Removing trailing arm u bolts - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

gopokes · 10-19-2010, 04:02 PM

I have been trying for two days to get the nuts of the ubolts holding the trailing arm to the axle. Been soaking them with PB blaster every night and no luck yet. I have tried a breakover handle and 3 foot cheater, and an impact wrench and am getting nowhere. I would like to be able to get them off without cutting the ubolts if possible, but am about to break out the cutting wheel. Anyone have any other ideas?

faribran · 10-19-2010, 04:04 PM

the ole' blue tool..... the trusty torch.... has worked for me in may cases...

**lolife99** · 10-19-2010, 04:04 PM

Cut them and buy new.
40 year old u-bolts holding the rearend under your truck isn't that great of an idea anyway.

Jacfourteen · 10-19-2010, 04:27 PM

They can be real stubborn, I pull a rear at a junk yard the other day. I went to the yard a week ahead and sprayed the u-bolts with penetrating oil and it still took everything I had to break them loose with a 24" breaker bar. If I weren't in a junkyard I would have used a torch or cutoff wheel.

gopokes · 10-19-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolife99

Cut them and buy new.
40 year old u-bolts holding the rearend under your truck isn't that great of an idea anyway.

That's true, I was afraid this was the route I was going to have to take. Any suggestions on who has the best price? I found them at LMC for $15 a piece plus shipping, seems reasonable.

hounddogs! · 10-19-2010, 04:32 PM

You may want the smoke wrench anyway. Once you get the nuts off you could find that the leg of the u-bolt has rusted into the arm itself.

*stich626* · 10-19-2010, 04:47 PM

u can get them local at any spring place that services leaf springs..
look up big rig surpliers..

VA72C10 · 10-19-2010, 04:55 PM

as mentioned...cut and get new...

with how low you're going have you considered lowering blocks? If so, they come with new proper sized U-bolts

gopokes · 10-19-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VA72C10

as mentioned...cut and get new...

with how low you're going have you considered lowering blocks? If so, they come with new proper sized U-bolts

I hadn't been thinking about lowering blocks since I decided to bag it. I was thinking the blocks only helped on static drops, brain isn't working right now. Wouldn't that just let me have a little more air in the bags at a lower height?

ozman3803 · 10-19-2010, 05:07 PM

Just did some googling because i'll be shopping for some to. Dsubin is a website that custom makes them and looks like about 10 bucks a piece.
Posted via Mobile Device

cdowns · 10-19-2010, 05:15 PM

ubolts are available at local autopars stores,spring shops and trailer and boat supply places all with no shipping when buuying locallly. why wood anybody spend shipping money on them is a mystery

VA72C10 · 10-19-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gopokes

I hadn't been thinking about lowering blocks since I decided to bag it. I was thinking the blocks only helped on static drops, brain isn't working right now. Wouldn't that just let me have a little more air in the bags at a lower height?

yep, that's why I'm planning on a 2" block or even the 3" PB dropped trailing arms...so I can run more air at a nice low ride height and have a comfortable ride.

rvn1038 · 11-27-2010, 02:05 PM

Where is the best place to cut the U bolts? I have the U bolt nuts off but the legs are stuck in the trailing arm... How do I get the legs out after cutting? I want to reuse the trailing arm, just need to replace the bushing and U bolts.

VA72C10 · 11-27-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvn1038

Where is the best place to cut the U bolts? I have the U bolt nuts off but the legs are stuck in the trailing arm... How do I get the legs out after cutting? I want to reuse the trailing arm, just need to replace the bushing and U bolts.

I cut it at the top of the axle right where it starts to angle over. Cut on both sides so it leaves basically two verticle posts left. Then you can take the axle out and you can pound out the leftover bolts from the top

10-19-2010, 04:02 PM	#1
gopokes Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Oklahoma Posts: 431	Removing trailing arm u bolts I have been trying for two days to get the nuts of the ubolts holding the trailing arm to the axle. Been soaking them with PB blaster every night and no luck yet. I have tried a breakover handle and 3 foot cheater, and an impact wrench and am getting nowhere. I would like to be able to get them off without cutting the ubolts if possible, but am about to break out the cutting wheel. Anyone have any other ideas? __________________ My build thread - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=391224

10-19-2010, 04:04 PM	#2
faribran Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: AL Posts: 1,828	Re: Removing trailing arm u bolts the ole' blue tool..... the trusty torch.... has worked for me in may cases... __________________ "

10-19-2010, 04:04 PM	#3
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,700	Re: Removing trailing arm u bolts Cut them and buy new. 40 year old u-bolts holding the rearend under your truck isn't that great of an idea anyway. __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

10-19-2010, 04:27 PM	#4
Jacfourteen Big Red - Now its a SWB! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oroville, Ca Posts: 1,624	Re: Removing trailing arm u bolts They can be real stubborn, I pull a rear at a junk yard the other day. I went to the yard a week ahead and sprayed the u-bolts with penetrating oil and it still took everything I had to break them loose with a 24" breaker bar. If I weren't in a junkyard I would have used a torch or cutoff wheel. __________________ 68 3/4 ton (Project)-350 Small Block, .030 over, 10:1 comp, 3998993 heads, C3BX edelbrock intake, comp cams XE268, Holley 670 SA, long tube headers, dual flow 40's, E-fan, Alum rad, currently under the knife getting shortened and bagged build thread 41 3/4 ton (wife's)-flatbed, fully restored to original 01 Tahoe LT 4WD (my daily driver)-Magnaflow Muffler, Rollin on 22's 02 Ford Mustang Convertable (Wife's Car)-Flowmaster 50, Clear corners, Intake, sittin on 18's

10-19-2010, 04:32 PM	#6
hounddogs! Restoring it $200 at a time... Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NE Kansas Posts: 886	Re: Removing trailing arm u bolts You may want the smoke wrench anyway. Once you get the nuts off you could find that the leg of the u-bolt has rusted into the arm itself. __________________ Charter member of the 'Put the dimmer switch back on the damn floor where it belongs' Society '68 5.3L-4 speed LWB C20; grandpa bought it for the farm in '71. Now LS 5.3, rather than 327. DD '09 Pilot Weekender '65 Skylark 300-4V-4 speed Wife's '07 Lexus ES350; 117 actuator motors and I can't see the engine. Son's '04 F250 SuperCab 6.0

10-19-2010, 04:47 PM	#7
stich626 Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: hingham ma Posts: 1,721	Re: Removing trailing arm u bolts u can get them local at any spring place that services leaf springs.. look up big rig surpliers..

10-19-2010, 04:55 PM	#8
VA72C10 VA72C10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 25,269	Re: Removing trailing arm u bolts as mentioned...cut and get new... with how low you're going have you considered lowering blocks? If so, they come with new proper sized U-bolts __________________ Looking for a 67-72 swb or blazer project in or around VA.

10-19-2010, 05:07 PM	#10
ozman3803 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 125	Re: Removing trailing arm u bolts Just did some googling because i'll be shopping for some to. Dsubin is a website that custom makes them and looks like about 10 bucks a piece. Posted via Mobile Device

10-19-2010, 05:15 PM	#11
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Removing trailing arm u bolts ubolts are available at local autopars stores,spring shops and trailer and boat supply places all with no shipping when buuying locallly. why wood anybody spend shipping money on them is a mystery __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

11-27-2010, 02:05 PM	#13
rvn1038 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ok Posts: 20	Re: Removing trailing arm u bolts Where is the best place to cut the U bolts? I have the U bolt nuts off but the legs are stuck in the trailing arm... How do I get the legs out after cutting? I want to reuse the trailing arm, just need to replace the bushing and U bolts.

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