Question on trailing arm install
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 12
From: Schaumburg (Chicago) Illinois
Question on trailing arm install
I had my trailing arms rebuilt by Vansteel. I believe I will be installing them in a week or two. But I am not sure how many shims to install to get the alignment close. When I took the arms out the shims either fell apart or were so corroded that they were only halfway there. I saved it all but I cannot be sure how many to put back because I bet some simlpy corroded away.
So are there any instructions on how to proceed or can anyone offer advice.
Another question, which end of the shim goes around the bolt, the slotted or the hole?
So are there any instructions on how to proceed or can anyone offer advice.
Another question, which end of the shim goes around the bolt, the slotted or the hole?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 12
From: Schaumburg (Chicago) Illinois
Now that I think about it I don't think I should align it until the body is back on so that I have the full weight bearing on the wheels. So do I simply install them without the shims for now? Once the body is on then I can worry about alignment. That will be a few months.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 416
From: Seattle Area WA
Al,
For now, just split the stack of shims and install an equal thickness on each side. Slotted hole into the trailing arm bolt. You'll need to drill a hole on each side of the "trailing arm pocket" in the frame to install a long cotter pin through the small hole of the shims. This will keep them from falling out. This went into production a few years later than your car, 1972 I think.
For now, just split the stack of shims and install an equal thickness on each side. Slotted hole into the trailing arm bolt. You'll need to drill a hole on each side of the "trailing arm pocket" in the frame to install a long cotter pin through the small hole of the shims. This will keep them from falling out. This went into production a few years later than your car, 1972 I think.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Make sure you pack the shims in tightly and THEN torque the bolt down. Not packing them in tightly and then torqueing the bolt down will cause you to collapse the trailing arm pockets with the bolts.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
You want the T/A in the center of the pocket, so what ever shim you place on one side that same shim goes on the other side repeat until you can't get anymore shims in.
Mine measured 7/16 on each side
Mine measured 7/16 on each side
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