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Trailing arms steel thickness
MikeR - 14/1/09 at 05:38 PM

Folks,

Going to make myself some new trailing arms (don't ask why) for my road going seven.

Speaking to a grasser / stock car supplier at the Autosport show and he said they use 1.5mm wall steel.

Do peeps think this is thick enough? I think he was confused as to what i wanted and i should be looking at 3mm.

Just want other opinions before i go and buy steel - one end is polybushed the other has a rose joint.

jacko - 14/1/09 at 06:05 PM

!.5 may be ok but for what you want [ road going ] a bit more weight wont make that muck difference so go 3mm thick

JoelP - 14/1/09 at 06:25 PM

i would say it depends on how good you are at welding. If good, 1.5 is fine, if you want the heat turning up a bit, use 2mm. 3mm is excessive IHMO, it would be stronger than the chassis which is pointless.

blakep82 - 14/1/09 at 07:23 PM

think mine are over 2mm thick, but they are also 86cm long

NS Dev - 14/1/09 at 07:54 PM

Was it Randall Mike?

Anyhoo, wot they sed!

1.5 is technically plenty, but most use more, cos its easier to make them safe.

Randall also want the stock cars suspension to bend before it takes the chassis with it.

MikeR - 14/1/09 at 08:24 PM

May have been

Bought some of their threaded inserts as they look a lot nicer than the ones I've already got.

Now if i've got it right, if I go with either
1.5mm wall 1" steel
or
3mm wall 1 1/8" steel

I don't need to pop round to you and beg a quick machine of four threaded inserts to fit - hence the preference as i know you're busy.

If i go with 2mm steel then its pop round for you to machine .5mm off the inserts (and i'll probably use the original inserts as the outside face is flat.)

procomp - 15/1/09 at 08:21 AM

Hi

Mind if using any of that Anti squat you will be wanting 14G / 2mm min.

Cheers Matt

NS Dev - 15/1/09 at 09:43 AM

quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
May have been

Bought some of their threaded inserts as they look a lot nicer than the ones I've already got.

Now if i've got it right, if I go with either
1.5mm wall 1" steel
or
3mm wall 1 1/8" steel

I don't need to pop round to you and beg a quick machine of four threaded inserts to fit - hence the preference as i know you're busy.

If i go with 2mm steel then its pop round for you to machine .5mm off the inserts (and i'll probably use the original inserts as the outside face is flat.)


I can spin the inserts down for you mike that's no problem, are they thick enough on the wall though? Will need a mandrel too, are they 1/2" UNF? If so will have something laying about to thread them onto for turning them

[Edited on 15/1/09 by NS Dev]

MikeR - 15/1/09 at 11:39 PM

1/2" unf and 7/8th OD so plenty for turning down to my eyes.