Rear Trailing Arms
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 4
From: Regina Saskatchewan
Rear Trailing Arms
Lots of threads about replacing the Rear Trailing Arms.
Whats the car doing that everyones replacing them ? I've got
60 K miles on my '79. Is it a tire wear issue?
Whats the car doing that everyones replacing them ? I've got
60 K miles on my '79. Is it a tire wear issue?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
From: chicago IL
I've got a pretty big misalignment on my rear right tire and can't do anything about it because the shims are rusted into place, not to mention the trailing arm bushing is probably rotted out and shot.
Hoping to get rid of the terrible handling issues too.
80k on my 79
Hoping to get rid of the terrible handling issues too.
80k on my 79
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Most common problems with T/A after 50,000 is:
Handling problems
Breakdown on side of road when bearing seizes
Alignment problems
I'm doing mine because I do not want to get stuck on the side of the road. I sure I could get another 10,000 miles out of them, but I'm going on the hot rod power tour in June and I don't want to watch others drive by as I am sitting on the side of the road with a bad bearing. T/A's are not the easiest repair on the side of the road. Now front wheel bearings are a piece of cake.
The one thing some worry about is wrecking the spindle. If you drive too long on bad bearings you will distroy the spindal, not the end of the world because you can buy new spindals. Just a little more expense.
At 60,000 I would have them checked, they may be fine, but they may need to be rebuilt. Mine had 35 or 40 thousand miles on them. I think they were worn just by having the weight of the car on them for over 20 years. To check them, just raise the tire off the ground and place your hand on the tire at 12 & 6 o'clock. Apply pressure from left hand to right. If you feel the wheel moving top to bottom have them checked. Wheel should not move.
Handling problems
Breakdown on side of road when bearing seizes
Alignment problems
I'm doing mine because I do not want to get stuck on the side of the road. I sure I could get another 10,000 miles out of them, but I'm going on the hot rod power tour in June and I don't want to watch others drive by as I am sitting on the side of the road with a bad bearing. T/A's are not the easiest repair on the side of the road. Now front wheel bearings are a piece of cake.
The one thing some worry about is wrecking the spindle. If you drive too long on bad bearings you will distroy the spindal, not the end of the world because you can buy new spindals. Just a little more expense.
At 60,000 I would have them checked, they may be fine, but they may need to be rebuilt. Mine had 35 or 40 thousand miles on them. I think they were worn just by having the weight of the car on them for over 20 years. To check them, just raise the tire off the ground and place your hand on the tire at 12 & 6 o'clock. Apply pressure from left hand to right. If you feel the wheel moving top to bottom have them checked. Wheel should not move.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 303
From: Lansdale 19446 PA
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '10-'11, '15, '19
I had 69K on my 69 - one trailing arm was rusted thru & the other was bent. The new powder coated arms and stainless steel shims sure look a ton better & safer!
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Brake problems
I bought my 82 and went over it before a long trip to Texas from Colorado. It was a low milage, 50k so I thought it would be good to go.
The brakes got spongy on me on the way down so I changed the master cylinder when I got to my mothers house. No go. Figured I would investigate it more when I got back home in Denver. On the trip back a howling noise started coming from the rear??? WOW??? I did some searching here and found this out.
The brakes will get spongy because there is clearance in the rear bearings causing the pads to be pushed in more as the rotor is kinda wobbling because of the bearings and that clearance is also what was causing the howl from the bearings.
I rebuilt everything in the front and rear suspension and I am now confident that it is a reliable ride. It is my daily driver.
If I ever buy another c3 I will do the same to it unless the owner can show me documentation showing the service.
The brakes got spongy on me on the way down so I changed the master cylinder when I got to my mothers house. No go. Figured I would investigate it more when I got back home in Denver. On the trip back a howling noise started coming from the rear??? WOW??? I did some searching here and found this out.
The brakes will get spongy because there is clearance in the rear bearings causing the pads to be pushed in more as the rotor is kinda wobbling because of the bearings and that clearance is also what was causing the howl from the bearings.
I rebuilt everything in the front and rear suspension and I am now confident that it is a reliable ride. It is my daily driver.
If I ever buy another c3 I will do the same to it unless the owner can show me documentation showing the service.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
I just pulled mine out at around 117,000 miles and had VanSteel rebuild them. I wasn't having any bearing noises or issues with the bearings (yet) but the Trailing arm bushings were shot after 33 years of faithful service.
If the bushings are bad you can get a feeling like the car is shifting to the left, or right, when you step on the gas and straightening itself out when you let off the pedal. If you accelerate and decelerate slowly the shfting or wandering, feeling is not noticeable, or as noticeable.
If the bushings are bad you can get a feeling like the car is shifting to the left, or right, when you step on the gas and straightening itself out when you let off the pedal. If you accelerate and decelerate slowly the shfting or wandering, feeling is not noticeable, or as noticeable.
Last edited by stock76; Dec 11, 2009 at 05:55 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 297
Likes: 3
Rear trailing arms
Maybe you have already figured this out by the other answers, but usually the trailing arm itself is not the problem, it is the trailing arm bushing or the rear wheel bearings that are worn and need replacement. Unless the trailing arm itself is bent or rusted out, it is usually something that normally does not need to be replaced. There are some offset trailing arms available that let you run wider tires and wheels in the rear and they appear to be heavier duty than the stock GM arm. I put these aftermarket offset arms on my 1980 because I wanted to run larger wheels and tires, and also because they are built with thicker metal. But the factory arms I took off the car were in perfect condition and could be used again. Hope this helps answer your question.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
I probably could have pushed a few more miles out of these TA's but felt maybe it was time to make a change.
Seriously, both arms were rusted through. I bought one new TA and one used.
Rebuilt them both for the cost of one compete new assembly.
Seriously, both arms were rusted through. I bought one new TA and one used.
Rebuilt them both for the cost of one compete new assembly.
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Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 4
From: Oakland California
I guess I'll also need to rebuild my trailer arms as the car has been sitting for about 15+ years. They aren't rusted and the car has 71,XXX miles on it, but just to be safe I'm going to rebuild them as well.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Wash.
Where did you find your car, at the bottom of the ocean?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
This was the classic case of a car improperly stored for many years.
The car was outdoors on blocks over gravel with a partial tarp for a dozen years.
It was a low mileage, original big block, 4-speed car well worth the time and effort to restore.
The car was outdoors on blocks over gravel with a partial tarp for a dozen years.
It was a low mileage, original big block, 4-speed car well worth the time and effort to restore.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,221
Likes: 4,311
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Ian,
How are you? Is there a new project underway yet?
I'll bet the last picture wasn't taken today!!!!! Your car does look beautiful in it. NOTHING beats craftsmanship!!!!
Regards,
Alan
How are you? Is there a new project underway yet?
I'll bet the last picture wasn't taken today!!!!! Your car does look beautiful in it. NOTHING beats craftsmanship!!!!
Regards,
Alan
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
No new projects yet. I've been away on business for the last three months and with the holidays approaching, time is very limited.
Hopefully I can get back out to the garage in the new year.
Happy Holidays to you and our CF family
