rebuilding trailing arms
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Of course you can. You need to rent a set of tools and get a spindle overhaul kit at .... Under articles and tips it has the spindle rebuild step by step guide and if you want to return the tools afterwards you can.
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________________________________________ ________________________________________ ___________
Supporting vendors pay for the considerable bandwidth charges on the Forum, making it free for the rest of us. In exchange, they get the privilege of using the Forum to market and promote their goods and services.
Forum members are welcome to sell a Corvette or Corvette parts they purchased for their own personal use. Anything else is considered to be a commercial sale.
No links or reference to eBay sales, please. If the sale is appropriate for the Forum, post it on the Forum, rather than linking to it elsewhere.
Members are not prohibited from mentioning it when they have a good (or bad, for that matter) experience with a non-supporting vendor. But such mentions cannot be so specific (address, phone number, e-mail address, URL, price, part number, etc.) and so frequent that they become marketing and promotional references.
Last edited by IrishMac; Jul 24, 2007 at 07:16 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Proper bearing set-up and minimizing brake disk run-out is critical to a satisfactory result. After fighting to get the trailing arms out of my 1980, I was more than happy to let someone else work on them for a while. LOL
BTW Van Steel did a great job on the TA and they were also very patient with all my questions. The Van Steel Suspension Video was also very helpful to me.
Given the cost of the tools, and the fact that I would not be using them very often, I decided it was better to let a pro do the work. I think, with the proper tools and enough trial and error, I could produce an acceptable result - it just wouldn't be cost effective for me.
I am sure there are others on the Forum that did their own TA rebuilds (and without special tools) - they will comment.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 337
Likes: 10
Regardless of the price and availability of the proper tools (and the knowledge to use them), One must be a very qualified mechanic or machinist to tackle this job with long lasting results. I would also highly recommend Van Steel.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
These tools are very simple and with a step by step guide and someone to call anyone can build a trailing arm. Dont let these people tell you it cant be done because my customers do it all the time and I will help you if you have any questions at all.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 402
Likes: 4
From: Nassau
I doubt Van Steel would outright say you cant rebuild yours at home. I rebuilt mine ok and the tools arent too expensive. Its pretty easy just time consuming and I dont know if Id have been able to get my spindles out without a press. I used Toms 30 spline spindles and didnt think ahead to the fact that they are way thicker than stock so regular shims wouldnt fit 
I posted here and someone gave me a link to mc master where I found the size I needed. To be honest if I lived in the US Id have had Van Steel do mine. Its cheaper and they have a great reputation for top notch work. Since I live in a 3rd world backwards pit I have to do everything myself. I got a quote today from the only sand blasting place in town for $550 to do my frame. Thats just to blast it nothing else.
I posted here and someone gave me a link to mc master where I found the size I needed. To be honest if I lived in the US Id have had Van Steel do mine. Its cheaper and they have a great reputation for top notch work. Since I live in a 3rd world backwards pit I have to do everything myself. I got a quote today from the only sand blasting place in town for $550 to do my frame. Thats just to blast it nothing else.
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
It's not that the tools are too complicated or expensive...it's the experience factor. Setting up the rear bearings properly is a chore. I farmed out the bearing setup to GTR1999, then reassembled the arms and pressed the bearings together myself. I hope I got it all right... 
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Unlisted
Special tools: Bull Shot. Search GRT1999 for his post on this.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2002...garms/ta-1.asp
Just make sure you dont FU the threads on the spindles.
Cut half way thru the bearing race with a dremal tool and split with a cold chisle.
Take the bearings to a hardware store and get a piece o pipe to set the bearings.
While your in there replace the E Brake hard ware.
Just follow all the specs.
Plenty on info on doing this at home in this fourm and others.
PM me if you need other sites.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2002...garms/ta-1.asp
Just make sure you dont FU the threads on the spindles.
Cut half way thru the bearing race with a dremal tool and split with a cold chisle.
Take the bearings to a hardware store and get a piece o pipe to set the bearings.
While your in there replace the E Brake hard ware.
Just follow all the specs.
Plenty on info on doing this at home in this fourm and others.
PM me if you need other sites.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
Van Steel told me that it can't be done at home. Has anyone here accomplished this feat? what tools did you use?
I chose to rebuild them myself for several reasons...
Shipping heavy objects back and forth across the border tends to be very expensive and time consuming
I like to learn how to work on all components on my car.
I will own this Vette until the day they bury me in it so it stands to reason the trailing arms will need rebuilding/greasing again before that time
Tight budget and prefer to do things myself.
Enjoy the great sense of accomplishment doing it myself
I purchased the tools and the manuals when I started my frame off and followed the many excellent posts on the subject
Tools: spindle knocker, shock mount removal tool, bearing setup tool, spindle install tool, dial indicator , rented 20 ton press
Intermediate
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Burbank WA
I did my own, but it was an expensive learning experience. If I had known the amount of time and effort involved, I would have begged Gary or a vendor to do them.. I'm not sure I got THAT much satisfaction..
If you have time and patience, you can do them yourself..
If you have time and patience, you can do them yourself..
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 14
From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
All the info you need is on this forum,, just du a serch,,, you do not have to by special tools,,,well maybe one,, the bearing setting tool,, but its not expensive,,,you can farm out the bearing removal/disasembly to some one with a press,,go out and purchase a dial gauge with a magnetic holder and follow the tech papers. Anybody with a good head on his shoulders can accomplish this,, its not rocket science. 
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Show me a cold beer and I will show you a happy man Maryland
I wasnt confident about doing it myself, so van steel did mine and they did an awesome job I did offset arms and and went with all top line parts, they put on the rotors and put the e brake all together. I like the piece of mind that if something goes wrong with how they were rebuilt I can get it fixed without it coming out of my pocket. All that aside, if you have the experience and are on a budget go for it!! I just dont have enough experience rebuilding a very critical part that has very tight tolerences. Good luck, and if you decide to have someone do it for you van steel is the place.
I did offset arms and and went with all top line parts, they put on the rotors and put the e brake all together. I like the piece of mind that if something goes wrong with how they were rebuilt I can get it fixed without it coming out of my pocket. All that aside, if you have the experience and are on a budget go for it!! I just dont have enough experience rebuilding a very critical part that has very tight tolerences. Good luck, and if you decide to have someone do it for you van steel is the place.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,575
Likes: 1
From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
i used an old spindle as the set up tool (ground down so the bearing didn't set) and an orbital sander to grind one of the spacers enough to get the end play into spec. seemed fairly straight forward.
hardest part imo was getting everything set up to press the assy apart.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I did mine myself, only special tool I got was the spindle knocker. I also used Gary's services to make my spacers and shime and it all fit perfectly with the second set of shims Gary had to make for me because I screwd up the measurement. All good now
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 13,015
Likes: 2,260
From: Corsicana, Tx
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
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I've done quite a few of them over the years. It's not that hard...but it does take some time. But hey..that's what garage fun is all about!
The only *real* tool I use for them is a simple dial indicator. A press is handy on the bad ones..but often I don't even need one. If one has fried..sure...but usually they come apart OK.
I don't own a set up tool...but I do have some mics....or you could use a digital/dial caliper to measure spacer and shims.
Sooner or later you will always need a dial indicator and a caliper...so might as well get them . They are cheap.
JIM
The only *real* tool I use for them is a simple dial indicator. A press is handy on the bad ones..but often I don't even need one. If one has fried..sure...but usually they come apart OK.
I don't own a set up tool...but I do have some mics....or you could use a digital/dial caliper to measure spacer and shims.
Sooner or later you will always need a dial indicator and a caliper...so might as well get them . They are cheap.
JIM