How much rust on trailing arms before replacing ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Green Machine · 10-31-2005, 11:19 AM

Pulled the rear end and arms from my 70 C10 as an assembly. Was just going to clean and paint, Passenger side arm looks great, but driver side is spread at the middle. Used large hammer to knock out some of the rust, now there is a dime size hole on each side about 12 inch in front of spring, tops and bottoms look solid, I think its still strong enough to use, but would you replace or just run it for now and consider keeping and eye on it if it gets worse ? Thanks

mplex2000 · 10-31-2005, 11:38 AM

If it were me I'd probably just weld a piece of patch steel over it the same thickness as what the arms are made from.

Fred T · 10-31-2005, 11:48 AM

First, look at how much load the arm carries and what would happen if it were to collapse due to corrosion.

Can you visualize you truck in the scrap yard?

Spread apart the metal and remove all of the rust. Naval Jelly and elbow grease. Then weld in a patch, and squeeze the metal back together, welding the sheets back together. Paint thouroughly with a rust-inhibitive paint.

10-31-2005, 11:19 AM	#1
Green Machine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Estherville, Iowa Posts: 3,371	How much rust on trailing arms before replacing ? Pulled the rear end and arms from my 70 C10 as an assembly. Was just going to clean and paint, Passenger side arm looks great, but driver side is spread at the middle. Used large hammer to knock out some of the rust, now there is a dime size hole on each side about 12 inch in front of spring, tops and bottoms look solid, I think its still strong enough to use, but would you replace or just run it for now and consider keeping and eye on it if it gets worse ? Thanks __________________ 1968 C10 307 3spd Long Fleet ------ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=201103 1970 C10 305 Super T10 Long Fleet --- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=202285 1971 C20 383 TH350 Dana Posi ----- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=206894 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0

10-31-2005, 11:38 AM	#2
mplex2000 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: DFW Posts: 463	Re: How much rust on trailing arms before replacing ? If it were me I'd probably just weld a piece of patch steel over it the same thickness as what the arms are made from.

10-31-2005, 11:48 AM	#3
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Re: How much rust on trailing arms before replacing ? First, look at how much load the arm carries and what would happen if it were to collapse due to corrosion. Can you visualize you truck in the scrap yard? Spread apart the metal and remove all of the rust. Naval Jelly and elbow grease. Then weld in a patch, and squeeze the metal back together, welding the sheets back together. Paint thouroughly with a rust-inhibitive paint. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.



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