Well this will turn into a much bigger job. Once the tailing arms bushing have a lot of movement this puts extra pressure on the stub axles. I would guess the following would be required to have a complete job done. Minimum check the stub axles for play but I would guess they will have more play than they should. U-joints may have worn funny due to poor axle alignment, stub axles, axles seals, brakes would need to be bleed (brake lines need to be discounted), TA bushings , Wheel alignment, complete shim kits / bolts for the rear TA, brake flex hoses if they are hard to remove. Change the rear axle fluids. And I my be forgetting a few items. Assume the worst and hope for the best. I had to cut out my trailing arm bolts after 20 years of being untouched. The hardest part of the job is the removal.

 

You can pull it apart and have a shop do the bushings. Pressing old bushings out is a PITA and if you don't have a press or an air chisel its almost impossible

Take the time to note how the shims were and replace them in the same order and make a chalk mark on the eccentric washers so you can put them back too. Your alignment guy will thank you for it

 

That's the plan. I am also going to order a complete poly bushing set and two new struts, somebody at some time decided to bend them, I believe this used to be done for alignments when they didn't know what they were doing. Anybody have any experience with the adjustable ones? Also going to order new hardware as I am sure everything is pretty corroded, also some new shims. Will take some time, but doesn't seem to difficult.

 

The easiest is to burn the rubber bushing out. I used a propane torch after that they fell out. Cleaned up the surfaces and installed poly bushing. It did not take great effort to press in poly bushings. I did have to cut the pivot bolt to remove the TA, that was a PITA.

 

Just had my trailing arms replaced with complete original rebuilt assemblies (sent in my cores) . I had neither age, time, shop, skill or desire ......once upon a time when I was 30 ..yes I did this type of stuff laying on my back for hours hammering, bleeding and cussing . Nope no more.

When you under take this , one thing leads to another with a corvette when changing parts.....you see once you get into it good... this and this and now this is also worn....just be prepared to fix tons of stuff you didn't realize was bad once you get going.

I did all the sway bar bushing, leaf spring mounts , cushions , trailing arm bolt kit , STAINLESS SHIMS , strut bushings, new shock mounts , exe. Lots of new bolts and NOS parts herre and there.

Check for wear in the diff

About 1400.00 total included labor included alignment , drain calipers , everything , included front end alignment , and this included some other misc work under the hood ( not related to trailing arms) . When its on a lift ....fix it all.

It runs down the road straight as an arrow and handles like it would new.

I had replaced the front springs, shocks and bearing previously over the past years.

And I didn't get dirty this time. Worth every penny.

 

I am looking into this but will buy all the parts first to save some bucks. Last shop that did my front end Lied to me on a part that they had to buy because I forgot to order it. They did a 100% markup on the retail price then told me they did not make any money on a simple part for the tie rods. They would have still made money selling it to me at the retail price then doubled that cost. 15 Buck part they charged me 70 bucks for each. They cost about 35 bucks each retail if I would have bought it. I could have ordered the part online for about 15 bucks each. Lost my trust with most mechanic shops. The mechanics use a Blue Book for labor but it is the shop manager who is on commission you have to watch out for because they make money on both the parts and the labor.

It was understandable that they did not touch my rear end alignment because the trailing arm bolts were frozen and if they would have broke one it would take a few days to get one in. So when I have my rearend done it will cost me about $350.00 in parts before I take it into the shop. I can buy a complete rear end kits for about this price online. Most shops will accept you buying the parts but watch out if you forget one. They will double the price.

These are some of the kits I am looking at some of the parts overlap so I need to adjust it before I buy what I need and still doing the research before I take the car into a shop again.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1963-1979.html

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...7.html?reset=1

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1963-1982.html

 

Update - So the trailing arms are out, basically I had to sawzall the bolts, a bit of a pain. But all in all about 8 hrs total. The bolts are seized in the bushing and I guess I will try burning them out. The rear suspension rebuild kit is on its way as well as all new hardware and shims. I assume I need to get a shop to press in the new bushings, so I may just let them mess with getting the old ones out. Now while I await the parts, I want to clean things up and maybe add a little paint to make things look better. Next will be the leaking transmission!

 

I think so. There must not be many people that do this themselves because I've done a lot of reading and didn't see anybody say you can't buy them and just put them in - but I did see video of them being pressed together. You'd think they would tell you when you try to buy them. I guess they think if you're buying them, you know.

I'm about to go through this also. What bushing kit did you get then?

 

I ordered a rear suspension rebuild kit with poly bushings from Corvette Depot in Canada, I believe they just import the stuff from Ecklers or Zip, saves me the hassle of duty to get it across the border. I also ordered the stainless shims, new shock mounts(although I did manage to get the old ones out in one piece) basically it appears everything is there to re do the old suspension. The job takes some time, but I enjoyed the challenge, and the hardest part should be over.

On a side note went to our local Chevrolet dealer to get the position additive as I want to change the gear oil in the diff, they didn't have it in stock and would need to order a whole case, so now I have to wait for that until I go to the big city an hour away. Will cost me more in gas than what the stuff is worth.
.

 

It's done! Had the alignment done last week, and I am amazed at the difference. Had a bit of a delay as I was sent the wrong brake line, but they took care of it and express posted the new one out. Kudos to Corvette Depot. All in all likely about 20 hours total, but it turned out well and saved a bunch of labour. Now onto the transmission and I will start a new post on that. Thanks for all the advice. The job while time consuming was not difficult, assembly manual and shop manual helped, I would do this again, hopefully not on this car.

 

That's great to hear Nomad!!!

I have to do mine this winter and you give me a boost to jump into it! i finished the front last fall and after this I hope to be done for the next 20 years or 100,000 miles! Which ever comes first