Trailing arm woes :-(

[fairwynds]

Afternoon campers..
if youve seen my other post re wheel bearings etc, you will know Im in the process of trying to remove my rear trailing arms for a full refurb.
Ive spent a fair few hours this weekend dismantling. Work has ground to a halt and Im feeling pretty fed up with it (we all know that feeling, there never seems an end to the task!).
Ive managed to remove both the INNER trailing arm bush bolts, but the outers and being stubborn. Lots of PlusGas being used. Have tried heat/blowtorch. Have used big hammer and a drift. All to no avail.
One side has had the bolt head ground off (big mistake, dont do that - but I thought Id be able to drive the shaft of the bolt through with a drive....but the complication is the nut on this one is rusted solid and rounded off, so can't even wiggle this one. I need a rethink and some good ideas folks....please?
Second issue is that the suspension spring seat is rusted (quite badly on the nearside). I gather that Brickwerks have manufactured a replacement seat for just this problem, so I'll be getting two of those. Question though, has anyone used these parts? Is the old one easy to remove?
I feel Im getting out of depth, or at least out of patience!!!

Pic shows rusted rear suspension spring mounting on the rear trailing arm - guess that'll be needing a new one!?

[..lee..]

simons repair panells are spot on easy to line up and weld on. old ones come off easy enough grind off the welds and your done. outer bolts always seem to be the worst. grind off the inner end and drill the outer end off deep enough to effectivly shorten the bolt they come out ok then.

[fairwynds]

simons repair panells are spot on easy to line up and weld on. old ones come off easy enough grind off the welds and your done. outer bolts always seem to be the worst. grind off the inner end and drill the outer end off deep enough to effectivly shorten the bolt they come out ok then.

Thanks for the reply lee. I have a small size Draper disc grinder only. I'm hoping that if I jack up the van EVEN higher than it is at the moment, then the arms will drop down low enough to allow me access to grind off that (outer nearside bush) inner nut. I hope!
I guess youve done this job too then?

[Tug]

Hi,

I did mine back in the summer. The only way you can shift them is by using a thin cutting disc in a grinder. I used this method and it worked. Takes time though so dont rush it otherwise you will damage your van and the trailing arms. All you do is nibble the bolt through down the side of each trailing arm and finish off with a hacksaw.

I would imagine you will replace the rubber bushes too. This can be a pain. The only way to do it is by using a length of threaded bar, Nuts and washers and loads of Vaseline .

If you lived closer I would help you.

Glenn.

[fairwynds]

Hi,

I did mine back in the summer. The only way you can shift them is by using a thin cutting disc in a grinder. I used this method and it worked. Takes time though so dont rush it otherwise you will damage your van and the trailing arms. All you do is nibble the bolt through down the side of each trailing arm and finish off with a hacksaw.

I would imagine you will replace the rubber bushes too. This can be a pain. The only way to do it is by using a length of threaded bar, Nuts and washers and loads of Vaseline .

If you lived closer I would help you.

Glenn.

Cheers - but did you have to grind down each side of EACH trailing arm, if you get what I mean? I can't see how I can access the (nut end) of each bolt on the inside end of each of the bushes that are furthest under the van...

[fairwynds]

Took a couple of hours off work today, to crack on with the noisy business of grinding!
Lots of PPE, butstill managed to nick my wrist when the grinder snagged and kicked back . . .
seems no matter how careful I was.....

...spent two and a half hours getting these off! The refurb is back on track

[Ian Hulley]

Renew the CV bolts and at least renovate if not replace the CV joints and boots too while you're doing it

Ian

[fairwynds]

Renew the CV bolts and at least renovate if not replace the CV joints and boots too while you're doing it

Ian

oh, yes, I have been lining Mr Baxters pockets accordingly.....

Cheers...