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Topic: trailing arm replacement

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trailing arm replacement (1/27)
 9/11/12 11:50am
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

last night i started the replacement of the trailing arms. i only spent about an hour so far but i was able to remove the shims on the drivers side only to find the bolt is rusted into the arm bushing. not going to waste time trying to get it out. gonna go right to saw zaw! then i found the lower shock mount rusted tight to the lower arm support. i was able to get that loosened up after spraying and beating. the strut rod is rusted tight at the rear so i am just going to cut that since i'm replacing that anyway. thats all the time i had. tonight is wifes birthday so i'm going to miss another night working on it. have to have the new gears and rear completed by oct 10th including alignment and have no weekends available. going to be a tight schedule! Rodney

|UPDATED|9/11/2012 8:50:36 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: trailing arm replacement (2/27)
 9/11/12 12:24pm
eboLifetime Member
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Holland Patent, NY - USA

Vette(s):
#1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker


Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4420

Rod I'd buy moma her own new sawzall and have her do the other side tonight......now thats a Party I want to attend! Party
 
Well at least tell her I said happy B-Day!
Evil Smileebo
 
( if she only knew how much $$ you have in this car Ouch


|UPDATED|9/11/2012 9:24:50 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Evil Smileebo
Re: trailing arm replacement (3/27)
 9/11/12 12:26pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20124

Clap  Well....tell Ma we wishes her a big ol Texas Habby Berfday!!!!!
Sure am glad we don't live in an area that causes all of the bolts and stuff to rust up like that.....yeeesh. I can't imagine how youse guys deal with it all the time.
Good luck with the deal, tho, and hope it goes back together easily.Thumbs Up


|UPDATED|9/11/2012 9:26:00 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: trailing arm replacement (4/27)
 9/11/12 5:14pm
BT_JettLifetime Member
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Woodland Park, CO - USA

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1973 T-Top, Red, 4spd manual, L82


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Posts: 268

I agree with Joel -- don't know how you put up with the rust, dry air is the way to go.  Bolts come off easy!!!
 
Happy Birthday to the wife!!
 
Good luck on the project.


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Re: trailing arm replacement (5/27)
 9/11/12 8:36pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Ebo, I actually showed your comment to my wife and so she asks, how much money do WE have in this car. I tell her, its a lot less then she would get after the divorce she would ask for if I told her the real total. She smiles and says I guess I really dont want to know!

Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (6/27)
 9/12/12 12:34am
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

After everything settled down tonight I went to the shed to work on the trailing arm I started on last night. It took about an hour to cut out the bolt, remove the brake caliper, half shaft, brake hoses and arm. With one side done I should be able to remove the Passenger side tomorrow night. Once everything is removed then I will begin the cleaning and painting of the parts for reassembly. I am thinking 2 -3 nights for that. them 2 -3 nights to reassemble and bleed brake system.

Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (7/27)
 9/12/12 9:19am
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Holland Patent, NY - USA

Vette(s):
#1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker


Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4420

rod7515 said: Ebo, I actually showed your comment to my wife and so she asks, how much money do WE have in this car. I tell her, its a lot less then she would get after the divorce she would ask for if I told her the real total. She smiles and says I guess I really dont want to know!

Rodney


SHE'S A KEEPER!
Evil Smileebo


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Re: trailing arm replacement (8/27)
 9/12/12 2:46pm
yostusota
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York, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top


Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518

yes she is Ebo!!   let me know what day I can come down!! I'm free all next week!

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Re: trailing arm replacement (9/27)
 9/12/12 7:12pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Rich, I'll shout either Monday or Tuesday depending on where I'm at with this. Thanks for all your help so far.
Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (10/27)
 9/12/12 7:50pm
eboLifetime Member
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Holland Patent, NY - USA

Vette(s):
#1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker


Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4420

Travilin meh in ecks are the best! This group Rocks! I could not have done my upper and lower control arms as fast or as painless with out Mark (Manchester) last week.
No site has the friendships this group has! We are blessed!
Evil Smileebo


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Re: trailing arm replacement (11/27)
 9/13/12 12:58am
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Your right there Mr Ebo!
I called Rich when I was ready to start this project because I knew he had just completed the 73 last year. I told him what my time table was and he suggested just buying new trailing arms because of the time involved to rebuild them myself. I was going to tackle it but Rich convinced me to spend more money! What are friends for! Anyway it turns out that on this project this was the best way to go about it.

