New Trailing Arms on a 66 B/B

[Larry S.]

Hello Again folks

I have a question,I am removing my rear end carrier to replace the 411 gears for a 336,(to make for a more freindlyer ride out to carlilse this year and future years to come )I had taken the entire rear suspention out last year to replace a fiberglass spring and I also detailed every thing at that time.So now I want this to be the last time I work on the rear of the car and have it apart So I am investing in rebuilding the trailing arms.

I have some choice's here

One I can send my arms out to the rebuilder and have them redone(the only down side is having to wait for them to be rebuilt and then reshipped to me)Mine are in good shape,no cracks ,no rust,no bends

My secound choice is to purchase a new set of trailing arms.(not the racing stlye but the original style)I am told the brand new original style are much better built but they do not look excactley the same,Weld's are better.ect.ect.If I purchase the new ones I still have to send my trailing arms in as cores so I would not retain my original arms.The upside to this option is that I have no down time on the lift waiting for parts,And I have brand new trailing arms instead of 38 year old ones,The down side is I have reproduction trailing arms,And the cost difference is not even a concern to me.

Allthough my car is not ready for the judging feild today I am working dilagently to prepare it for NCRS judging in the future so I dont want to go backward her with the re production trailing arms if they are that much different in looks.

So my questions are has anybody used the reproduction trailing arms and how much different are they,And if they are different what would it cost on the feild for the reproduction arms to be in place.

With future sights of judging should I retain my arms and just wait out the rebuild.

And then my last question is I read my jugding manual 3rd edtion and it states that the spindel support is steel forging painted semi gloss black prior to machining.And I have seen several picture of rear suspentions and the spindel support seems to be cast in color.So I am not sure if the cars I have seen were just painted with cast blast or if the machining removes the semi gloss black finish.

Again thanks as always

Larry Savino

[Joe L.]

Re: New Trailing Arms on a 66 B/B

Larry-----

There is very little difference between current arms and your originals. One difference is that the current arms have four small holes drilled around the circumference of the large rear "hole" for the bearing support. These were added to faciltate the installation of the u-joint shields added for early 80's models.

Notwithstanding the above, if your arms are in 100% perfect condition, I would not replace them. I'd have them rebuilt. Keep in mind, though, that these arms often suffer hidden damage from corrosion, especially if the car was ever operated in salted road condtions. Such damage may lie unseen for awhile beneath the overlapping, welded section of the arm. This sort of damage is "terminal" and the arm must be replaced.

One other thing: if you were to purchase new arms, you should not have to use your old arms as an exchange. These arms, still available from GM under GM #14035663 and 14035664, can be purchased new for about $250/each from several sources. If you pay around that much, or more, for a new arm, you SHOULD NOT have to give up your old ones as an "exchange".

[Larry S.]

Re: New Trailing Arms on a 66 B/B

Thank You joe

I am going to call him today and ask if I can send him my entire trailing arms for a core (for the other componets)have him remove them all and then sell me the new trailing arms and get back my old ones.(trailing arms only)

Or can I take all the componets off my self and send him that stuff? or do I need a press to get them off.

I have never disasembled them before I have had them off the car but I never even took the rotors off because I was afraid of ruining some thing

I still have the question on the support finish

[William C.]

Re: New Trailing Arms on a 66 B/B

I believe the support is a forging, and like a lot of suspension parts there was not "Paint" applied but rather a dark oxide residue from the forging and quenching process. Subsequent machining removes the oxide from the machined surfaces, but leaves the oxidation from the forging. it is not generally uniform in color, but tends to a mixture of dark colors.

[Joe L.]

Re: New Trailing Arms on a 66 B/B

Larry-----

First of all, if the rotors are still rivetted to the spindles, I would not remove them. I would send it as a complete unit and tell the rebuilding folks that you don't want the rotors removed. If the rotors are not serviceable, as-is, then you will probably have to remove them unless the rebuilders tell you that they can machine the rotors as an assembly with the spindles. If the rotors are worn/previously machined, they may be junk and can be removed without losing anything.

You can remove the spindle/support assemblies from the trailing arms without the need for a press and with little difficulty PROVIDING that you can remove the rotors from the spindles. Basically, all you need to do is to remove the spindle flange and, then, the 4 nuts from the trailing arm studs which attach the spindle support assemblies. In order to get at these 4 nuts, though, you have to remove the rotors or rotor/spindle assemblies (usually, requires pressing tool for this if the spindles have not been removed for a long time).

[Jim T.]

Re: New Trailing Arms on a 66 B/B

Larry you can remove the control arm from the frame and send it intact to Bairs for their quality rebuild. Bairs will even send you the wooden containers to shop the units in. Check out their web page to help you decide.

[Larry S.]

Re: New Trailing Arms on a 66 B/B

Thanks to all for there advice.I have decided to re use mine and have them rebuilt and wait as long as it takes to get them done.This is a project that should have been planned way in advance and scheduled for the winter.Unfortunatley I had NO plans to do this except for a gear swap for the ride out to carlilse this year (NO TRAILERS FOR ME)And this would have been done in the winter but I had a tough recover from a surgery in ouctobers so everything I had scheduled to do on the car in the winter was delayed till now almost.

I must remember not to allow my lack of paintence and wanting every thing NOW make decetions for me.

Thanks again every one and I will see you in carlilse in august