Front A-Arms for 69 Camaro

[Dadms]

I'm restoring my 69 Camaro and I have completely redone the front and rear suspension. I had originally intended on using the stock A-arms, so I rebuilt them using PST parts.

I installed Hotchkis front springs (2"drop) and Bilstein shocks. I have power steering with a new AGR steering box built for quick ratio and better feel. However, I am now seriously considering installing Tubular A-arms.

What little I've read to this point leads me to believe this will allow for better handling due to better alignment capability - mainly in the caster.

I read some comments in the forum regarding suspension setup for racing, etc., so what I'd like to know from the forum experts, is which A-Arm would work best for me as everyday driving, occasional racing (straight line or course) and provide the best overall handling.

There are many companies offering tubular A-arms. Global West, Detroit Speed, and the others. Which one would work the best in my application?

thanks.......

[David Pozzi]

Tubular upper arms would be nice. I hate polly bushings, so stay away from those.
Look at DSE, GW and Speed Tech.

http://www.detroitspeed.com/
http://www.globalwest.net/
http://www.speedtech-performance.com/
GW appears to have the most positive caster built in.
DSE and Speed Tech appear to be pretty close in geometry.

DSE arms are top quality and more expensive.
GW is cheaper, very racy.
ST is least expensive, very well built but mig welded, the others are TIG welded as far as I know, ST has stainless shaft like DSE but without the slots, has billet balljoint covers, otherwise looks like GW arm.

Any of these will do you well, pick your price and vendor.
I prefer the ST for looks and price value. The GW next, it's got a steel shaft that ins't as nice looking as the others but mucho caster, GW pioneered this mod. The DSE arm is probably engineered the best but the most expensive.

[Dadms]

Thank you for the information. I was leaning toward the DSE arms, but wasn't sure if they had the same amount of caster adjustment as the GW. Do the ST arms have caster adjustments?

[96Z28SS]

BMR Fabrication also makes a set for first gen F-bodys.

They are big into the 4th gen stuff but they also make 1st gen stuff.
Check there stuff out I had every singal chassis component from them on my 96 Camaro.

http://www.bmrfabrication.com/F1.htm

they also have a nice conversion kit to swap in a 6 speed.

[ViperBlue68]

Has anyone here ran these BMR arms on a f body here? any input?? price doesnt look bad......... :dunno:

[Dadms]

ViperBlue68, I like your door panels. Are they custom made, or from another car? What kind of door latch release is that?

[David Pozzi]

Thank you for the information. I was leaning toward the DSE arms, but wasn't sure if they had the same amount of caster adjustment as the GW. Do the ST arms have caster adjustments?

The DSE arms have slots cut in the arms, inserts go in there to move the arm front to rear so there is a lot of adjustablilty.

I keep forgetting about the Pole Position arms, very adjustable.

I wouldn't worry about adjustment range with any of these arms unless you want somthing wierd in your alignment settings.

[96Z28SS]

Has anyone here ran these BMR arms on a f body here? any input?? price doesnt look bad......... :dunno:

I ran there upper and lower control arms in my car and they were great.
I also ran there k-member, rear lower control arms, subframe connector, torque arm, and there panhard relocation kit.
They make real quality stuff. And you can get them in any color you want.

I can't say anything about how they fit on the 1st gen stuff but I can say that the 4th gen stuff is great and there are alot of people with there products.

go to the homepage www.bmrfabrication.com and lok at the customer section its huge.

[Marcus SC&C]

FWIW the Pole Position arms have a much larger range of adjustment than any of the other arms mentioned. They don`t require shims to change adjustments. They`re also cheaper than most of the others and the only ones designed for and proven on actual race cars. :) We offer them in a ProLite version too,with 6061 T-6 aluminum hex adjustment sleeves. www.SCandC.com Marcus

[ProdigyCustoms]

I am supposed to have a set of Blue Moons new upper and lower arms in my hands in a few days. They say they are stronger then the rest and have all the other advantages. I will be checking them out.

[68BNUT]

Ok one question if put aftermarket A-arms on my 68 camaro would I still need to do the G-strand mod???

[Marcus SC&C]

Apart from caster Upper A arms are unable to alter geometry to any significant degree. So long as the cross shafts pivot on the same axis as stock and the upper ball joint pivots at the same height as stock the UCA is just along for the ride,swinging in the same old arcs. No amount of optimistic advertising will change that. The G mod *does* alter geometry for the good so yes it is generally a good thing with aftermarket arms. No you don`t *need* it but it will help things out a good deal and it`s easy and free to do so why not? :) Note that we don`t claim any geometry improvements for our PPR adj. UCAs,only for our packages that use tall modular ball joints. In this case the arms simply make the use of the tall BJs possible and adjustments easier. Even with the tall UBJs we recomend the G mod for serious handling cars. Marcus