Re: trailing arm bolt removal

[jtrealty@xxxx]

These trailing arm bolts AKA pivot bolts are HIGHLY stressed. They are 
also torqued near their tensile limit. Just like highly stressed 
critical bolts in aircraft they should be considered only usable and 
torqueable ONCE. To replace of course you raise the car. The bolt is 
replaced with the weight of the car off the suspension. The only 
precaution is that when the bolts are torqued the weight of the car is 
resting on the suspension so use a jackstand under the mount by the 
rear shock to "load" the suspension. On an automatic getting the left 
bolt out requires disconnecting the trailing arm from the rear 
carrier. If the bolts are bent you might have to slice them up into 
little pieces to get them out. It is best to have this done at an 
alignment shop so the bolts won't get retorqued too many times and 
they have the expertise and equipment to do this AND set the thrust 
angle.
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757



--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Joe Thome" <joethome@xxxx> wrote:
> Hello Fellow List Members,
> 
> Great discussion on trailing arm bolts. Is there any precaution 
which should be followed in the removal of these bolts for inspection 
or replacement? Do you simply get under the car and screw these bolts 
out, or do you have to secure the trailing arms or other parts so that 
they don't suddenly spring out position and do damage to person or 
car?
> 
> Many thanks.
> 
> Joe Thome
> 
> VIN 6467 as of 2/12/01 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]