Labor time for Trailer arms?

[mcditalia]

Labor time for Trailing arms?

Does five hours of labor time sound about right for replacing the bushings on the trailing arms for a mid year? Just wondering.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PTighe]

I would say it takes a minimum of 5 hours just to cut the old torque arm bolts out with a sawzall. I rebuilt both of my torque arms assy's and it took me a month of weekends using the proper special tools. FWIW

 

[IH2LOSE]

What are you having the bushing replaced by a shop and he has quoted you 5 hours labor?

If they have not been out in a while then somebodys in for a real project as pj has stated are you going to go to the poly bushings? or stick with rubber?

I have a rebuilt set coming to me and mine should pop right off
( I had them off last fall) dont forget you should also be getting an alighnment afterwords
Good luck

 

[66427-450]

It may be best to send them in, and have someone with the tools/T-arm experience work on them....... I'd recommend you have them completely rebuilt while they're off and be done with it

I sent mine to Van Steel

 

[mcditalia]

Actually, I already had a shop replace the bushings, and they charged 5 hours of labor. Apparently, some of the bushings had FALLEN out since the wrong size bolts were put in the back (which should have been used in the front suspension) and one of the trailing arms had come loose. Which seemed accurate since I heard a loud bangs in the rear occasionaly (like something was hitting the rear of the car) when under load. I stuck with rubber stock bushings since I have this notion that I am going the restoration route. I think the shop has a pretty good reputation, so I don't think they were overcharging, but wanted to get some input with anyone who had any similar experiences. Thanks.

 

[66427-450]

i see....... well, 5 hours is not out-of-line...... it's a simple job, but you need to take a lot apart to get to them. it would take you all of 5 hours to do it yourself, start to finish.

 

[ChuckG]

Five hours is VERY fair. Ask around on this forum. You can spend DAYS removing old T arms. Many have to resort to cutting/torching the old bolts which have rusted solid over 30+ years. Also, you have to remove the rear spring, the camber rods, etc. It's a MAJOR job.

I'd be happy to pay somebody 5 hours of labor to remove/re-install trailing arms. As others have said, when they're out, I'd have the entire assembly's rebuilt....bearings, etc.

Chuck

 

[PTighe]

Five hours is VERY fair. Ask around on this forum. You can spend DAYS removing old T arms. Many have to resort to cutting/torching the old bolts which have rusted solid over 30+ years. Also, you have to remove the rear spring, the camber rods, etc. It's a MAJOR job.

Chuck

Hi Chuck, when I rebuilt my spindle assemblys with new powder coated torque arms, I didn't know what a treat I was in for!!

I bought a 5 ton puller/presser to "pop" out the spindle assy from the old rusted torque arms. The drivers side pressed out ok, but the passenger side, oh man. The 3 hooks on the presser kept pulling out the rolled inside edges of the torque arm and the spindle wasn't budging.

I finally gave up and took the entire assy to the John Deere Dealer, where they put it on their massive hydralic press, which had a pressure gauge. The mechanic kept pumping the handle on the press and when it reached 10K lbs. of pressure on the spindle, the torque arm started to crush inward.

So the guy looks at me and says "what now, the spindle ain't moving". I told him I need that spindle assy out of the torque arm and keep pumping the handle until it came out. So he kept pumping it up until the pressure gauge read 15K lbs, and suddenly there was a loud bang like a rifle shot, the spindle was popped out, but the torque arm was completely crushed.

As you said, this is not a job I would want to do more than once! Patrick