danc24

I'm getting ready to drop my diff to investigate excessive stub axle play, so I've removed the leaf spring, half-shafts and strut rods. So the only thing still attached to the trailing arm is the shock. With the alignment shims still in, should I be able to move the trailing arm this much? Bushings look original.

gkull

Time to replace them with poly bushings and stainless steel shims

Big2Bird

Yes, they are toast.

Big2Bird

George, my entire car is poly, but the T/A bushings are the only ones I would change back to rubber or Johnny Joints. The poly just doesn't have the needed compliance for that application. IMHO.

danc24

Thanks guys! Just so I know, how much lateral movement should I expect if the rubber bushings are good?

gkull

I'm on my 3rd set of trailing arm rebuilds. started out with stock 79 and replaced them with poly HD trailing arms with HD outer spindles. Then I did another set of poly swing arm bushings. I do live in low humidity desert where nothing rusts away. I have everything solid or poly except for the body to frame mounts.

resdoggie

If poly bushings are the bushing of choice over rubber in the off-road world where those vehicles are severly punished, then poly works just fine anywhere they are installed in our C3's, imho.

flyeri

Those need replacing regardless of the material you choose. Mine did not move that much or anywhere close to that. Ne bushings made a different car out of it. I used rubber for what it's worth.

leadfoot4