When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So, I had new bushings pressed into my trailing arms. When I removed the trailing arms, I marked the shims and had intended to put them back exactly as I pulled them out. The problem is that the new bushings have new rubber that is thicker than the old worn down ones. As such, the old shims don’t fit in the new, smaller space. What am I missing here? Any advice is appreciated.
Adrian - I've done a few sets of TA bushings and the latest was about a year ago when I did the arms on my 65 L78 Roadster. I measured the old/compressed/deteriorated bushings that were in the arms and tried to snug down the new bushings at least
close to the dimensions of the old bushings. Looking at the pics you posted, and knowing that pics don't always tell the whole story, it does kinda seem like your new bushings were not fully compressed before they peened the inner tube.
I'm posting a pic of my new bushings while still in the press device and of course, that would expand a bit when I removed the press but I had them squeezed quite a bit before I peened over the retention tube.
I'm wondering if they stopped a bit too early on the compression part of the cycle before securing the inner retention tube.
The second pic shows the bushings with the press removed but I haven't yet ground down the extra 'flare' that extends beyond the chamfered washer.
Measure the difference in the inner and outer shim stack and maintain the difference. The original thickness is not what is important. The difference in thickness is what is important. At any rate you will probably want to have it realigned at some point.
When you change the TA bushings you need to do two things. One, ensure the bushings are completely and properly installed and two, have the car aligned.
I have learned so much from these comments. Thank you!
I took the trailing arms back to my machinist/bushing pressing guy. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the tooling to compress the bushings while also flaring the inner sleeve.
I certainly do not have the right tools for this. Is anyone aware of a classic corvette specialty service shop in Northern Utah that can help me get these trailing arms over the finish line?
You need a new "Bushing Pressing Guy" with a little imagination! It's not rocket surgery.....
It’s always been my thought process that if the guy doesn’t want to do a job, I’d rather he not do it. He’ll either over charge or do it wrong or some combination of the both.
IMO getting the same number of shims into the same positions after replacing the bushings is a moot point. It's not like you intended to just drive the car afterward without getting it aligned were you? (20 years in the alignment business where I specialized in C2 & C3 rear ends)
IMO getting the same number of shims into the same positions after replacing the bushings is a moot point. It's not like you intended to just drive the car afterward without getting it aligned were you? (20 years in the alignment business where I specialized in C2 & C3 rear ends)
you’re right. I wasn’t planning to drive it without doing an alignment. I was just hoping to get it close to start out.
Back before I got rid of shims, I would bevel the ends and drive them in not at the bushing side with a hammer, tapping them in. Yes first you need to ensure bushings are fully seated. You should be able to get it close enough b to drive to the alignment shop, unless you have to travel far. I think it is best to find a Corvette guy for these, as some shops look at these old shims, and scratch there head.
Ok forum friends. I have my trailing arm bushings compressed. The only thing left to do is flare the inner sleeve to keep everything as is. This issue is, I don’t have a press, nor if I did, I wouldn’t know how to flare the sleeve. I have reached out to several machine shops including a classic Corvette auto shop and no one will touch these. Is there a way to do this with minimal tool investment and minimal threats to personal safety? (One shop claimed that a flaring punch would be a middle if placed in a press)
Here are some pictures of the arms’ current state:
Trailing arm shims
