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01-13-2026, 07:34 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2025
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posts: 1
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Trailing arms
My truck came with leaf springs and I want to convert to trailing arms so I can drop on springs and later in the future, bags. I've read that i can use my existing rear crossmember, add the brackets, track bar, and shock mount crossmember.
Does this sound right? Anyone got a source for old trailing arm takeoffs? |
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01-14-2026, 02:18 AM
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Elkhart, Texas
Posts: 2,108
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Re: Trailing arms
Remove the existing spring pads on the rear-end housing.. New ones go on at angle. Don't forget to set pinion angle before welding.
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01-14-2026, 01:32 PM
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#3 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 22,571
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Re: Trailing arms
Quote:
As far as used/take-off rear truck arms..... sites like this work well sourcing used parts, but you'll need to be a 'subscribing/supporting member' to place an ad for what you're trying to find.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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01-14-2026, 01:52 PM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2024
Location: Readington, NJ
Posts: 88
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Re: Trailing arms
I have one old trailing arm in perfectly good condition that I have not gotten around to selling.... but I'm in NJ.
__________________
1972 Chevy C-20, LWB, Fleet, 350, SM465 4-spd, dark olive green, stock, restored. 
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01-14-2026, 08:40 PM
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#5 |
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Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 16,395
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Re: Trailing arms
Classic parts has the axle seats that are cut at the right angles to use with trailing arms.
https://classicparts.com/chevy-gmc/t...ear-axle-seats The good thing with them is that they will stick them in the smallest priority mail box they will fit in or will send you a bunch of small pieces in a priority mail box and that might help you quite a bit with shipping. They do have tubular trailing arms but they aren't inexpensive. https://classicparts.com/chevy-gmc/t...lar-black-pair Plus a number of different height rear coil springs. Then you still need the U bolts, hardware to connect the trailing arms to the crossmember and a rear sway bar. Personally, I would just flip the axle on top of the spring and forget the bags.
__________________
Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
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01-15-2026, 04:43 PM
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#6 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DALLAS,TX
Posts: 22,571
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Re: Trailing arms
I would not use a Truck Arm that's a solid tube construction (round or square) with fixed ends.
The originals were I-beam construction (allows for some flex/twist) w/rubber bushings @ the front end (also allows for some flex). Remove that 'flexibility' & you now have bind. Tubular arms should have a flexible joint @ the leading end to allow for some non-binding rotation.
__________________
67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol. |
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