Toe rod and trailing arm questions - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

IPT · 11-25-2012, 04:50 PM

So I am reading and reading. It is clear that changing parts in this area lowers wheel hop and helps traction and handling. Is it really the rods and arms that are the weak link or just the bushings?

I am getting the Pedders Pace Car setup and it does not address these components. I am considering the PFadt kit with bushings and arms/link but also consider just getting Pedders Bushings and ZL1 rods. I guess BMR should be considered too. I'm a novice with this and maybe it's just what I read, or how I took it in, but this is just not clear to me. Can you all shed some light on this?

Camper · 11-25-2012, 05:15 PM

Through my research, Pedders believes the OEM arms are fine for most street/mid HP cars and only the bushings need replaced.

IPT · 11-25-2012, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camper

Through my research, Pedders believes the OEM arms are fine for most street/mid HP cars and only the bushings need replaced.

That is the jist of what I am understanding. Wonder if anyone Pedderized added these components and noticed a difference? I doubt it, but maybe.

If I wanted to get the Pfadt or BMR could you use the Pedders bushings with them? Are the bushing fittings same as OEM on all aftermarket replacements?

grocerygetter · 11-25-2012, 08:03 PM

Pfadt and bmr both come with great bushings. You would need the outer trailing arm bushing if you go bmr however.

So Cal Camaro · 11-25-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPT

That is the jist of what I am understanding. Wonder if anyone Pedderized added these components and noticed a difference? I doubt it, but maybe.

If I wanted to get the Pfadt or BMR could you use the Pedders bushings with them? Are the bushing fittings same as OEM on all aftermarket replacements?

I just ordered the Pfadt ones on sale...the main idea with the Pfadt one's are that they are stronger and lighter than OEM....

was619 · 11-25-2012, 08:51 PM

It seems to me that mixing parts to your liking including bushings of course would net the best results.
Like getting the full BMR kit with Pfadt arms and zl1 links(cheapest upgrade option) and Pedders zl1 upgraded Sway Bars.
Hopefully that makes sense

flyer08 · 11-25-2012, 09:07 PM

That's what I'm doing. Have little of everything

IPT · 11-26-2012, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by So Cal Camaro

I just ordered the Pfadt ones on sale...the main idea with the Pfadt one's are that they are stronger and lighter than OEM....

Ditto - I figure with that and the Pace Care package from Pedders with the ZL1 sways I should be good for a while, and a lot of smiles. Last decision to be made is if I need (want) to do the Diff bushings too...thoughts?

JusticePete · 11-26-2012, 10:00 AM

Replacing the OEM toe links and trailing arms with after market tubular arms does deliver some performance gain. It is our position that you can get the same performance gain without replacing the arms. Using Pedders EP6572Z steel jacketed bushes provides stability to the rear suspension geometry and maintains the safety of the factor built in fuses.

When some say the OE trailing arm is weak, the factory engineer will tell you that it is strong enough to do the job AND WEAK ENOUGH TO ACT AS A FUSE IN AN IMPACT. We just shipped a new rear lower control arm out to a 5th Gen owner that curbed his car. The after market toe link and trailing arm were fine, but the lower control arm bent along with some of the brackets on the sub-frame.

When you add a stronger arm to your suspension you make all the other components relatively weaker.

BMR guy · 11-26-2012, 10:27 AM

I will just throw this out there again. For a lot of mild applications you can get away with just upgrading the bushings. If you look at this from a cost perspective however, you will see that you can practically purchase the complete upgraded tubular arms already equipped with high quality polyurethane bushings for practically the same cost. Once you factor in the labor or time of driving out the OE bushings and replacing them, it actually costs more. One more perk of the aftermarket setups is that they are completely greaseable without having to unbolt them or disassemble them. Our arms in particular are designed with internal grease passages and fluted bushings, greasable through external zerk fittings.

So Cal Camaro · 11-26-2012, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JusticePete

Replacing the OEM toe links and trailing arms with after market tubular arms does deliver some performance gain. It is our position that you can get the same performance gain without replacing the arms. Using Pedders EP6572Z steel jacketed bushes provides stability to the rear suspension geometry and maintains the safety of the factor built in fuses.

