Trailing arm fun.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

68haywagon · 03-11-2005, 08:12 PM

Well between yesterday and today I got my new trailing arms in that I bought from Mothertruckers (Ed). Every bolt on the right side snapped

despite sitting in many coats of PBblaster over the last few days. One of the local private parts stores had the bolts for the spring mounts and the connection to the crossmember. The U-bolts were a different story. After calling and visiting a whole lot of parts stores, I finally got a recommendation from a local Chevy dealer to call Mercer Springs in Trenton, NJ. They were great, I took them an old u-bolt and they made me 2 new ones in about 5 minutes.

The one arm was worse then I thought, my finger could push right through the middle of it without to much force, unfortunately my digi cam batteries were dead and a neighbor took the arm to the scrap yard for me before I could get pics.

Now that it is all done I am very happy and the truck seems to ride a little better

. Ill try to get some pics tomorrow of the new stuff.

Mike

Longhorn Man · 03-11-2005, 08:53 PM

Some ppl think those arms won't let go...there is a 68 the next town west of here (on st rt 40) that has a trailing arm broken and driven into the dirt. it hasn't moved in years, and the owner swears up and down of an upcoming restoration...the same line he gave me whan I was in HIGH SCHOOL and was asking about it.

da-burb · 03-11-2005, 09:30 PM

My old winter beater truck got so bad that the tail end of the truck would change lanes upon acceleration. It was the test version of what became quadra-steering.

CE20934 · 03-11-2005, 11:59 PM

About three years ago, I noticed my truck was leaning a bit more to the left than usual. I figured it was a dip in the parking lot.

Riiiiiight. The very first thing I see when I look under my truck is daylight streaming through the left trailing arm, right ahead of the spring. I sandwiched the injured portion between two pieces of 2" x 1/2" tubing, bolted them together, and waited the week or so for my new ones to arrive. Put almost 400 miles on that patch before they arrived.

68haywagon · 03-14-2005, 06:05 PM

Got some pictures of them installed. New u-bolts, bottom spring retainer bolts, and the cross member bolts.

Mike

LUV2XCLR8 · 03-14-2005, 06:23 PM

MOTHERTRUCKERS · 03-14-2005, 06:32 PM

I should of asked if you needed U bolts i could of shipped them with the arms.

Longhorn Man · 03-14-2005, 08:57 PM

dems perdy

03-11-2005, 08:12 PM	#1
68haywagon I'm watching you! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 1,822	Trailing arm fun.... Well between yesterday and today I got my new trailing arms in that I bought from Mothertruckers (Ed). Every bolt on the right side snapped despite sitting in many coats of PBblaster over the last few days. One of the local private parts stores had the bolts for the spring mounts and the connection to the crossmember. The U-bolts were a different story. After calling and visiting a whole lot of parts stores, I finally got a recommendation from a local Chevy dealer to call Mercer Springs in Trenton, NJ. They were great, I took them an old u-bolt and they made me 2 new ones in about 5 minutes. The one arm was worse then I thought, my finger could push right through the middle of it without to much force, unfortunately my digi cam batteries were dead and a neighbor took the arm to the scrap yard for me before I could get pics. Now that it is all done I am very happy and the truck seems to ride a little better . Ill try to get some pics tomorrow of the new stuff. Mike

03-11-2005, 09:30 PM	#3
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	My old winter beater truck got so bad that the tail end of the truck would change lanes upon acceleration. It was the test version of what became quadra-steering. __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

03-11-2005, 11:59 PM	#4
CE20934 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Help! I'm in an office park with its own network of freeways! Posts: 470	About three years ago, I noticed my truck was leaning a bit more to the left than usual. I figured it was a dip in the parking lot. Riiiiiight. The very first thing I see when I look under my truck is daylight streaming through the left trailing arm, right ahead of the spring. I sandwiched the injured portion between two pieces of 2" x 1/2" tubing, bolted them together, and waited the week or so for my new ones to arrive. Put almost 400 miles on that patch before they arrived. __________________ '67 C20--427 tall deck/SM420, 4.10 HO52 (Michigan has not been kind to the Old Man) '95 Caprice--355 LT1/T56/3.42 8.5" 10-bolt (daily driver, almost 300k on the chassis) '07 Outback--wife's car. 125k & counting. No head gasket or transmission issues yet. fingers crossed

03-14-2005, 06:05 PM	#5
68haywagon I'm watching you! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 1,822	Got some pictures of them installed. New u-bolts, bottom spring retainer bolts, and the cross member bolts. Mike Attached Images

03-14-2005, 06:23 PM	#6
LUV2XCLR8 The LuvShack Garage Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side) Posts: 30,482	__________________ Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T

03-11-2005, 08:53 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Some ppl think those arms won't let go...there is a 68 the next town west of here (on st rt 40) that has a trailing arm broken and driven into the dirt. it hasn't moved in years, and the owner swears up and down of an upcoming restoration...the same line he gave me whan I was in HIGH SCHOOL and was asking about it.

03-14-2005, 06:32 PM	#7
MOTHERTRUCKERS Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: BRADENTON FLA Posts: 3,269	I should of asked if you needed U bolts i could of shipped them with the arms. __________________ Rest in Peace Ed. Thanks for all the good times.

03-14-2005, 08:57 PM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	dems perdy



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