When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello & help:
I installed my rebuilt passenger trailing arm without any issues. After removing the driver side i decided to purchase a new USA made arm and have the shop incorporate the new arm in the rebuild. When installing it yesterday the shim set I removed and kept to use to install the new shims to the same thickness did not work. When placing the inside set, shoving over the arm, than attempting to install the outside set. The outside set would not go in with out removing two thin shims, leaving a gap slightly less than the thinest shim. I rearranged the new set both inside and outside to eliminate that small gap. once finished installing the arm and bolting to the half shaft i noticed the arm is sitting in the frame rail towards the inside of the frame pocket by about a 1/4". The passenger side sits in the center of the pocket. Are the trailing arms designed to be sitting in the center of the pocket? If so, I should shim both sides so the arm is centered in the pocket? Are the shims to fill completely the space between the arm and the frame on both sides?
Regards,
Eric
In a perfect world they would sit evenly inside their mounting box. However, it's not a perfect world. These frames are not perfect, the trailing arms are not 100% identical, and some have been damaged over the years. Hence the different thickness of shims. If you are using the shims that you took out with a different training arm it is very possible that the old shim pack will not fit as it did with the original trailing arm. I have seen trailing arms left or right of center and if you have had it apart it will need an alignment to get the rear toe setting correct. I would get a pack of shims and take them with you to get an alignment. Your alignment tech will appreciate having new ones to work with.
Hello & help:
I installed my rebuilt passenger trailing arm without any issues. After removing the driver side i decided to purchase a new USA made arm and have the shop incorporate the new arm in the rebuild. When installing it yesterday the shim set I removed and kept to use to install the new shims to the same thickness did not work. When placing the inside set, shoving over the arm, than attempting to install the outside set. The outside set would not go in with out removing two thin shims, leaving a gap slightly less than the thinest shim. I rearranged the new set both inside and outside to eliminate that small gap. once finished installing the arm and bolting to the half shaft i noticed the arm is sitting in the frame rail towards the inside of the frame pocket by about a 1/4". The passenger side sits in the center of the pocket. Are the trailing arms designed to be sitting in the center of the pocket? If so, I should shim both sides so the arm is centered in the pocket? Are the shims to fill completely the space between the arm and the frame on both sides?
Regards,
Eric
Depends on the frame, so until you measure/adjust the alignment only then will you know the final resting spot.
Interested in completing your setup you can try DIY Alignment.
I'm taking the shims out this week end to look at the bushing. If ok, i'll be doing what you did plus bring an extra set of shims to make the alignment shop happy.
74 trailing arm questions
