Trailing arm bushing question.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 82
Likes: 10
From: Ohio
Trailing arm bushing question.
With halfshaft, strut rods, shocks off, should the trailing arm be able to be rocked back and forth (top goes in, bottom goes out) with all the shims in. Or are my bushings bad?
Edit: the bushing stays put. But the trailing arm moves in it.
Edit: the bushing stays put. But the trailing arm moves in it.
Last edited by Mobifire; Jul 3, 2020 at 10:37 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
Not quite sure on your description but if you are saying that you can twist your trailing arms by hand on a vertical axis then your bushings are past gone. Since you have everything disconnected, this would be the time.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 82
Likes: 10
From: Ohio
Last edited by Mobifire; Jul 4, 2020 at 01:34 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,002
Likes: 410
The trailing arm will move in a somewhat spherical motion.
The movement is not strictly up and down the arm twists in the bushings slightly as well, because of the squat of the car there is some radial action.
The movement is not strictly up and down the arm twists in the bushings slightly as well, because of the squat of the car there is some radial action.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,068
Likes: 7,678
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
There should be no, NONE, forward, aft. Movement. However, the arm must have some movement or how could your suspension work?
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 7,941
Likes: 4,301
From: Marlton NJ
Did you torque it down yet?
The front of the T/A should not move at all (1) Vertically, or (2) Sideways (Left/Right) or (3) Front/Rear. Once it is tightened down. And the front T/A bushing should only be torqued down when both the T/A arm and the half-shaft are in their normal level ride-height position. Or the bushing will tear.
However you should be able to (1) lift the rear of the T/A Up/Down; and also (2) rotate the front of the T/A at the bushing like a clock. It should rotate to maybe 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock. Now both this rotation motion and lifting motion should be somewhat stiff, not loose. Because you are actually flexing the rubber in these two cases.
The front of the T/A should not move at all (1) Vertically, or (2) Sideways (Left/Right) or (3) Front/Rear. Once it is tightened down. And the front T/A bushing should only be torqued down when both the T/A arm and the half-shaft are in their normal level ride-height position. Or the bushing will tear.
However you should be able to (1) lift the rear of the T/A Up/Down; and also (2) rotate the front of the T/A at the bushing like a clock. It should rotate to maybe 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock. Now both this rotation motion and lifting motion should be somewhat stiff, not loose. Because you are actually flexing the rubber in these two cases.
