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Topic: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components

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1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (1/11)
3/6/17 5:29pm

Ole Biker
Former Member
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Monongahela, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1969 Corvette Coupe. 427/435 4 speed factory installed side pipes. Verified Numbers Matching.

Joined: 7/5/2016
Posts: 71

Hello!

I am looking at the trailing arm to frame bolt on my 1969 and I cannot see how the right, passenger, side bolt can possibly slide out of the way to remove. I see no room, nor with my big hands, physical access to the bolt to remove or install.

If there is some trick to this please fill me in!!

(PS, I have in the past completely removed and reinstalled the axles and transfer case on my Jeep and that was a piece of cake compared to what I see trying to remove the trailing arm frame bolts!)

With Regards,

Mike C.

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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (2/11)
3/6/17 11:17pm

Adams' Apple

Lifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20128

The T-arm bolts should come in from the center of the car, pointing to the outside. Depending on how the brake lines are routed, they can be a little tricky to get out, but as long as there is no rust involved, they WILL slide out without too much force. The frame reinforcement/gusset in that area can cause issues, but....if the bolt is not seized, it will come right out past the gusset. Of course, if there is rust on the bolts, or between the bolts and the t-arm bushings, you could be in for the fight of yer life.... Angry

Best course of action is to hold the t-arm up with a jack stand(or something similar) so there is no weight on them. With the nut loosened all most all the way off, the easiest way is to use a wobble socket and extension on the nut....and a good sized mallet/hammer.....and a dang good aim.

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Joel Adams
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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (3/11)
3/7/17 3:36pm

stingrayjim jr

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SHELBYVILLE, TN - USA

Vette(s):
1976 L48 auto

1978 L82 4speed

1994 LT1 6speed

Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942

I recall when replacing the bolts on dad's 76, i ended up having to take a receiprocating(saws-all) saw to get it out. Was rusted up fairly good. Took the shims out(the thinner ones kinda crumbled) and it gave enough room to get a long blade in there to cut the bolt. It took a little while to get it cut because not being able to get the saw all the way onto the bolt, only the end of the blade(the longer 7 or 8 inch metal cutting blades), but i finally won, the bolts were rusted up in the bushings... but if you can drive them out, that would be the better route to go... still, had to drive what was left of the bolt out of the bushings, but was a lot easier on the shop floor....

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StingrayJim
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Stingray's '76�� StingrayJr's '78��Lil Red '94

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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (4/11)
3/7/17 5:42pm

Hello Again!

I first want to thank the viewers and the replies to my post. The replies were very informative and gave me the courage to attempt what looked impossible. I really do not think the trailing arm front bolts were ever removed, judging from their appearance.

After many sprays of PB Blaster I attempted to remove the tiny cotter pins that had rust and dirt covering them. To my amazement, after finessing the little buggers I was able to get both sides cotter pins out, no small feat. The castile nuts started to turn after using a wrench and hammer to persuade them along. I loosened the nuts enough to try to tap the bolts to see if they budged and to my surprise they slid! I still do not see how my big mitts will reach in the recesses of the frame and gussets to grab a hold of the bolts to remove and then re-install.

I am spraying PB Blaster on the remaining components that will need to be removed to allow full removal of the arms.

My thoughts are to order a fully rebuilt arm and bearing and rotor assembly and use mine as core returns. Any suggestions on a good source for this, or is there another solution? I am not that far from Bair's Corvettes in Linesville, PA, they are a possibility as well as other catalog sources.

With Regards,

Mike C

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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (5/11)
3/7/17 8:16pm

manchestershark

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Equinunk, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1972 conv, 4-speed, 350, 200hp, numbers match, rally wheels, war bonnett yellow w/white top. good condition, nice driver.

Joined: 10/31/2007
Posts: 2387

Baers is the place to go! They do excellent work.

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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (6/11)
3/15/17 9:46pm

Hello!

I finally have these pieces laying on the floor!!

I will be taking these assemblies to Bair's Corvettes next week to have them rebuilt.

With Regards,

Mike C.

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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (7/11)
3/16/17 4:47pm

indy99
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Newport, MI - USA

Vette(s):
1980 L-48 still in the middle of a frame-off.

Joined: 6/9/2005
Posts: 932

Great job getting those things off. Thumbs Up

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Corvettes and women are the same...You want to make love to them but they keep breaking down.

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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (8/11)
3/16/17 7:36pm

Thanks!

A couple of stripped bolt heads complicated matters but I am a stubborn SOB and was determined to get them off!

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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (9/11)
3/18/17 2:47pm

danascar
Standard Member
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Germansville, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1974 Coupe 358ci 4 speed Black w/Medium Saddle interior w/79 custom leather seats. . 1999 C5 Convertible, 6 speed, Atomic orange, Oak interior.

Joined: 1/28/2010
Posts: 858

Bair's has the option of trading your used parts for parts they have already rebuilt and in stock to save you time. They will also inspect your parts to be sure they are rebuildable and reject them if not. Best to call and talk to them.

|UPDATED|3/18/2017 11:47:24 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

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DanT

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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (10/11)
3/26/17 10:22pm

danascar said: Bair's has the option of trading your used parts for parts they have already rebuilt and in stock to save you time. They will also inspect your parts to be sure they are rebuildable and reject them if not. Best to call and talk to them.

Hello,

I have previously contacted Bair's regarding the Trailing Arm Project. They said when I arrive they will disassemble the arms while I wait to view the procedure. They will be rebuilding and returning my cars parts.

Thanks for the post!

Mike C

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Re: 1969 Trailing Arm To Frame Bolts (11/11)
3/26/17 10:35pm

Hello!

Here are all the parts that Bair's will be working on. Since I had so much of the rear suspension already removed, it seemed a good time to remove the crossmember to have new Doughnuts installed and also remove the differential and have it rebuilt.

The only way I was able to remove the crossmember was to buy and use the Harbor Freight Portable Hydraulic Ram. It was useless trying to use a prybar as the parts would not budge at all with that method. Even using the ram took several attempts on each side to get the parts to separate.

With Regards,

Mike C

|UPDATED|3/26/2017 7:35:16 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

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