rusted swing arms - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Long Knight · 04-14-2004, 02:35 PM

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

*67Fleetsidedream* · 04-14-2004, 03:19 PM

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

**COBALT** · 04-14-2004, 03:22 PM

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.

Long Knight · 04-14-2004, 03:23 PM

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

**Classic Heartbeat** · 04-14-2004, 04:35 PM

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

**too much stuff** · 04-14-2004, 09:35 PM

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

Chevyguy111786 · 04-14-2004, 11:50 PM

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

Hooter · 04-15-2004, 01:11 AM

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

Long Knight · 04-15-2004, 03:02 PM

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?

**COBALT** · 04-15-2004, 04:35 PM

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.

**Joesjunk** · 04-15-2004, 05:06 PM

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

Chevyguy111786 · 04-15-2004, 06:01 PM

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.

Warbones · 04-15-2004, 08:35 PM

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

Chevyguy111786 · 04-15-2004, 09:01 PM

i understand, was just letting you know.

Long Knight · 04-16-2004, 05:14 PM

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?

Chevyguy111786 · 04-16-2004, 08:12 PM

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

04-14-2004, 02:35 PM	#1
Long Knight Spank 'em if you got 'em! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kansas City Posts: 628	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 __________________ Long Knight '71 C-20, 350ci, TH350, Edl. 1406 Carb w/elec.choke, Ignitor ignition, Viper Tires, Orange Dipstick

04-14-2004, 03:22 PM	#3
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	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. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

04-14-2004, 03:23 PM	#4
Long Knight Spank 'em if you got 'em! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kansas City Posts: 628	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 __________________ Long Knight '71 C-20, 350ci, TH350, Edl. 1406 Carb w/elec.choke, Ignitor ignition, Viper Tires, Orange Dipstick

04-14-2004, 04:35 PM	#5
Classic Heartbeat Project Junkie! Fishing Poor!! Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Olympia,Wa. 98512 Posts: 10,766	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 __________________ 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

04-14-2004, 09:35 PM	#6
too much stuff Roadtrip! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Rapids MN Posts: 13,769	As far as i know, long box and short box use the same trailing arms. __________________ 67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto

04-14-2004, 03:19 PM	#2
67Fleetsidedream Wiseass secured himself a BAN Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: MOON!!! Posts: 2,282	Yes it is a problem and yes you should start looking for some more.

04-14-2004, 11:50 PM	#7
Chevyguy111786 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Garland, Texas Posts: 1,127	i got a pair that are in perfect condition. $130 Shipped to your doorstep.

04-15-2004, 01:11 AM	#8
Hooter My other Love Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Castlegar B.C. Canada Posts: 4,085	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 __________________ Castlegar B.C.The great white North (Canada Eh!) Hooter_5@hotmail.com First generation Monte Carlo club pictures of my life

04-15-2004, 03:02 PM	#9
Long Knight Spank 'em if you got 'em! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kansas City Posts: 628	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? __________________ Long Knight '71 C-20, 350ci, TH350, Edl. 1406 Carb w/elec.choke, Ignitor ignition, Viper Tires, Orange Dipstick

04-15-2004, 04:35 PM	#10
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	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. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

04-15-2004, 05:06 PM	#11
Joesjunk Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Independence MO. Posts: 7,702	I have a good set already of a truck, $75.00. I am in Independence. __________________ 72 3/4t Custom Deluxe 402/auto 66k Original paint 71 3/4t 4x4 Custom Deluxe 10k original miles Original paint 71 3/4t Cheyenne 402 70k original paint 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 91k original paint 72 Cheyenne/30 Dually 69 Camaro SS396 4-speed 13 GMC 2500HD Duramax I bought new 05 Jeep Wrangler "Willys Edition" 12k miles (I bought new) 85 3/4 ton 4x4 Scottsdale 33k miles original paint 86 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 454 restored 80 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 9,434 original miles!! original paint 95 GMC 1 ton dually 4x4 my dad bought new 95 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4, regular cab 454, 31k original miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 6.0L 67k miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 8.1L 28k miles 2003 GMC 2500HD 4x4 regular cab Diesel 93k miles 67-72 Parts for sale

04-15-2004, 06:01 PM	#12
Chevyguy111786 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Garland, Texas Posts: 1,127	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.

04-15-2004, 08:35 PM	#13
Warbones Navel Inspector Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wichita, Ks Posts: 1,373	I am making notes of all this stuff I need to check on my truck. LOL __________________ 1948 Chevy Aerosedan GONE! I think. 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham Coupe WANTED 1967 IMPALA 1967 CST C10 Long Bed with a 283

04-15-2004, 09:01 PM	#14
Chevyguy111786 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Garland, Texas Posts: 1,127	i understand, was just letting you know.

04-16-2004, 05:14 PM	#15
Long Knight Spank 'em if you got 'em! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kansas City Posts: 628	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? __________________ Long Knight '71 C-20, 350ci, TH350, Edl. 1406 Carb w/elec.choke, Ignitor ignition, Viper Tires, Orange Dipstick



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04-16-2004, 08:12 PM	#16
Chevyguy111786 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Garland, Texas Posts: 1,127	you shouldn't have to drop the driveshaft. it's basically just two i beams with bolts on each size.

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