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Topic: Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/24/09 5:34am Message 1 of 18
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Cramerton, NC - USA
Joined: 8/22/2006
Posts: 1094
Vette(s): black 1982 coupe slate gray interior, 350 crossfire, 1985 fuel pump, Steeroids R&P conversion
I hope someone has a magic bullet for this but Im not hopeful.  In anticipation of having a 4 wheel alignment I decided to check the trailing arm bolts to make sure they werent siezed to the trailing arms.  Of course they are, what was I thinking???  If anyone was going to be hammering on my baby, I wanted it to be me so I managed to get the drivers side broke loose but the passengers side is stuck tight.  Ive tried PB blaster, hammer and punch on the nut side of the bolt, wrench on the bolt side, blue language and a combination of all of the above.  Any ideas??  Im just not ready to tackle cutting the bolt and taking the TAs off and with limited work space to install new bolts, it looks like a real PITA to do.


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Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/24/09 6:09am Message 2 of 18
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20225
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
Soak that puppy REAL GUD, then drive it around a while. The combination of penetrant and up/down motion of the t-arms might just break that thing loose. In order to get the best penetration of the PB Blaster, you may want to remove the shims(be sure to mark them and keep them in the same location) on either side of the t-arm so you can get directly at the bolt as it passes thru the bushing.
I've never had one that was seized up like that, but I've heard stories...plenty of them!
You might want to consider using an air hammer on the outer end...
I wouldn't recommend a smoke wrench for heating it up, but some folks have done that, too.
If all else fails, there's only one final solution..."sawz-all"


Joel Adams
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Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/24/09 7:17am Message 3 of 18
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Cramerton, NC - USA
Joined: 8/22/2006
Posts: 1094
Vette(s): black 1982 coupe slate gray interior, 350 crossfire, 1985 fuel pump, Steeroids R&P conversion
Ill try driving it a little Joel.  Ive heard of  some using the blue tip wrench too but that one is out for me.  I have a sawsall but hope I dont have to use it.


Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/24/09 10:57am Message 4 of 18
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Chip, that is one of the worst jobs, which you already know. They sell stainless steel bolts, shims, and cotter pin sets to replace the orginal. Now if you were to remove the body..................it would go a little easierRolling%20On%20The%20Floor%20Laughing (Sorry ebo made me type the last part...........)  


corvette440hp

Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/24/09 12:01pm Message 5 of 18
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Cramerton, NC - USA
Joined: 8/22/2006
Posts: 1094
Vette(s): black 1982 coupe slate gray interior, 350 crossfire, 1985 fuel pump, Steeroids R&P conversion
Yep, Ive found the kits but havent found a willing midget to do the work yet.  Its like everything else with these cars, the universal instruction before doing ANY repair is Step 1. DISSASEMBLE THE ENTIRE VEHCILE  Step 2. Proceed with the repair.Wacko


Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/24/09 5:30pm Message 6 of 18
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Holland Patent, NY - USA
Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4422
Vette(s): #1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker
Chip, that Joel dude knows his poop, bet cha the drivin bit does it. Can you get to it from your lift?  I'm guna hafta wopp Larry up side da head for always blamin me. LOL      But he does have a lot of ebo in em LOL
Good luck keep up posted.Evil%20Smile




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Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/24/09 8:29pm Message 7 of 18
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20225
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
[QUOTE=ebo]that Joel dude knows his poop[/QUOTE]


yesser....I'mma "poop-connoisseur"...





(oh st....did I say that out-loud?!?)


Joel Adams
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Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/24/09 9:01pm Message 8 of 18
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Moses Lake, WA - USA
Joined: 4/16/2005
Posts: 2134
Vette(s): 1976 L48 4-spd, Mahogany Metalic exterior, Buckskin interior 350ci/350hp, 3rd owner, fiberglass spring, 255/50-16's Torq-Thrust II
Good luck, I had to cut mine out but then I was going to rebuild the T-arms anyway. What a painOuch


Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/24/09 10:16pm Message 9 of 18
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Hot Springs, AR - USA
Joined: 4/24/2004
Posts: 3236
Vette(s): 69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans
[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]Soak that puppy REAL GUD, then drive it around a while. The combination of penetrant and up/down motion of the t-arms might just break that thing loose. In order to get the best penetration of the PB Blaster, you may want to remove the shims(be sure to mark them and keep them in the same location) on either side of the t-arm so you can get directly at the bolt as it passes thru the bushing.
I've never had one that was seized up like that, but I've heard stories...plenty of them!
You might want to consider using an air hammer on the outer end...
I wouldn't recommend a smoke wrench for heating it up, but some folks have done that, too.
If all else fails, there's only one final solution..."sawz-all" [/QUOTE]
 
ha!!  mine were seized up so bad i used torch and air chisel and still wouldnt budge.  beat it with 20 lb sledge and it wouldnt budge.
 
would up drilling down the shaft of the bolt until i finally hollowed it out enough to snap it in half.  replaced it with SS hardware.
 



Trailing arm bolts..&^$$%@#

Posted: 2/25/09 11:57am Message 10 of 18
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SHELBYVILLE, TN - USA
Joined: 7/5/2002
Posts: 3942
Vette(s): 1976 L48 auto

1978 L82 4speed

1994 LT1 6speed
i used a saws-all on the '76 and was rather a simple task... had to use a long blade, fine toothed.  Took about 10-15 minutes and had both trailing arms out, took a smaller sized bolt to knock out the rest of the bolt. 


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

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in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling


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