I can't get my T-Arm out!

[74bigblock]

I can't get my trailing arm out. The bolt is seized to the bushing, along with all the inner side shims. We were able to get the outter shim out, and cut the bolt between the chasis and the bushing with a sawzall. There isn't enough room to get the sawzall blade in between the inside of the T-arm, and the chasis with all that crap in there. Any ideas? We've been heating it, using an air chisel, a pry bar, and the sawzall... nothin. Spent 5 hours on just that one side today. ad

 

[74bigblock]

please ;help

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Sorry, never did them before.
I guess you could burn the bushings off with the torch, and hammer them to pieces, but it sounds like you have tried that already. How about spraying them with paint stripper that has Methylene Chloride in it, causing the rubber to turn to goo.

 

[WARVET]

74bigblock,

I wish I could tell you something to help. Your doing everything that I would try. I was lucky and mine came right out.

Call Dan at VanSteel and see if he has any suggestions. He is the acknoledged guru on t-arms. His contact info is:
Dan Dorsett
vansteel@vansteel.com
800-418-5397

 

[GTR1999]

You need 9" blades to get at it. You can do it. I have used blades and a torch. If you're not good with a torch use the sawzall so you don't burn up your car.

 

[Bill75]

9" blades will do the trick. I just did mine last winter and went thru a dozen blades on each side I think. You just wear the last 2" out because that's as far as you can get with them. Use the best blades you can find and watch the teeth, when they start to wear out, toss the blade and get another. Cut between the inside of the chassis and the arm like you're doing, even if you cut down thru a shim it's OK. I found that the bolts were hardened and really took some doing to cut thru them. After I got one side of the arm cut thru I was able to push the arm a little sideways and get a tiny bit more room to work. I stated on the outside, then moved to the inside.


Good luck, I feel your pain!

 

[74bigblock]

9" blades will do the trick. I just did mine last winter and went thru a dozen blades on each side I think. You just wear the last 2" out because that's as far as you can get with them. Use the best blades you can find and watch the teeth, when they start to wear out, toss the blade and get another. Cut between the inside of the chassis and the arm like you're doing, even if you cut down thru a shim it's OK. I found that the bolts were hardened and really took some doing to cut thru them. After I got one side of the arm cut thru I was able to push the arm a little sideways and get a tiny bit more room to work. I stated on the outside, then moved to the inside.


Good luck, I feel your pain!

Yep... that was my intention... I couldn't find 9 inch blades... it was 8 or 12. So I am using 8, as 12 doesn't give me enough room for the saw body. The problem is that the bushing journal is seized to the bolt, and I can't get the trailing arm to push to the outside... even tough I cut off the bolt there. I even got an impact chisel in between the bushing cap and the shims, and it wouldn't budge. I'm gonna try it again Tuesday with the chisel and just hammer away until I get enough room for the blade to drop in. As it is now, the blade just bounces off the shims, so it's pointless to try and cut thru them.

 

[bossvette]

the Local Vette specialist uses a torch and burns the bolts out, BUT he has been doing it for 30 years. Unless you are good with a torch I wouldn't recommend it. If you know someone who is good with a cutting torch, the technique is to burn the bolt out not just cut it off.

 

[OldSchool]

Yep... that was my intention... I couldn't find 9 inch blades... it was 8 or 12. So I am using 8, as 12 doesn't give me enough room for the saw body. The problem is that the bushing journal is seized to the bolt, and I can't get the trailing arm to push to the outside... even tough I cut off the bolt there. I even got an impact chisel in between the bushing cap and the shims, and it wouldn't budge. I'm gonna try it again Tuesday with the chisel and just hammer away until I get enough room for the blade to drop in. As it is now, the blade just bounces off the shims, so it's pointless to try and cut thru them.

There is a hardened steel sleeve that the bolt goes thru. That is where the majority of blades wearing and breaking while sawing come from. Soak with penetrant like PB Blaster or Kroil, Try to get the shims out if possible, this will give a little wiggle room.. Try to stay right along the edge of the inside of the TA, you want to cut the bolt only, not he sleeve or the shims, if possible. Buy the best blades you can.
It can be done..Hang in there.. Many beer breaks..

 

[Bill75]

Try to get the shims out if possible, this will give a little wiggle room..

That's a good tip about getting a shim out, I forgot to mention that. I used a cold chisel and was able to pry, chisel, and bang on the shims until one broke loose and I was able to wiggle it out. That really helped make some room for the blade.

 

[74bigblock]

I spent 5 hrs trying just that.... I will get at it again tonight and see if I can make some progress. At least I know I'm not the only one!!!

 

[74bigblock]

1 down, one to go!!! Only took me 7 hrs of work.


Good news is the T-arm box looks real nice... no soft/rust spots. Thanks for the help all.

 

[bossvette]

Now that you know how the second should only take 5 hours

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Hopefully the first one was the hardest one.
Keep thinking of the money you're saving doing it yourself.
You can buy a lot of tape with that kind of dough!

 

[74bigblock]

Hopefully the first one was the hardest one.
Keep thinking of the money you're saving doing it yourself.
You can buy a lot of tape with that kind of dough!

Yeah I know! Prob saving 25 hrs labor... @ going rate of 80$/hr... That's $2000!!! With all the parts, that would be close to 5 grand.

I decided today I am buying NEW trailing arms. I found a place that has new for $700 with rotor and SS hardware. They should be at Bloomington, so I can save on the shipping, and haul them back in the SUV. I should be up and running by the end of the month as long as I can source all the parts quickly!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Sounds like a plan. Good luck and have fun! Is it as hot there as is here? 83 with a nice breeze.

 

[74bigblock]

Sounds like a plan. Good luck and have fun! Is it as hot there as is here? 83 with a nice breeze.

Mid 90's here and humid. This has to be one of the few places on Earth that's like upper Canada in Winter, and Florida in the Summer.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Glad to see you got it out Dave. I saw your trials and tribulations and decided to pay to have mine done.

 

[74bigblock]

Passenger side is out! Time to clean, prep, POR-15, spend lots of money and re-assemble!


At least all the hard stuff is done!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Waiting is the hardest part. I thought you realized that about February 1st. Time is the enemy now. Only 12 weeks of summer left.