rusted swing arms
 

I noticed my swing arms (going to my rear axle) are rusting through in a couple places. The metal plate tacked to the bottom is also coming off. Is this a common problem and should I start looking for some others?

thanks

Ro

Yes it is a problem and yes you should start looking for some more.

Not necessarily. To really guage how bad of shape your trailing arms are in you'll have to remove them. Mine had cracks, some serious rust, and some places where the plates were comming loose.

After removing them I realized that the cracks weren't serious, and the rust was all surface. I scrubbed them down really well with a wire brush, and had a weld shop patch them including the reinforcement plates. They were as good as new with some new bushings, and new U-bolts for the rear axle.

I haven't measured...are swing arms from short beds different from long beds. Sorry if this is a common sense issue, but there have been things that can interchange that I didn't think would work.

Thanks

I think you just answered how come it feels like your truck is sliding around going around corners. If they are in as bad of shape as you are discribing, they are actually dangerous. I wouldn't drive the truck untill you replace them. WES www.ClassicHeartbeat.com

As far as i know, long box and short box use the same trailing arms.

i got a pair that are in perfect condition. $130 Shipped to your doorstep.

that type of thing would scare me, Id get em fixed or replacing ASAP, I wouldnt want one of those things letting go down the highway

Thanks Chevyguy111786, I will make a note of your offer. There is a guy close by here that I talked to yesterday that said I could pull the ones off of his parts truck if I needed them. By the way, how close is Garland to Dallas? Have an uncle there that might be coming this way soon.

Thanks for all the replys everyone. I've been wanting to replace the springs for awhile now. I think I will do it all at once.

Do the auto parts stores carry all the bushings I will need?

You might be able to order them at your local auto parts store. Try NAPA.

I got mine from Energy Suspensions. They're not rubber. They're poly.

By the way....what kind of shape is your panhard bar bushings, or the bar for that matter? You might as well replace those too.

I have a good set already of a truck, $75.00. I am in Independence.

Garland is a suburb of Dallas, about 30 miles north of Downtown Dallas. I have some springs too....3/4 ton and 1/2 ton. i'll give ya everything, springs and arms for $110 plus 40 bucks for shipping if you want to go that route.

I am making notes of all this stuff I need to check on my truck. LOL

i understand, was just letting you know.

I had poly bushings made (for free) just a little while ago. The bar is good. What's the best way to change out these arms? Will I need to drop the drive shaft?

you shouldn't have to drop the driveshaft. it's basically just two i beams with bolts on each size.