When some say the OE trailing arm is weak, the factory engineer will tell you that it is strong enough to do the job AND WEAK ENOUGH TO ACT AS A FUSE IN AN IMPACT. We just shipped a new rear lower control arm out to a 5th Gen owner that curbed his car. The after market toe link and trailing arm were fine, but the lower control arm bent along with some of the brackets on the sub-frame.

When you add a stronger arm to your suspension you make all the other components relatively weaker.

I agree with you last line above, adding stronger parts can weaken others, no different than adding beefier sway bars and end links, the LCA's suffered with tearing end links out of the LCA bracket...led to GM re-designing the mounting point...

11-25-2012, 04:50 PM	#1
IPT Drives: '02 Trailblazer, '12 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: AK Posts: 819	Toe rod and trailing arm questions So I am reading and reading. It is clear that changing parts in this area lowers wheel hop and helps traction and handling. Is it really the rods and arms that are the weak link or just the bushings? I am getting the Pedders Pace Car setup and it does not address these components. I am considering the PFadt kit with bushings and arms/link but also consider just getting Pedders Bushings and ZL1 rods. I guess BMR should be considered too. I'm a novice with this and maybe it's just what I read, or how I took it in, but this is just not clear to me. Can you all shed some light on this?

11-25-2012, 08:03 PM	#4
grocerygetter instigator Drives: 2020 6.2 Trail Boss, 2022 XC90 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: 72034 Posts: 3,979 View My Garage	Pfadt and bmr both come with great bushings. You would need the outer trailing arm bushing if you go bmr however. __________________ -John S.

11-25-2012, 08:51 PM	#6
was619 Billy The Kid Drives: Cyber Grey 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 637	It seems to me that mixing parts to your liking including bushings of course would net the best results. Like getting the full BMR kit with Pfadt arms and zl1 links(cheapest upgrade option) and Pedders zl1 upgraded Sway Bars. Hopefully that makes sense __________________ CGM 2SS/RS[SIZE="1"] Performance: LT Headers/Stainless Works cat-back, 225/233 Cam, 1LE 3.91 gears, Custom Tune, BMR suspension, MGW Shifter, Stainless brake & clutch lines, Ideal G Master Cylinder, 275s on all 4 corners Aesthetics: ZL1 Spoiler, DIY LED marker lights, AACPlasma DRL, Yellow Calipers, painted factory wheels

11-25-2012, 05:15 PM	#2
Camper Banned Drives: 10' 2SS LS3 M6 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 1,370	Through my research, Pedders believes the OEM arms are fine for most street/mid HP cars and only the bushings need replaced.

11-25-2012, 09:07 PM	#7
flyer08 Account Suspended Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 3,418	That's what I'm doing. Have little of everything

11-26-2012, 10:00 AM	#9
JusticePete Drives: Camaro Justice Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 20,174	Replacing the OEM toe links and trailing arms with after market tubular arms does deliver some performance gain. It is our position that you can get the same performance gain without replacing the arms. Using Pedders EP6572Z steel jacketed bushes provides stability to the rear suspension geometry and maintains the safety of the factor built in fuses. When some say the OE trailing arm is weak, the factory engineer will tell you that it is strong enough to do the job AND WEAK ENOUGH TO ACT AS A FUSE IN AN IMPACT. We just shipped a new rear lower control arm out to a 5th Gen owner that curbed his car. The after market toe link and trailing arm were fine, but the lower control arm bent along with some of the brackets on the sub-frame. When you add a stronger arm to your suspension you make all the other components relatively weaker.

11-26-2012, 10:27 AM	#10
BMR guy Drives: 2010 1SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,002	I will just throw this out there again. For a lot of mild applications you can get away with just upgrading the bushings. If you look at this from a cost perspective however, you will see that you can practically purchase the complete upgraded tubular arms already equipped with high quality polyurethane bushings for practically the same cost. Once you factor in the labor or time of driving out the OE bushings and replacing them, it actually costs more. One more perk of the aftermarket setups is that they are completely greaseable without having to unbolt them or disassemble them. Our arms in particular are designed with internal grease passages and fluted bushings, greasable through external zerk fittings.