C3 Trailing Arm Bushings, Shocks, U-Joints

Replacing trailing arm bushings is no small job. It can be costly and take a long time if you have to hire a shop to do it.

So I decided to tackle the job myself for the experience and the knowledge it was done properly.

While I was there, I took care of many other projects, including:

• Replacing the rear shock absorbers
• Rebuilding half-shafts with new U-Joints
• Installing new brake lines and hoses
• Cleaning and restoring the rotors
• Adjusting the parking brake
• Changing differential gear oil, and more.

I estimate I saved at least twenty-five hundred dollars by doing all the work myself. Plus I gained quite a bit of knowledge and experience.

For this video, I decided to do no talking and focus on wrenching and getting the job done. You will only hear natural background noises and the sound of wrenches at work during the trailing-link suspension rebuild.

No distractions or talking. Just wrenching.

Over 300 segments were condensed into this video, from start to finish.

I hope you’ll enjoy it and find it helpful.

Thank you for watching! 🙂👍🏻

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CORVETTE LINKS (sponsored)

- 1-1/8" Flex-Hone®: https://amzn.to/479qQge
- Rust Neutralizer: https://amzn.to/3AE08Af
- Lucas Gear Oil 85W-140: https://amzn.to/3XgItHD
- Limited Slip Axle Additive: https://amzn.to/46XFDux
- Trailing Arm Bushing Kit: https://amzn.to/3yOTref
- Trailing Arm Shim Kit: https://amzn.to/4dO9Yhu
- AC Delco Shock Absorber: https://amzn.to/4dVYQPv
- Bare Bones Dark Shine: https://amzn.to/3AGTjhy

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CONTENTS

00:00 Bad Trailing Arm Bushing Symptoms
00:10 Diagnosing the Problem
00:34 Removing the Wheels
00:55 Removing the Spare Tire Carrier
02:29 Removing the Rear Brake Calipers
05:25 Removing the Rear Rotors
05:45 Disconnecting the Parking Brake
07:43 Removing the Trailing Arm Bushing Nut
09:32 Disconnecting the Leaf Spring
10:14 Removing the Rear Shock Absorbers
11:31 Disconnecting the Half-Shafts and Strut Bars
13:16 The Lower Shock/Strut Mount
14:22 Rear Brake Lines
14:59 Shock Absorbers
15:21 Removing the Shims and Trailing Arm
17:20 Left-Hand Bushing Inspection
17:49 New Rear Shock Absorbers
18:22 Cleaning the Wheel Well
19:57 Building a Trailing Arm Third Hand
24:05 Removing the Half-Shafts
25:43 Detailing the L.S. Wheel Well
26:25 Inspecting the U-Joints
26:56 Removing U-Joints the Old-Fashioned Way
31:21 Unmasking the Wheel Well
32:57 U-Joint Bearing Cap (or Cup) Size
33:03 Cleaning the Half-Shafts
35:09 Painting the Half-Shafts
37:14 Trailing Arm Bolt Modification
40:56 Detailing Body Mount 3 Cover
43:12 How to Make Brake Calipers Look New!
44:25 Honing the Half-Shaft Yoke Bores
45:47 Installing U-Joints with a Ball Joint Tool
50:00 Reinstalling a Trailing Arm
53:35 Installing New Rear Bubber Brake Hose
54:31 How I Install Corvette Trailing Arms
56:40 Installing Trailing Arm Shims
57:53 Partially Installing the Brake Line
58:17 Detailing a Brake Rotor
59:39 Installing the Brake Caliper
1:00:14 Connecting the Brake Line
1:02:00 I Bought a Tool Cart
1:02:14 Removing the R.S. Trailing Arm
1:06:20 Installing Trailing Arm Bushings
1:07:20 Removing U-Joints with a Ball Joint Tool
1:11:53 Detailing the R.S. Wheel Well
1:16:02 Prepping the R.S. Half-Shaft for Paint
1:19:13 1981 Corvette TV Commercial
1:19:46 Pre-Fitting the Trailing Arm Bolt
1:20:58 Reinstalling R.S. Body Mount Cover
1:21:24 Prepping the R.S. Half-Shaft
1:22:42 Pressing In New U-Joints
1:24:55 Installing the R.S. Half-Shaft
1:25:53 Installing the R.S. Trailing Arm
1:33:19 Connecting the Parking Brake
1:36:29 Installing R.S. Brake Rotor and Caliper
1:38:48 Adjusting the Parking Brake
1:43:31 Bleeding the Rear Master Cylinder Reservoir
1:44:28 Differential Fluid/Gear Oil
1:47:05 Detailing the Spare Tire Tub
1:50:09 Reinstalling the Spare Tire Tub
1:51:53 Installing the Rear Wheels
1:52:16 My '81 Corvette is Back on All Fours!
1:52:42 Did my Repairs Solve the Problem?

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DISCLAIMER: Even though I like to wrench on my Corvettes and most of my videos are of a how-to nature, I am not responsible nor liable should you decide to follow my musings on the subject.

I am a self-taught DIYer. If videos appear to give technical how-to advice, that is not my intention.

Working on a vehicle can be dangerous. If you're not confident, qualified, or lack the tools to do the job correctly and safely, hire a mechanic.


#c3corvette #asmr