custom trailing arms - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Born Lucky · 03-11-2016, 02:12 PM

I am making my own trailing arms. I have searched the vendors of this products and have from some nice ones but I have the resources so I decided to fab my own.
Would like some input on the design.
trailing arms.pdf

I plan on adding welding it up and adding holes and coil springs mounts.

BR3W CITY · 03-11-2016, 07:47 PM

Hey Lucky, I've actually been planning to make some of my own as well. (I was considering a more tubular design).

Your drawing seems like a straightforward enough idea. Its almost like boxing the stock arms...but leaving the stockers out...if that makes any sense. I didn't see the provision for the bushing end for the trailing arm xmember. Are you going to build in a larger factory style bushing so you can keep the same xmember mounts...or are you going to go with a spherical bushing joint and switch the bracket as well?

I've been wanting to do the xmember and arms, going to a more tubular setup with the spherical ends and adjustable brackets. I think the downside of that is probably cost, and the slightly harsher/noisier life of those rod end joints (squeak squeak).

Longhornss · 03-11-2016, 07:55 PM

make sure you use a spherical joint on the end of that arm.... see robnolimit's recent post on his trailing arm setup. a typical busing in in that arm will yield a harsher rige do to the lack of flex in the arm.

Born Lucky · 03-11-2016, 09:00 PM

YES i am going with Ballistic Joints, adjustable.
I am going 5 lug from 8 lug. I recently sold the Eaton HO52 and it left me with some sad trailing arms. So , I said-- I work at facility that has a fiber optic laser and the operator is my buddy. I am a welder there and have Draftsite program at home. So you can say I have the resources.
I just wanted some cool cut ovals and some other touches on the trailing arms.
So much inspiration out there with Delmo, No Limit, PORTERBUILT and us garage junkies.

Longhornss · 03-11-2016, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born Lucky

YES i am going with Ballistic Joints, adjustable.
I am going 5 lug from 8 lug. I recently sold the Eaton HO52 and it left me with some sad trailing arms. So , I said-- I work at facility that has a fiber optic laser and the operator is my buddy. I am a welder there and have Draftsite program at home. So you can say I have the resources.
I just wanted some cool cut ovals and some other touches on the trailing arms.
So much inspiration out there with Delmo, No Limit, PORTERBUILT and us garage junkies.

Posted via Mobile Device

Longhornss · 03-11-2016, 10:35 PM

I was going to use the ballistic joints when I was working on a 35 chev master project I have. Never finished that project but the joints were quality.
Posted via Mobile Device

racecougar · 03-12-2016, 10:01 PM

I did something similar to the design in your PDF.

Born Lucky · 03-13-2016, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racecougar

I did something similar to the design in your PDF.

How did you fab yours up? What gauge metal? There are nice.

racecougar · 03-13-2016, 10:11 PM

Thanks. I don't recall what gauge steel we used, but the process was documented in my build thread (see sig) starting on page 11.

bsampson · 03-17-2016, 11:11 AM

I was looking at fabricating a set myself after finding this post by nuke1 using 2"x3" rectangular tubing (3/16" thick):
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=387475

Before I bought the steel though, I came across a some good rust free 3/4 ton trailing arms for sale, so I went that direction.

casey g · 03-26-2016, 05:35 PM

Your design looks looks similar to my drop trailing arms I made.

casey g · 03-26-2016, 05:35 PM

One more pic

bmfpeterson · 03-27-2016, 05:38 PM

those "drop" arms are sweet.....I went simple

Born Lucky · 03-29-2016, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casey g

One more pic

Yup... very close indeed.
Nice...Some questions
Metal gauge?
What type of joint(bushing)?
Can you post photos of install?

casey g · 03-29-2016, 11:05 PM

3/16 if I remember correctly.
used ballistic fabrication joints

casey g · 03-29-2016, 11:08 PM

two pics installed. e brake cable mount wasn't on in the first pic.

Born Lucky · 03-30-2016, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casey g

two pics installed. e brake cable mount wasn't on in the first pic.

That is one nice stance! Your fabrication was well done. I like your spring pad mounting area. I am looking into that for my set up ( your idea) but I am thinking to make it able to fit air bags in the future.

Born Lucky · 03-30-2016, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casey g

two pics installed. e brake cable mount wasn't on in the first pic.

Can you school me on your drop arms?
I assume it is for more drop ?

