Advice on trailing arm bushing install.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I've done this before, but can't remember how. Engine and tranny are out of my SC. So I threw in new rear shocks the other night. That was a 30 min. job and didn't even require jacking up the car. But it looks like I wouldn't be able to make the trailing arms budge at all with the car on the ground and shocks and spring plates connected. Can I just unbolt the arms and muscle them down to pull the old bushings out? I'm putting the Welt. poly ones in, so I know they slide right into the old housings. When I did it on my Carrera, I can't remember what all I had disconnected, if anything. But I remember it was no fun. In a few weeks, I plan on installing all new t-bars, bushings, etc., but the engine and tranny will be in the car then. Can I do trailing arms bushings then too?

Chuck Moreland · 02-04-2005, 07:56 AM

You would be well advised not to use the welt Poly bushings in this location. They don't allow the multi-axis freedom of movement required. They bind and fight suspension movement, and make it very difficult to align the car (they fight the movement needed to align). Big mistake.

Get factory rubber replacements or monoball cartridges.

It is possible to disconnect the inner trailing arm link, pull the inside of the arm down and swap the bushings. But it ain't easy!

The problem is you have to hold the trailing arm still while you get the old parts out. And that's hard to do when its swinging in the breeze and you are laying on your back under the car.

Since you are going to take apart the other end of the trailing arm soon anyway, why not just wait and do this job at the same time? Yes you can remove the arms with the engine /trans in (true of '73 on).

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Thanks Chuck. I know monoballs are great, but this unexpected rebuild sapped my funds and I can't justify the expense. Why have the Welt. bushings been so popular, if they're bad? I will never put the stock ones back in, as that requires trailing arm removal and pressing them out. Can't make this any more of a project than it already is.

Chuck Moreland · 02-04-2005, 08:16 AM

The welt bushings for the trailing arm inner link are not very popular.

It is the spring plate / control arm bushings that were popular in the past. And that is because superior alternatives have only recently become available.

Don't discount the power of marketing, glossy catalogs to a good sales job. Many people don't know the real story.

You'd be really well advised to go with factory rubber or monoballs.

KTL · 08:50 AM

And the cost of the factory rubber bushings has gone up considerably. The rubber bushes used to be on the cheap. I think mine were around $20 ea. ~ three years ago. Now they're almost the same cost as monoballs. I'd go monoballs if I were doing the job. Smoother suspension movement and easier to align (not fighting the rubber flex).

Also,

In reference to Chuck's mention of the arms being removeable from 73-on, the trans. needs to be removed (translation: engine drop) on the 87-89 G50 cars to get @ the inner pivot points. Not enough room to get tools in there and work on the fasteners. It may be do-able depending on the orientation of the bolt head side & nut side, but it's not worth the hassle in my opinion. On my car, the fastener orientation made it simple- no go unless the trans. is removed.