Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

Hi everyboby this is my first post.Ive looked around at other posted topics,and got some important
Instructions on certain Topics.
I have a 73 Corvette that I brought in 1973.I only have "53" Thousand miles on it, I brought it
used from a Dealer in 1973 with only"7" thousand miles on it.
My question is, how complicated is it to remove the Trailing Arm bolts from a C3 73 Corvette
I can see the Nut end of the bolt,but the other end is located behind a metal plate.
Although ive haven't tried to remove it yet .I have removed the bushing from my Strut Rods.
They were stuck and I used a very large hammer to get them off. if the Trailing Arms bolts
are stuck, I dont see enought space to use a Hammer.
I will be thankful for any input Thanks

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

I recently removed and rebuilt my trailing arms on my '76. Penetrating oil is always the first step. Let it soak overnight. After removing the nut, I was able to get the bolts started on thier way out with a small tack hammer. Yes, there is limited space between the T-arm and the body to swing the hammer, but I got them started. Then a small/short punch poked them out the rest of the way.
Good luck.

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

Welcome to the best Vette forum hester, stick with us, we need more C3 members. The trailing arm bolts are tricky, I ended up cutting the bolt between the trailing arm and the frame with a SAWZ-ALL and driving the rest of it out with a punch and hammer. I think C3 Starship did the same.

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

Welcome to CF, hester! :)
Yup, 78buckshot is right. I used a saws-all, punch, and hammer to get them suckers out. ;)It's so much fun! :eek::D

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

Welcome to the Corvette Forum!!!

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RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

Hi ST lvet, 78 Buckshot, & C3 Starship
Iam thanking you guys for the input,on my Swing arm adventure.
Your post responce, will save me a lot of time because I was going to
try to Knock the bolts out. putting "Cut off" on the Back Burner.
But after talking to you Guys, ive made "Cut off " close to my first option,
or i guess Ill put it like this after ive soaked in PV Blastes, iam going
to try to Knock the bolt out. If it dont move, it's not going to be too long,
Beforea whole lot of noisewill be heard from my Saw'z off.
I going to atempt to show a picture of my car in 1976 i was in my late 20's

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

Isee a bass rosewood neck in your avitar. So, you're a player, eh? :)

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

Like Buckshot said...welcome to the best forum for vettes. These guys will steer you in the right direction and some of them might even come over and help if you buy a 12 pack,[sm=icon_cheers.gif]LOL! great group of folks here and very smart(not me) folks as well.I'll be doin' the same thing soon and I'm gonna get all my info right here from these motor heads. .....(Guys,..For the record, thatsmeant in a loving way, OK?)

It's coolto see someone has kept their car so long.Way to go!

Good luck with it. .....Don't ya just love your vette? Got any pictures??? Cheers.

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

Hay C3 Starship i play the guitar I had a little problem getting the picture of my car or guitar
posted so i used the next best thing i could find.But the bass Guitar Avitar is not bad
I do play the Bass Guitar also.I have a home recording studio.
Yamaha motif classic / Cubase SX 3/ When it comes to computer i have all the Horse power
that is missing in my 73 Corvette.
I had the brain Built by a company call GOLDEN TECH it has a Dural core Cpu

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

I have Cubase 4 and am having some issues with it. Do ya mind if I contact ya in a PM and kinda pick your brain? :eek:

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

C3 Starship
I believe I can help, although i have Cubase SX3 i think most of the operation are the same
Contact me at "gmaj7@msn.com

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

gmaj7..........I hear ya. ;)
( Just don't "B" flat. :D)

RE: Trailing Arm Bolt Removal
 

Hello everybody I finally removed the Trailingarm off my 73.I was out there 3 days trying to knock out
or Cut out the Trailing Arm Bolt.
First I went to Home Deport and got a Very VeryLarge Carpenters pry Bar.It was the biggest one that
they had in the Store. I think i payed $60 for it.I came home and spend 25min Cutting off the bar so I
Could Hit The Trailing Arm Bolt.You see the Bar was not a Stright Bar it was the right Shape with the
Curbed end right on top of the Bolt. And i Cut the other end to make Flat, because
I was using a very Large Hammer.I put the Bar in place and Hit the Bar as Hard as i could hit it.
Iam here to tell you the dam thing did not move.The Bushings were Rusted to the Bolt.
I tried to Saw it off and I could not get to the Bolt the saw was hitting the metal Shims.
I Soaked them with PBblasters and used a large Screw driver and began to move the Shim up and then down to get them out of the way of my Sazall.
I notice that the Shims had started to move outward.just a little.
Thats wheni came to the conclusion, that the Shims are supose to be removed before Cuttiing the Bolt.
So I sprayed a lot of PBblasters all over the Shims.and start moving first with a screw driver and hammer.
After i got them to move freely i got the Grip plyers,soaked them again with PBblasters oil,and start moving them up and down with GripPlyers,I opend the Grip plyiers wide enought so I could grab
the shims from top to bottom,not on the side.As i move the Shims up and down I pulled shightly outward
and they began to slide out.
Now i had a clear view of where to put the blake of my Sawzall.I used a "9INC CARBIDE BLADE
it's the best blade for hard metal. I could had got a regular blade and still got the job done.
It might be some cases that a Trailing Arm Bolt can be knock out,but it's going to be very Rare.
I think cutting the bolt is the only way to go Hester