Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

joey8383 · 07-15-2014, 04:16 PM

After picking my frame up from the sand blaster, I noticed this bracket bent (see pic). I suspect his forklift hit it. So my question-- Should I heat it and straighten it or cut the rivets off of both of them and use bolts to bolt both of them back on to have them matching? If so, what size bolt do you think will hold up in this spot??

**Grumpy old man** · 07-15-2014, 04:27 PM

Heat and bend not a critical bracket , save your money and continue on . just make sure it's close and your panhard bar will do the rest !

67swb72klb · 07-15-2014, 05:23 PM

I would try a BIG crescent wrench first with out heat and see how it goes

joey8383 · 07-15-2014, 05:24 PM

OK. I have a parts truck that I can go rob one off of so it would just be a couple hours of labor to break down the suspension on parts truck.

litew8 · 07-15-2014, 07:29 PM

x3 for bending it back.

**71swb4x4** · 07-15-2014, 07:50 PM

I would put masking tape on it, and then use a big crescent wrench like 67 above mentioned. You can probably get it bent back and save the paint.

**Classic Heartbeat** · 07-15-2014, 08:05 PM

Big crescent wrench will do the trick. However I do not think you will save the paint.. Too much bend... WES

joey8383 · 07-15-2014, 08:09 PM

I will try to just bend it back. Thanks guys. I just painted it because it was trying to rust over night. I can touch it up when I paint the rear end and other small parts.

litew8 · 07-15-2014, 08:15 PM

Try putting a rag over it and bend. There might be a chance the paint stays. A crescent wrench might fit, or a large pair of vice grips. If it doesn't turn out like you'd like, you've always got the spare from the other truck.

hamjet · 07-16-2014, 06:47 AM

boy, if you look at the top of the frame where the bracket is riveted, it seems to be bent also, is that a factory bend? That would really tick me off... But I would also straighten it..

**CUSTOM/10** · 07-16-2014, 06:56 AM

hamjet

I believe what your seeing on the frame is factory, the bend is in the wrong direction for it to have happened when the bracket got bent !

Gary

**71swb4x4** · 07-16-2014, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamjet

boy, if you look at the top of the frame where the bracket is riveted, it seems to be bent also, is that a factory bend? That would really tick me off... But I would also straighten it..

That's the crossmember, not the frame.

07-15-2014, 04:16 PM	#1
joey8383 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Okmulgee, OK Posts: 205	Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) After picking my frame up from the sand blaster, I noticed this bracket bent (see pic). I suspect his forklift hit it. So my question-- Should I heat it and straighten it or cut the rivets off of both of them and use bolts to bolt both of them back on to have them matching? If so, what size bolt do you think will hold up in this spot??

07-15-2014, 04:27 PM	#2
Grumpy old man Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gods country East,Tn Posts: 8,545	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) Heat and bend not a critical bracket , save your money and continue on . just make sure it's close and your panhard bar will do the rest !

07-15-2014, 05:23 PM	#3
67swb72klb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: livingston co.mi Posts: 2,478	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) I would try a BIG crescent wrench first with out heat and see how it goes __________________ California 65 GTO---Texas 64 burb 283 ---Oklahoma 67 CST SWB BBW wood bed 327 2004r---New Mexico 72 k10 350 350 auto---Georga 72 short step project

07-15-2014, 05:24 PM	#4
joey8383 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Okmulgee, OK Posts: 205	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) OK. I have a parts truck that I can go rob one off of so it would just be a couple hours of labor to break down the suspension on parts truck.

07-15-2014, 07:29 PM	#5
litew8 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 3,016	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) x3 for bending it back. __________________ project: "my happy mess"

07-15-2014, 07:50 PM	#6
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,499	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) I would put masking tape on it, and then use a big crescent wrench like 67 above mentioned. You can probably get it bent back and save the paint. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

07-15-2014, 08:05 PM	#7
Classic Heartbeat Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!! Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512 Posts: 10,766	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) Big crescent wrench will do the trick. However I do not think you will save the paint.. Too much bend... WES __________________ On-line catolog Classic Heartbeat Pickup Parts WEHEPP@comcast.net Call us Toll Free (888) 338-2502 Like Us on Facebook No appointment necessary. 72 BB Chevy Custom Deluxe / Custom Camper 67 I-6 (Soon to be 5.7 LS1) Panel 68 BB Chevy Short Bed 72 6.0 LQ9 Short Bed Chevy 4X4 Olympia's fastest growing truck parts supplier. Olympia's home for Wayward Chevys

07-15-2014, 08:09 PM	#8
joey8383 Registered User Join Date: May 2012 Location: Okmulgee, OK Posts: 205	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) I will try to just bend it back. Thanks guys. I just painted it because it was trying to rust over night. I can touch it up when I paint the rear end and other small parts.

07-15-2014, 08:15 PM	#9
litew8 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 3,016	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) Try putting a rag over it and bend. There might be a chance the paint stays. A crescent wrench might fit, or a large pair of vice grips. If it doesn't turn out like you'd like, you've always got the spare from the other truck. __________________ project: "my happy mess"

07-16-2014, 06:47 AM	#10
hamjet Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: South Westerlo, New York Posts: 1,325	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) boy, if you look at the top of the frame where the bracket is riveted, it seems to be bent also, is that a factory bend? That would really tick me off... But I would also straighten it.. __________________ Thanks, Joe.. 1969 C/10, 348 C.I., 3X2 bbl. V8, 2004r , LWB.

07-16-2014, 06:56 AM	#11
CUSTOM/10 Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sandown, NH Posts: 2,871	Re: Should I replace this or heat it and straighten? (Trailing arm bracket) hamjet I believe what your seeing on the frame is factory, the bend is in the wrong direction for it to have happened when the bracket got bent ! Gary __________________ Gary 72 SWB 4x4 My 72 SWB Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=259859

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