Trailing Arm Rebuild

[TLeBlanc]

I am planning to begin a rebuild of the rear suspension. I've searched this forum and read some of the posts on the subject and will definitely be going the route of having them re-built or purchase exchange (re-built) units. Anyone have suggestions on a reputable shop that does a good job on this or any you would not recommend based on a bad experience ? Any tips on this process ?

Also, anyone have experience on using the offset trailing arms ?

 

[66427-450]

i've heard good things about Van Steel...mine are down there right now

 

[WayneC]

I'll second Van Steel, they've been doing trailing arms for many years, including mine.

 

[JohnZ]

Also Bair's in Linesville, Pennsylvania - Bair's and Van Steel are both the best in the business.

 

[IH2LOSE]

Well this is the fellow I chose to do my trailing arms.

click on this

I had chose to do buisness with him from recomendations from others and I was waiting to take off my trailing arms and ship them to him,

I was at carlilse this year and seen his booth and stopped in to say hello. As I was walking around on friday I came across an affordable used set needing rebuilding for my car.(practiclly the other side of where the rebuilders booth was located) I exspained to frank I found a used set could he inspect them for me and if he said they would be good I would purchase them and could he bring them back to his shop to rebuild.He said yes and he followed me over to the trailing arms,He inspect the dirty,nasty,arm's and gave me the OK to purchase them.He also carried one of the arms all they way back to his booth.

But anybody who was at carlilse this year on friday knows what type of heat and humidty we had and for this guy to take the time with me to look at them (when he could of sat in the shade staying somewhat cool and doing what he came for to sell his product) and then to also carry one of them all the way back to his booth in the BRUTAL august heat of the day.I definatley know this company is owned by a fellow who is concerned with making his customers happy.

May seem small and trivial to some what I have exspained above,but to me it showed I had chose an excellent company to do my work,I look forward to getting my rebuilt arms from him.

Also for the folks who know me I have a problem with my legs and it would have taken me the entire rest of the afternoon to get the arms over to his booth or worst yet back to my car in the parking lot.

 

[TLeBlanc]

IH2LOSE,

I totally agree with your rationale..... service like that says a lot...

I checked their website and the prices are very reasonable.

When do you expect to get them back ? Can you post a reply letting me know how they came out ?

 

[sac001]

I had Frank do my Trailing arms, half shafts, calipers and Differential about 2 years ago. The turn time was as advertised, he called me to giv me an update, and the reinstall was painless.

All in all I think they did a great job, and delivered exactly as promised. I'd use them again without question.

Steve

 

[IH2LOSE]

tleblanc

I will keep you posted 66427-450 is also as we type doing a rear suspention rebuild as well as me if you have any other questions or concerns ask them here.

My free unsolicited advice is BE CAREFULL the spring is dangerous to remove and under alot of pressure,DO NOT just unscrew the castle nuts on the bottom think the spring will relax by it self it WONT it with snap down like a rocket taking off your fingers or crushing them.(remember 3 secounds of stupidity can and will effect your life forever I know this as a fact)

The service manual gives a good detailed description on how to do this safely.Also if you remove the rear spring to detail it (I do recomend doing that kits are available) use caution reinstalling the spring I have heard plenty of folks (and seen picture)who snapped the third member cover by reinstalling the spring incorrectly.

Also if you are going to detail the rear end I suggest and steel or natrual parts to spray them with clear to protect them (may not pass NCRS judging ) but nothing is worse then having all the freshley restored parts start to rust away 3 month after your done.

GOOD LUCK AND BE SAFE

 

[TLeBlanc]

Thanks for the tips IH2LOSE. Being the Safety Manager for my company, it would not look good coming in to work with broken fingers

I changed the spring bolts and bushings last weekend, using jack stands and floor jack the job took about 30 minutes for both sides. It was while doing this job that I noticed something had been rubbing the washer on the spring (rubber) bushing. Appears to be wheel bearing related. Thats why I've decided to do a complete rebuild... C Ya

 

[TLeBlanc]

Well, I finally got around to starting the rear suspension rebuild. Much to my surprise, once I got the half shafts off, it took about an hour and a half to get both Trailing Arms removed !!

After reading some of the posts, I was all prepared for the worst. I borrowed a reciprocating saw, made a gallon of margaritas (for the pain afterwards), and wouldn't you know it, they came out without any problems whatsoever !

If any of you that replied to this post (that had their TAs in for rebuild) can let me know how they came out..... I have narrowed it down to VB&P, Bairs and Precision Engineering.

I plan to pull the Differential and replace the bushings, and also the transmission to check a leak on it too.

Will keep you posted on progress

 

[paintdaddy]

Have you sent your ta in for rebuild yet?Im getting ready to send some in for a 63 but Im noticing that some companies only do 65-82.I also found this place ,I think this is who Im going to use.http://www.bakautomotive.com/t_arm_rebuild_63to65_drum.htm Let me know what you decided.

 

[TLeBlanc]

Paintdaddy,

I sent mine off to Precision Engineering. IH2LOSE used them to rebuild a set for him, and highly recommended them. If you go up to his first post there is a link.

They should be arriving today, and Ken told me it would take 3 business days to get them rebuilt. So far they have been great to work with. Their prices are just a bit higher than those of the vendor you posted the link to..... $245 per side.

I'll post an update as things progress with the rebuild of mine.

 

[BLACK MOON]

What is the difference between the 63 and 65s?

 

[TLeBlanc]

Certainly one is Drum vs Disc brakes. I do know that the emergency brake cable bracket for my 64 is on the frame vs being on the Trailing Arm on a disc brake car.

Maybe some others can chime in to confirm or clarify this.

 

[paintdaddy]

Thanks,if you can post some pics.I like to see details.I want to know if everything is painted correct colors or just black.I dont mind spending extra money if I know its done right .Three days is a good turn time.If it was going to be a long turn time I was thinking of using the exchange route on the link I posted.

 

[paintdaddy]

Thanks,if you can post some pics.I like to see details.I want to know if everything is painted correct colors or just black.I dont mind spending extra money if I know its done right .Three days is a good turn time.If it was going to be a long turn time I was thinking of using the exchange route on the link I posted.

 

[TLeBlanc]

Paintdaddy

Just spoke with Ken at Precision Engineering. They began working on my Trailing Arms yesterday and he informed me they were going to be shipped on Monday. I'll post some pics once I get them back.

 

[TLeBlanc]

Paintdaddy,

Trailing arms made it back yesterday. I shipped them on New Year's Eve. Did not use rush shipping as I will not be ready to install them for a while. I highly recommend Precision Engineering based on my experience with them, and the cost is hard to beat. Here is a link to their website:

http://www.fixvetteparts.com/

I will take some pics and upload them on Monday.

IH2LOSE, thanks a bunch for the recommendation !!

 

[paintdaddy]

Thanks for the info,Ill keep this in mind.