03-11-2016, 02:12 PM	#1
Born Lucky Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: St Charles MO Posts: 481	custom trailing arms I am making my own trailing arms. I have searched the vendors of this products and have from some nice ones but I have the resources so I decided to fab my own. Would like some input on the design. trailing arms.pdf I plan on adding welding it up and adding holes and coil springs mounts. Last edited by Born Lucky; 03-11-2016 at 02:13 PM. Reason: spelling

03-11-2016, 07:47 PM	#2
BR3W CITY meowMEOWmeowMEOW Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MKE WI Posts: 7,128	Re: custom trailing arms Hey Lucky, I've actually been planning to make some of my own as well. (I was considering a more tubular design). Your drawing seems like a straightforward enough idea. Its almost like boxing the stock arms...but leaving the stockers out...if that makes any sense. I didn't see the provision for the bushing end for the trailing arm xmember. Are you going to build in a larger factory style bushing so you can keep the same xmember mounts...or are you going to go with a spherical bushing joint and switch the bracket as well? I've been wanting to do the xmember and arms, going to a more tubular setup with the spherical ends and adjustable brackets. I think the downside of that is probably cost, and the slightly harsher/noisier life of those rod end joints (squeak squeak). __________________ *'66 Short Step / SD Tuned / Big Cam LQ4 / Backhalfed /Built 4l80e / #REBUILDEVERYTHING* MY BUILD THE H8RDCPTR //\\ MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL REV J HD

03-11-2016, 07:55 PM	#3
Longhornss Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Windsor,Ontario Canada Posts: 255	Re: custom trailing arms make sure you use a spherical joint on the end of that arm.... see robnolimit's recent post on his trailing arm setup. a typical busing in in that arm will yield a harsher rige do to the lack of flex in the arm.

03-11-2016, 09:00 PM	#4
Born Lucky Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: St Charles MO Posts: 481	Re: custom trailing arms YES i am going with Ballistic Joints, adjustable. I am going 5 lug from 8 lug. I recently sold the Eaton HO52 and it left me with some sad trailing arms. So , I said-- I work at facility that has a fiber optic laser and the operator is my buddy. I am a welder there and have Draftsite program at home. So you can say I have the resources. I just wanted some cool cut ovals and some other touches on the trailing arms. So much inspiration out there with Delmo, No Limit, PORTERBUILT and us garage junkies.

03-11-2016, 10:35 PM	#6
Longhornss Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Windsor,Ontario Canada Posts: 255	Re: custom trailing arms I was going to use the ballistic joints when I was working on a 35 chev master project I have. Never finished that project but the joints were quality. Posted via Mobile Device

03-12-2016, 10:01 PM	#7
racecougar Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 1,003	Re: custom trailing arms I did something similar to the design in your PDF. __________________ Rod @ AzzKicker Cars 1965 C10 SWB - Build Thread

03-13-2016, 10:11 PM	#9
racecougar Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 1,003	Re: custom trailing arms Thanks. I don't recall what gauge steel we used, but the process was documented in my build thread (see sig) starting on page 11. __________________ Rod @ AzzKicker Cars 1965 C10 SWB - Build Thread

03-17-2016, 11:11 AM	#10
bsampson Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Central IL Posts: 63	Re: custom trailing arms I was looking at fabricating a set myself after finding this post by nuke1 using 2"x3" rectangular tubing (3/16" thick): http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=387475 Before I bought the steel though, I came across a some good rust free 3/4 ton trailing arms for sale, so I went that direction.

03-26-2016, 05:35 PM	#11
casey g Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Coeur d'alene ID Posts: 509	Re: custom trailing arms Your design looks looks similar to my drop trailing arms I made. Attached Images

03-26-2016, 05:35 PM	#12
casey g Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Coeur d'alene ID Posts: 509	Re: custom trailing arms One more pic Attached Images

03-27-2016, 05:38 PM	#13
bmfpeterson Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Queen Creek, AZ Posts: 538	Re: custom trailing arms those "drop" arms are sweet.....I went simple Attached Images

03-29-2016, 11:05 PM	#15
casey g Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Coeur d'alene ID Posts: 509	Re: custom trailing arms 3/16 if I remember correctly. used ballistic fabrication joints

03-29-2016, 11:08 PM	#16
casey g Registered User Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Coeur d'alene ID Posts: 509	Re: custom trailing arms two pics installed. e brake cable mount wasn't on in the first pic. Attached Images



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