So progress tonight was the passenger arm is out and all u joints have been removed from the shafts, The drivers inner fender is now undercoated and ready to start going back together. Tomorrow nights plan is to remove the crossmember and rear, clean up and paint everything before reassembly and install u joints. I'm hoping to have the rear project completed by the end of next week. Then I can move back to the wiper door issue!

Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (12/27)
 9/13/12 7:58am
manchestersharkLifetime Member
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Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.


Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2378

CoolThumbs Up  When ya have REAL friends, ya don't mind helpin them out. Distance don't matter, it's the satisfaction of bein a part of a lifetime team. I'm waitin for a FLAMING RIVER rack and pinion set up to arrive at the house. My New Jersey friend is comin up to put it in his ride. Approve

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Re: trailing arm replacement (13/27)
 9/14/12 12:09pm
yostusota
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York, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top


Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518

Sure did spend that money and I'll never tell the wife what ya got into it!! Getting rebuilt arms is a much faster way to go than doing it ourselves!! Really want to get this done and this will speed things up considerably! Sorry missed your call last night...got some bad food last night and was removing it from every point of exit till 3am!! Look forward to next week!!

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Re: trailing arm replacement (14/27)
 9/14/12 5:35pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Rich
Sorry to hear about your bad night. I called then went inside to get something to drink and missed your call. Was just lookin to run by you that the rear I took out had a larger yoke then the one on the 4:11 gears I bought. I swapped them out and tightened the yoke with an impact but didnt hammer it so it wouldn't change the backlash. I think I should be ok as I had .007 - .008 before and I am now at about .008. Was glad I checked that when I first got the rear. Gave me something to compare to.

My update is that everything is out on the back end of the car. I hope to clean and paint parts Monday - Tuesday. I still have to install the u-joints back into the half shafts I'm hoping I got all the parts I need to put everything back together.
When removing the arms I had to cut the rear trailing bolts because they were rusted into the bushings. I found that the Milwakee Torch blades work very well if you cut at a slow speed and use an oil for lubricate. If the blade runs fast it burns up very quickly.

Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (15/27)
 9/14/12 5:37pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Rich
Sorry to hear about your bad night. I called then went inside to get something to drink and missed your call. Was just lookin to run by you that the rear I took out had a larger yoke then the one on the 4:11 gears I bought. I swapped them out and tightened the yoke with an impact but didnt hammer it so it wouldn't change the backlash. I think I should be ok as I had .007 - .008 before and I am now at about .008. Was glad I checked that when I first got the rear. Gave me something to compare to.

My update is that everything is out on the back end of the car. I hope to clean and paint parts Monday - Tuesday. I still have to install the u-joints back into the half shafts I'm hoping I got all the parts I need to put everything back together.
When removing the arms I had to cut the rear trailing bolts because they were rusted into the bushings. I found that the Milwakee Torch blades work very well if you cut at a slow speed and use an oil for lubricate. If the blade runs fast it burns up very quickly.

Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (16/27)
 9/14/12 5:45pm
yostusota
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York, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top


Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518

I'll do the half shaft u joints if you want..I can stop by Sunday night or drop by the shop Monday..I promise I'll be nice to them!

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Re: trailing arm replacement (17/27)
 9/15/12 7:27am
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

I should be able to make one of them options possible. I'm not sure what time on Sunday night we will be getting home but i'll give you a call sometime Sunday and let you know what the plans are. I already have the worst done as the joints are out but the new ones need to be installed if you want to do that. That will save some time. I do have to clean them paint them yet. Thanks for the offer.
Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (18/27)
 9/15/12 11:44am
73shark
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.


Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 864

If it's not too late, recommend putting the st-st parking brake kit in.  Or maybe your rebuilt ones already came that way.

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Re: trailing arm replacement (19/27)
 9/15/12 12:07pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

73shark,
great suggestion. They new arms came complete all the way to the rotors are already riveted in place. I was warned about the fun time changing out those shoes. Thanks for suggestion though. Thats what makes this site so great. SO many members are out there lending their experience and recommendations to make each job easier. Thanks to ALL!
Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (20/27)
 9/15/12 12:28pm
yostusota
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York, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top


Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518

Hey..changing those shoes are a piece of cake if you got the tools to do it..time is what the goal is now..we'll get those shoes adjusted and cables set right on once it's all together and driven some..I remember the first time I saw this car!! At the Sonic...it's a different beast now!!

