Bent Trailing Arm and Stripped Rear End Cover Bolt

[Escapepilot]

Changed the rear end fluid last night after the break in period and noticed my left rear trailing arm is bent. I have no idea when it happened. I don't recall it being that way before I had the gears changed, but I also had the tire/brake off to adjust the e-brake last week and didn't notice it then. Anyway, anyone have one they aren't using and would sell/donate to the cause? Are the TB and TB EXT trailing arms the same?

Second, all of the bolts were tight on the diff cover, but when torquing down to 24 ft/lbs, one just wouldn't torque. I haven't removed it to check the bolt, but assuming the bolt is ok and that the problem is w/ the threads in the housing, what are my cheap options? Helicoil?? It's one of the two bolts next to the one at 6 o'clock.

 

[Sparky]

Sure the arm is actually bent? I thought mine was until I realized that there is a bit of a curve on the upper rear arms. The arm overall is actually straight.

I believe the arms are the same SWB or LWB. I got a new one from Rock Auto for pretty inexpensive.

If the bolt is fine you'll probably need to use a helicoil, or drill it out and retap the threads a little larger and use 1 size larger bolt. This is assuming you have thick enough housing material around the hole to do that.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

The arms are pretty weak. I think I already gave my stockers away though.

I would just retap the hole and try it.

 

[Escapepilot]

Sure the arm is actually bent? I thought mine was until I realized that there is a bit of a curve on the upper rear arms. The arm overall is actually straight.

I believe the arms are the same SWB or LWB. I got a new one from Rock Auto for pretty inexpensive.

It's a lower arm that is now "curved". I didn't see any obvious damage so I'm inclined to think someone may have inadvertently placed a jack or jack stand under it.

 

[Sparky]

Oh the lower tubular one? Ouch.

 

[BlazingTrails]

I have a full set of upper and lower control arms if you need one.

That will definitely throw your rear axle out as far as your alignment is concerned.

 

[Escapepilot]

Got the bent control arm off and new one on, but can't find a torque spec for the mounting bolts. Help, please.

 

[BlazingTrails]

An item like that is not really crucial for exact torque specs, I would say anything over 80 ft lbs is fine.

 

[Sparky]

Yeah pretty much. I treated all mine like lug nuts. The bolts are big enough that you can't really over torque them by hand with a 1/2" ratchet.

Best to tighten it with the axle loaded so the resting position of the bushing is in the middle of suspension travel. I used a floor jack under the pumpkin to raise the axle upward until it was close to lifting the frame off the jack stand.

 

[coolasice]

Upper arms 97ftlbs, lower arms 74ftlbs