Trailing arms
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
Trailing arms
My 78 decided it favors the right so I brought it in for a 4 wheel alignment. The Tek said that the rear right is at full adjustment and still not right so he believes the trailing arm bushings are worn. It looks like rebuilding the trailing arms is difficult and needs special tools. I will purchase a new or rebuilt set of trailing arms. How big a job is to change them out myself? Are we talking a good Saturday’s work or a good months work?
Race Director
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When they said it was at full adjustment, were they referring to toe adjustment or camber adjustment?
Are you sure TA bushings and not strut rod bushings?
Do you have any indication as to how experienced this shop is with older Corvettes?
Are you sure TA bushings and not strut rod bushings?
Do you have any indication as to how experienced this shop is with older Corvettes?
Last edited by MelWff; Mar 12, 2020 at 09:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
I guess i need to call and get more information. They were going to do a four wheel thrust alignment. When he said bushings I just assumed trailing arms, I didn’t think of rear strut rod bushings.
how can I tell if it’s the trailing arms with a pry bar? Thank you all for your advice.
how can I tell if it’s the trailing arms with a pry bar? Thank you all for your advice.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
My rear end rebuild started with just trying to replace the strut rods. Unless your alignment guy is actually setting rear toe using the shims, he probably means that your strut rod bushings are shot, and your right rear is at the limit of the camber adjustment. At least he didn't just bend the rod to tuck the wheel in. Unless you go with rebuilt stock rods, heim-jointed strut rods are absolutely the way to go here.
To do the trailing arm bushings, unless you are extremely fortunate, you will need to cut the bolts with a carbide Sawz-all blade. Once the arms are out, there's no reason not to do the bearings at the same time. I also used Bair's for a one-stop solution, and they did a great job. When I do this on my 79, I'll likely do the brakes differently (no rivets, no turning, shims and screws instead).
You can read my trailing arm saga here, starting at Post 49.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...0-build-3.html
To do the trailing arm bushings, unless you are extremely fortunate, you will need to cut the bolts with a carbide Sawz-all blade. Once the arms are out, there's no reason not to do the bearings at the same time. I also used Bair's for a one-stop solution, and they did a great job. When I do this on my 79, I'll likely do the brakes differently (no rivets, no turning, shims and screws instead).
You can read my trailing arm saga here, starting at Post 49.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...0-build-3.html
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
The shop I took it to is a small privately owned shop. I don’t know how much Corvette experience they have but the teck seemed knowledgeable on this type of work. They quoted me $80.00 for the 4 wheel thrust alignment. I don’t know how long he worked in it but it is noticeably better than before I brought it in. When I went to pick it up I asked how much I owed them for the work, he said “nothing it still pulls to the right”. I will definitely go back to this shop.
Burning Brakes
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From: lancaster ma
"They quoted me $80.00 for the 4 wheel thrust alignment."
I think this answers the question on how much they know about aligning C3s. This job can take several hours.
Look for a good hot rod shop that works on C3s. I had mine aligned 3 times by decent service shops I trust and still had a pull to one side or the other. Last fall I had suspension work and alignment done at the local hot rod shop and the tracking is now perfect. They work on all makes and vintages, but every time I stop in there is a corvette on the rack. Look for someone who works on these old cars. They will understand what the problems are and how to correct them.
I think this answers the question on how much they know about aligning C3s. This job can take several hours.
Look for a good hot rod shop that works on C3s. I had mine aligned 3 times by decent service shops I trust and still had a pull to one side or the other. Last fall I had suspension work and alignment done at the local hot rod shop and the tracking is now perfect. They work on all makes and vintages, but every time I stop in there is a corvette on the rack. Look for someone who works on these old cars. They will understand what the problems are and how to correct them.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Syracuse NY
The shop I took it to is a small privately owned shop. I don’t know how much Corvette experience they have but the teck seemed knowledgeable on this type of work. They quoted me $80.00 for the 4 wheel thrust alignment. I don’t know how long he worked in it but it is noticeably better than before I brought it in. When I went to pick it up I asked how much I owed them for the work, he said “nothing it still pulls to the right”. I will definitely go back to this shop.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: Indiana
Op..
you have a decent shop in my opinion...especially if he actually put shims in and or knows what a trailing arm bushing is..let alone not charging you..and or telling you he can or cannot fix or know what’s wrong as you still need to get it aligned after assumed bushing repair..
were any shims put in? That task alone seems fairly , potentially intensive.
all that said...
pics of your rear suspension components like strut bushings or other components..and clearly communicating with shop may be in order..
or get second opinion and ask before bringing...
you have a decent shop in my opinion...especially if he actually put shims in and or knows what a trailing arm bushing is..let alone not charging you..and or telling you he can or cannot fix or know what’s wrong as you still need to get it aligned after assumed bushing repair..
were any shims put in? That task alone seems fairly , potentially intensive.
all that said...
pics of your rear suspension components like strut bushings or other components..and clearly communicating with shop may be in order..
or get second opinion and ask before bringing...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
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From: Indiana
hi, im not sure thats your problem yet..strut rods ( my simple understanding) is not your issue if bushings bad..left and right..
pics may help with strut bushings opinion from others more knowledgeable..
your garage seemed to be clear about trailing arm bushings as a potential issue..maybe you smacked a curb or something??
hete is my strut rod learning...my thought is it only controls toe in and out and how the tires wear unless horriblly bad?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...od-advice.html
pics may help with strut bushings opinion from others more knowledgeable..
your garage seemed to be clear about trailing arm bushings as a potential issue..maybe you smacked a curb or something??
hete is my strut rod learning...my thought is it only controls toe in and out and how the tires wear unless horriblly bad?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...od-advice.html
Last edited by interpon; Mar 14, 2020 at 07:11 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Virginia
hi, im not sure thats your problem yet..strut rods ( my simple understanding) is not your issue if bushings bad..left and right..
pics may help with strut bushings opinion from others more knowledgeable..
your garage seemed to be clear about trailing arm bushings as a potential issue..maybe you smacked a curb or something??
hete is my strut rod learning...my thought is it only controls toe in and out and how the tires wear unless horriblly bad?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...od-advice.html
pics may help with strut bushings opinion from others more knowledgeable..
your garage seemed to be clear about trailing arm bushings as a potential issue..maybe you smacked a curb or something??
hete is my strut rod learning...my thought is it only controls toe in and out and how the tires wear unless horriblly bad?
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...od-advice.html
Please post some photos. My reply above was based on prior experience, that the strut rod bushings always need to be replaced, and that is the most likely culprit. If your car is pulling to the right, and they really were adjusting your thrust angle, then they could have adjusted the shims at the trailing arm bushings, and found those lacking as well.
I think my advice still holds, since adjustable strut rods are a wonderful thing, and if you pull out the trailing arms to replace the bushings, you should consider rebuilding the wheel bearings, too. Both failed trailing arm and strut rod bushings will cause spooky handling, but the strut rods are much easier to fix, so hopefully that's what it is.
I gotta say, though, $80- for a 4 wheel alignment on a C3 sounds like 1970 prices.
There are lots of videos online. This one shows the dental floss trick to get the trailing arm bushing bolt back in place, at the 8 minute mark.
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I had a similar problem. Turned out the steering assist valve cylinder needed to be adjusted.
Last edited by The Punisher; Mar 16, 2020 at 02:47 PM.
