Frozen trailing arm bolt
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
I use a die grinder with a long cross cut fissured bit. It'll cut through the shims easily. Pry them out, then use the grinder on both sides of the bolt.
MUCH easier IMHO than a sawzall. I'm a dentist, and am used to working with drills. The die grinder is just a HUGE version of what I use every day.
With a cross cut bit, it will cut through the shims and bolt like a hot knife through butter. It's still a PIA, but you won't be breaking blades and fighting a relatively large tool in the wheelwell. Chuck
MUCH easier IMHO than a sawzall. I'm a dentist, and am used to working with drills. The die grinder is just a HUGE version of what I use every day.
With a cross cut bit, it will cut through the shims and bolt like a hot knife through butter. It's still a PIA, but you won't be breaking blades and fighting a relatively large tool in the wheelwell. Chuck
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,936
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
I use a die grinder with a long cross cut fissured bit. It'll cut through the shims easily. Pry them out, then use the grinder on both sides of the bolt.
MUCH easier IMHO than a sawzall. I'm a dentist, and am used to working with drills. The die grinder is just a HUGE version of what I use every day.
With a cross cut bit, it will cut through the shims and bolt like a hot knife through butter. It's still a PIA, but you won't be breaking blades and fighting a relatively large tool in the wheelwell. Chuck
MUCH easier IMHO than a sawzall. I'm a dentist, and am used to working with drills. The die grinder is just a HUGE version of what I use every day.
With a cross cut bit, it will cut through the shims and bolt like a hot knife through butter. It's still a PIA, but you won't be breaking blades and fighting a relatively large tool in the wheelwell. Chuck
Chuck, is that cross cut bit like a drill bit, with teeth cut into the shaft instead of a spiral?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Yes. In the "dental biz", we call them cross cut fissured burrs. They cut on the end, BUT they're designed to cut on the sides.
I have several. The business ends of the bits are about 1 1/2 inches long. CUT LIKE CRAZY. Wear goggles. Chuck
I have several. The business ends of the bits are about 1 1/2 inches long. CUT LIKE CRAZY. Wear goggles. Chuck
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
I use a die grinder with a long cross cut fissured bit. It'll cut through the shims easily. Pry them out, then use the grinder on both sides of the bolt.
MUCH easier IMHO than a sawzall. I'm a dentist, and am used to working with drills. The die grinder is just a HUGE version of what I use every day.
With a cross cut bit, it will cut through the shims and bolt like a hot knife through butter. It's still a PIA, but you won't be breaking blades and fighting a relatively large tool in the wheelwell. Chuck
MUCH easier IMHO than a sawzall. I'm a dentist, and am used to working with drills. The die grinder is just a HUGE version of what I use every day.
With a cross cut bit, it will cut through the shims and bolt like a hot knife through butter. It's still a PIA, but you won't be breaking blades and fighting a relatively large tool in the wheelwell. Chuck
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by MotorHead
Are you saying he got the nut off and pulled the bolt out and did the job without cutting the bolt ? 
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 3
From: I KNOW JESUS... HE'S MY GARDENER
Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
Yes. In the "dental biz", we call them cross cut fissured burrs. They cut on the end, BUT they're designed to cut on the sides.
I have several. The business ends of the bits are about 1 1/2 inches long. CUT LIKE CRAZY. Wear goggles. Chuck
I have several. The business ends of the bits are about 1 1/2 inches long. CUT LIKE CRAZY. Wear goggles. Chuck
I think that's what my dentist uses, too...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Since I had two new trailing arms, my first step was to use the sawzall to cut the old TAs off as close to the bolt as I could (about 4-6 inches). Then I had plenty of room to sit in the wheel well and spend an afternoon cutting throught the bolts... 
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
I don't get it. I know the 68's had the t-arm shims that you had to pull the bolt to get them in and out but couldn't the shop have used the newer style that only requires the nut to be loosened to insert the shims?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by theandies
I don't get it. I know the 68's had the t-arm shims that you had to pull the bolt to get them in and out but couldn't the shop have used the newer style that only requires the nut to be loosened to insert the shims?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Originally Posted by jdmick
That sounds like a great way to rip things apart where space is limited. I hate saws and torches and regular angle grinders aren't always an option. Where do you get one of these?
The die grinder is one of those. Can't remember a brand, "Allied" maybe? They're cheap tools. After I use them, I put a few drops of Marvel Mystery Oil in 'em and run them a few seconds. Chuck
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
Cali,
Didn't think of that.....that sucks. You did use the slotted shims and had them replace all the old style shims for next time right?
Chuck,
Are you coming to the Lars event this weekend?
Didn't think of that.....that sucks. You did use the slotted shims and had them replace all the old style shims for next time right?
Chuck,
Are you coming to the Lars event this weekend?
Last edited by theandies; May 18, 2005 at 03:01 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Originally Posted by theandies
Chuck,
Are you coming to the Lars event this weekend?
Are you coming to the Lars event this weekend?
On Sunday, have tix for the Baltimore Orioles/Philadelphia Phillies baseball game at Camden Yards. Chuck
