Trailing Arm Half Kit, 3X3 Arms, for 930 CV

OVERVIEW

Transform your off-road performance and reclaim the desert with the Appletree Automotive 3x3 Trailing Arm Half Kit. This comprehensive kit is engineered specifically for the enthusiast who demands maximum suspension travel and a significantly wider, more stable footprint. By extending the rear wheelbase three inches back and three inches out, you are not just changing the look of your vehicle; you are fundamentally improving the leverage ratio for your rear shocks. This geometry allows for a much more progressive suspension feel, enabling your vehicle to soak up massive "whoops" and technical terrain that would easily bottom out a stock-dimension IRS setup. It is the gold standard for anyone looking to bridge the gap between a standard street car and a professional-grade off-road machine.

This "Half Kit" serves as the heavy-duty structural foundation for your rear suspension overhaul, specifically designed to accommodate the legendary 930 CV joints. We have curated this package to include ultra-strong D.O.M. (Drawn Over Mandrel) steel trailing arms that offer superior rigidity and impact resistance compared to standard seamed tubing. By pairing these high-clearance arms with our precision-machined T1-to-930 stub axles, you are upgrading your drivetrain to handle significantly higher horsepower and the steeper CV angles required for long-travel applications. This kit eliminates the frustration of sourcing individual components by providing the critical inner and outer bearings, seals, and IRS bushings needed for a professional-grade installation, ensuring your rear end is as rugged as the rest of your build.

FITMENT

This kit is designed for vehicles utilizing an Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) configuration. While it can be adapted to various custom builds, it is most commonly used on the following:

• Volkswagen Beetle: 1969 through 1977 (Standard and Super Beetle IRS chassis).
• Volkswagen Karmann Ghia: 1969 through 1974 (IRS equipped models).
• Volkswagen Thing (Type 181): All years.
• Custom Off-Road Builds: Ideal for Sand Rails, Dune Buggies, and Manx-style fiberglass bodies using a VW-based IRS torsion housing.
• Baja Bug Conversions: Perfect for wide-eye or narrow-eye Baja builds requiring 3x3 offset.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Our 3x3 Trailing Arm Half Kit is manufactured to exacting tolerances to ensure a smooth assembly process and long-term durability under extreme stress.

• Trailing Arm Material: Heavy-wall D.O.M. (Drawn Over Mandrel) Steel Tubing for maximum yield strength.
• Arm Dimension: 3 Inches Longer / 3 Inches Wider (3x3 configuration).
• Stub Axles: (2) High-strength T1 to 930 CV conversion stub axles.
• Bearings: (2) Inner and (2) Outer precision-ground rear wheel bearings included.
• Seals: Includes (2) Rear axle seal kits and (2) supplemental rear axle seals for a leak-free assembly.
• Bushings: (1) Pair of high-density IRS pivot bushings.
• Hardware: Includes (1) IRS axle spacer kit and (1) pair of axle housing end caps.
• CV Compatibility: Specifically designed for 930-style CV joints (108mm).

PRO TIPS FROM THE SHOP

PRO TIP 1: PREVENTING CV BIND AT FULL DROOP

When installing 3x3 arms and 930 CVs, it is absolutely critical to check for "CV bind" at the maximum extension of your suspension. Even though the 930 joint is capable of high angles, the combination of a 3x3 arm and long-travel shocks can sometimes exceed those limits. Before you install your coil-overs or shocks permanently, cycle the arm through its full range of motion while rotating the stub axle by hand. If you feel any clicking, notches, or resistance at the bottom of the stroke, you must install limit straps to stop the arm''s travel just before the CV joint binds. Failing to do this will result in shattered CV cages and potential mid-axle failure on your first jump.

PRO TIP 2: THE "DOUBLE-PACK" BEARING METHOD

Don''t just rely on a quick smear of grease when installing the inner and outer bearings included in this kit. For off-road applications, these bearings are under constant thermal stress and are frequently exposed to silt and moisture. We recommend using a high-quality, high-temp red or blue tacky grease and a mechanical bearing packer to ensure the grease is forced entirely through the cage and rollers. Once the bearings are seated in the arm, add an extra "reservoir" of grease in the cavity between the bearings. This provides an additional barrier against moisture and ensures that as the bearings heat up, there is plenty of lubricant available to keep them cool during long desert runs.

PRO TIP 3: INDEXING YOUR PIVOT BOXES

Because these arms are 3 inches wider and 3 inches longer, your factory alignment settings will be completely thrown off. To get the most out of this kit, we highly recommend using adjustable IRS pivot boxes (welded to the torsion housing). When installing the arms, try to set your static toe-in to approximately 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch. A slight amount of toe-