What is this bar under trailing arm?

[65standard]

Anyone know what this flat bar is thats tied back together with barbed wire? You got to love farmer ingenuity.

This is on my 1970 C20 with HD rear suspension.

[davestrucks]

Red neck rear sway bar.

[bsampson]

3/4 ton trailing arms are just like 1/2 ton trailing arms, except have a flat strap of steel on the top and bottom that runs about 1/3 the length of the arm. I believe it's 1/8" thick? This is for additional strength. It looks like your truck was driven over something that peeled it back a little, and barbed wire was the solution to keep it from dragging too low.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by bsampson

3/4 ton trailing arms are just like 1/2 ton trailing arms, except have a flat strap of steel on the top and bottom that runs about 1/3 the length of the arm. I believe it's 1/8" thick? This is for additional strength. It looks like your truck was driven over something that peeled it back a little, and barbed wire was the solution to keep it from dragging too low.

X2. Top plate is about 1/3 the length of the arm and bottom plate is about 2/3 the length.

Here are pictures of the 3/4 ton trailing arms showing the added plates.

The first picture is the top side. Second pic is the bottom side.

[65standard]

Is this bar supposed to be welded up to the arm or just rub up to it. I can weld it up or cut it off. What is better

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 65standard

Is this bar supposed to be welded up to the arm or just rub up to it. I can weld it up or cut it off. What is better

They were riveted from the factory. Best bet would probably be to weld it on as long as the trailing arm is otherwise in good shape.

[65standard]

Mine never had those rivets like yours.

[65standard]

The heavy coating of grease and grime kept the rust away. Underneath is very solid. I'll weld them back up tight to the arms.