I heard that the rear trailing arm bolts usually need cut out,Im soon to be
replacing mine after reassembling my whole front end! I purchased moog
parts for the front tie rod ends and ball joints and have yet to put
spindles back on to see how many threads are showing,I figure if you can
get the key thru the castle nut you should be good!

Velma 82diesel 1.6 na westy

On May 29, 2012 11:03 AM, "email99" <email99@bellsouth.net> wrote:

It's time for some suspension maintenance.

First a question:

I recently replaced my steering rack (with tie rods) and tie rod ends
and I found, after alignment, the engagement of the tie rod into the tie
rod ends was not as deep as I would have liked.  It seems the length of
the female threaded housing of the tie rod end is not as long as I
remembered when I have replaced the rod end in the past.  Have the
replacement parts changed over the years?   Are there brands that are
longer than others?  Please note that I am not talking about the tapered
stud that attaches to the spindle arm.

Now a request for some advice:

Also, the bolts attaching the rear trailing arm bushings are frozen in
the bushings and even after considerable abuse, they refuse to budge.
Is there a portable hydraulic press that maybe a frame alignment shop
might have that could press these out?  If not, I guess I will have to
hack saw the bolts and inner metal sleeve to remove the trailing arm and
then drill out the rubber bushing to remove the rest of the bushing.
Does anyone who has done this have any suggestions?

I'm seeking advice from anyone who has done this in the past.

Please pmail me if you like.

Thanks,
Ed