rear t- arms
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette IN
i couldn't exactly tell ya, but i just did this last weekend. i was able to fit in three shims easily, but had to pound the 4th in with a hammer. a few solid whacks and it was in. just make sure you have an equal amount on both sides of the arm.
got it on the road and found a brake caliper was leaking (forgot the o-ring). gonna re-bleed the brakes, re-torque some bolts and she'll be good to go.
got it on the road and found a brake caliper was leaking (forgot the o-ring). gonna re-bleed the brakes, re-torque some bolts and she'll be good to go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,116
Likes: 156
From: Mid West
Cruise-In III Veteran
You want some compression on the bushing. A Chevy dealer (won't mention their name) didn't install all of the shims that came in the kit when I had my car aligned several years ago, and the shims were only a slip fit. Ever time I got on the gas hard, the rear end steered the car around as the trailing arms moved 
. I drove my car for about a year this way before I decided to align it myself and fix the steering issue, and found out that the front trailing arm pivot was not tight in the frame. Nothing like having your toe-in change while driving.
. I drove my car for about a year this way before I decided to align it myself and fix the steering issue, and found out that the front trailing arm pivot was not tight in the frame. Nothing like having your toe-in change while driving.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: PA
I did buy the tool and from what Gary and I have discussed the bushings should be compressed right, just seems like a big pain trying to get the shims in, I bought new ones and used the same thickness on either side that was already there.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
When replacing the t-arm bushings, don't expect the same size/number of shims to fit. Each bushing sets up a little different. Just get close enough to get it to an alignment shop. Have them just snug with the thru-bolt loose. 