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Re: trailing arm replacement (21/27)
 9/15/12 10:32pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

The good thing is that the shoes are already adjusted by Bairs when they put the arms together. Thats part of their sell. They were fantastic to work with. And although the arms werent cheap they were priced right along with everyone else. They are one of our site sponsors and Rich recommended them.
Rich, if you remember that night at Sonic that car was a yellowed Yellow. Not a nice color and the body had major cracks. The interior was mice infested and what the mice hadnt gotten too was rotted away! That car should have never came home with me in the first place but I wanted a chrome bumper car and the convertible sealed the deal. Now over 2 years later and so much $$ invested I can say I am in love with it! I have to be because its just like my wife, I cant afford to get rid of her.

Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (22/27)
 9/18/12 1:20pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

everything should be painted now and ready to start going back together. Rich is doing the u joint installition and then he has been good enough to offer some help, so tonight him and I will start on it. I'll update later tonight on how things go. Rodney

|UPDATED|9/18/2012 10:20:47 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: trailing arm replacement (23/27)
 9/18/12 1:21pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20124

Good luck youse guys! Hope it all goes together easily!
Always nice to have some help doing those things...they get kinda heavy after a few minutes.

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Joel Adams
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Re: trailing arm replacement (24/27)
 9/19/12 1:36am
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Heres a big thumbs up to Rich for his help tonight with the trailing arms. Rich got here around 6:30 and by 8:00 we had the rear cover cleaned and put onto the rear, the rear on the cross member and up into the car, the stubber in place, Trailing arms on and the halfshafts bolted in. Could have done more but I didnt have the lower shock mounts ready or the spring put back together. Thanks Rich, that was a great help and since you already had experience it made it easy going in.

Everything fit great. After Rich left I started cleaning more parts and painting. I finished the rear shocks and strut rods and bolted them into place. The calipers are now painted and I'll hope to get them on tomorrow night. Rich, I cleaned the threads on the mounts and the shocks fit very snug so I decided to go ahead and use them. Touched up all the bolts and washers with fresh paint and hopefully tomorrow night will go as good as tonight.

I counted the days I have available to have this thing fit to take a 400 mile trip to Ocean City for the Vette weeknd and its only 12 nights. Now if the wife lets me out of a few planned activities till then I could pick up some extra time.

Rodney


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Re: trailing arm replacement (25/27)
 9/19/12 8:55am
Jaws79Lifetime Member
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Sykesville, MD - USA

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1979 Corvette Coupe Corvette Light Blue Midnight Blue interior Mirrored Glass T-tops


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Sounds good, Rod! Hope to see the finished product in OC this year!
 
Barry
 
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Re: trailing arm replacement (26/27)
 9/20/12 2:07am
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 White 350 Corvette, TH400 Automatic 1972 Tangerine /Go Mango Convertible 383 Stroker, 2004r Automatic


Joined: 10/27/2006
Posts: 1182

Well tonight I got home and went straight out to the shed and started on the brakes. Got them on and let the rear system just gravity bleed itself while I kept the fluid full in the cylinder. Then I moved on the the assembly of the new / old rear spring. Put all new insulators between each leaf then installed on rear. I was just getting ready to bring the spring ends up so I could put the bolts and bushings on and in walks Rich for a second night of help. Just in time! We had the spring done in no time then we finished the rear brake bleeding. Once that was done he helped me hang the exhaust back on and then we did a ruff rear alignment by his eyesite. Then off for a test drive to make sure we were close. Wow, what a difference that new suspension makes. And the 4:11 gears seem like they will work out extremely well.
Now I wont be able to work on the car for the next 4 days unless I get my other work done around the house. We have family coming in so I'm sure my honey do list will be huge.
Any way, once again another special thanks to Rich for helping out the last 2 nights.
 it just shows the kind of people we have here on our site. Thanks Rich, really appreciate the help!

Rodney

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Re: trailing arm replacement (27/27)
 9/20/12 3:15pm
yostusota
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York, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top


Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518

It sure was fun on that test drive!! Car felt great and sounds awesome! Look forward to the 4wa...it's close but I'll get it dialed in right where we want it. Can't believe how good that car looks. You really have spared nothing on that car!! Still can't get over the rear diff...nice piece there! I think some extended test drives are in order!!

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My first parade at Carlisle 2010
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