start from a clean slate, I want to extend the ones I have.

Joined: 26 Oct 2002 Location: Geelong

Yep made from scratch.

If you dont want to start from blank, then you are left with reusing the existing components.

Go with your origonal option.

Michael.

Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Location: Lake Macquarie NSW

Get some hollow bar or seamless pipe that is a neat fit over the outside of the body of your existing arms.

Cut the arms in half, near the mid point.

Cut the hollow bar/seamless pipe to suit the new length of the trailing arm. Shape both ends like a vee ie <======> (or >======< ) with rounded points - square cut ends are worse for fatigue.

Slip the halves of the old trailing arm into the hollow bar/seamless pipe. Align the ends, adust the overall length and weld the parts together.

Joined: 22 Oct 2002 Location: On a mission...

Yeah, I am leaning toward the sleeve idea. I have measured the arms with a vernier and they're 30mm OD. Is there something available in 30mm ID with about 2 or 3mm wall?

Joined: 20 Oct 2002

also check out the thread
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modules/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2049&highlight=arms

about lengthing the arms - basically the same as whats being said here.

Sam

Joined: 03 Nov 2002 Location: Lake Macquarie NSW

Damo wrote:

Yeah, I am leaning toward the sleeve idea. I have measured the arms with a vernier and they're 30mm OD. Is there something available in 30mm ID with about 2 or 3mm wall?

38 od x 4 wt cold drawn seamless tubing
45 od x 32 id hollow bar
42.2 od x 4.85 wt (DN32 schedule 180) seamless pipe

Joined: 22 Oct 2002 Location: On a mission...

Bush65 wrote:

38 od x 4 wt cold drawn seamless tubing
45 od x 32 id hollow bar
42.2 od x 4.85 wt (DN32 schedule 180) seamless pipe

Thanks Bush65!!! I'll try track down some 38 od x 4 wt CDS and give that a go.

Joined: 10 May 2003 Location: Drake

I used 30mm I.D.10mm wall thickness hydraulic tube on mine 2 years ago and haven't had any problems.

Joined: 22 Oct 2002 Location: On a mission...

Damo wrote:

Bush65 wrote:

38 od x 4 wt cold drawn seamless tubing
45 od x 32 id hollow bar
42.2 od x 4.85 wt (DN32 schedule 180) seamless pipe

Thanks Bush65!!! I'll try track down some 38 od x 4 wt CDS and give that a go.

Found the CDS tube in the correct dimensions. Problem is I can only get it in a 6.1m length. Anyone want to buy some tube to sleeve their arms? $15/meter, 4 meters available, u pay freight. BTW, 6.1m length is costin me $100.

OR if anyone has a couple of meters of this stuff around are they willing to part with it???

Joined: 22 Oct 2002 Location: On a mission...

Check it out, I got me some extended arms.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modules/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4931&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=40