Rear trailing arm bushings- premature failure - 63/64 Cadillac Website2024-03-29T15:25:06Zhttps://6364cadillac.ning.com/forum/topics/rear-trailing-arm-bushings-premature-failure?xg_source=activity&id=6543066%3ATopic%3A203535&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHello, Dan McNarry here. I ha…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2020-03-06:6543066:Comment:2143062020-03-06T06:53:25.193Z0wmawhs0nd6nthttps://6364cadillac.ning.com/xn/detail/u_0wmawhs0nd6nt
<p>Hello, Dan McNarry here. I haven't logged in to this site in quite some time. The subject of the poor quality trailing arm bushings seems to have generated quite a lot of "buzz". Just to re-iterate some of what has been discussed, the replacement bushings that I installed were worse than the worn out factory ones they replaced. The originals wore out in a vertical manner as in the round hole in the bushing became an elongated oval oriented vertically. The rubber was still hard however and…</p>
<p>Hello, Dan McNarry here. I haven't logged in to this site in quite some time. The subject of the poor quality trailing arm bushings seems to have generated quite a lot of "buzz". Just to re-iterate some of what has been discussed, the replacement bushings that I installed were worse than the worn out factory ones they replaced. The originals wore out in a vertical manner as in the round hole in the bushing became an elongated oval oriented vertically. The rubber was still hard however and the axle didn't move as much forward or backward as the replacement ones. The aftermarket replacement ones are terrible. They sag vertically very soon after installation and as the video shows, have lots of fore aft movement. If you watch the video to the end, notice that when I turn into the alley behind my garage (pavement to gravel) the axle does a wild kind of yaw where one side goes forward while the other side goes back. Crazy. They were two years old at that time. </p>
<p>I saw where one member was complaining about the appearance of the replacement arms that I build. I make no apologies for that as they are designed to be robust and affordable. I sell these in limited numbers and the machine shop costs are high. I only make the bushing sleeves and the spring locator myself, all the other parts are made for me. The reason that I use a machine shop is that they can CNC cut the bushing sleeve holes in the trailing arm tubes very accurately ensuring that all trailing arms have the same length preventing a customers car from dog tracking. When I made the prototype set, even though I carefully laid out the holes, drilled pilot holes and used a slow speed hole saw in my drill press, the two trailing arms came out at different lengths center to center. I had to correct that with a solid hour of hand filing. </p>
<p>The rest of the parts are water jetted which is particularly helpful in making the parking brake cable tab bracket. They are designed as a solution to a problem that is durable and use inexpensive and easy to replace polyurethane bushing. The bushings can be replaced by the average home mechanic without the use of a press. This is not a big money making enterprise but a service to fellow Cadillac enthusiasts. I don't advertise the fact but I pay the brokerage fee on shipping, the customer just pays the actual shipping charge. As most of my customers are in the US, you don't get penalized by my shipping them from Canada. This is the same for my European customers. The steel used is sourced by the machine shop from the USA as customers will notice by the stamps on the trailing arm tubes. </p>
<p>I would like to thank those of you who are customers and I would like to thank Russ for being an advocate of these replacement trailing arms. He has been more than patient in his responses to questions and I am very grateful for his support. </p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Dan</p> Tony or Russ, You or anyone c…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2020-01-28:6543066:Comment:2125862020-01-28T03:09:50.230ZJason Edgehttps://6364cadillac.ning.com/profile/jasonedge
<p>Tony or Russ, You or anyone can take the link and copy to our Videos. Just click on Videos then click +Add. You will need to copy and paste in the link. It would be helpful to include some contextual information so people know what they are looking at.</p>
<p>Tony or Russ, You or anyone can take the link and copy to our Videos. Just click on Videos then click +Add. You will need to copy and paste in the link. It would be helpful to include some contextual information so people know what they are looking at.</p> Ive had mine in for year or s…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2020-01-27:6543066:Comment:2128462020-01-27T03:04:47.212ZKim K Kaiserhttps://6364cadillac.ning.com/profile/KimKKaiser
<p>Ive had mine in for year or s . Couple 3 thousand miles. So far so good</p>
<p>Ive had mine in for year or s . Couple 3 thousand miles. So far so good</p> Tony, I have the first set, a…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2020-01-27:6543066:Comment:2126722020-01-27T00:47:39.242Z3ft7bqmb7dryohttps://6364cadillac.ning.com/xn/detail/u_3ft7bqmb7dryo
<p>Tony, I have the first set, as I was the test car. Not sure of the mileage, but they have been on the car for over a year. The load on the bushings is constant, due to the spring pushing on the control arm.</p>
<p>A bystander can not tell that different control arms are installed, as only the front is viewable, if you get down and look. You will need to get under the car to see the boxed design.</p>
<p>Tony, I have the first set, as I was the test car. Not sure of the mileage, but they have been on the car for over a year. The load on the bushings is constant, due to the spring pushing on the control arm.</p>
<p>A bystander can not tell that different control arms are installed, as only the front is viewable, if you get down and look. You will need to get under the car to see the boxed design.</p> The new trailing arms do not…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2020-01-26:6543066:Comment:2128442020-01-26T14:00:58.859Z3ft7bqmb7dryohttps://6364cadillac.ning.com/xn/detail/u_3ft7bqmb7dryo
<p>The new trailing arms do not affect the ride height. They were designed and built to the same specs as the originals control arms.</p>
<p>I have them on my car, and have installed them on other cars as well. Ride height is the same. You could use the 2 inch lowering springs with the new control arms.</p>
<p>The new trailing arms do not affect the ride height. They were designed and built to the same specs as the originals control arms.</p>
<p>I have them on my car, and have installed them on other cars as well. Ride height is the same. You could use the 2 inch lowering springs with the new control arms.</p> Thanks for the replies. I tru…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2020-01-26:6543066:Comment:2124832020-01-26T03:44:44.580Z1n7b92in0cq10https://6364cadillac.ning.com/xn/detail/u_1n7b92in0cq10
<p>Thanks for the replies. I truly love the Cadillac community found on this forum. You guys are simply fantastic! With the custom trailing arms, I was reading they ride the car higher in the rear? I’m working on lowering my caddy 2”. Anyone experience this with the new arms? </p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. I truly love the Cadillac community found on this forum. You guys are simply fantastic! With the custom trailing arms, I was reading they ride the car higher in the rear? I’m working on lowering my caddy 2”. Anyone experience this with the new arms? </p> You can not use the poly bush…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2020-01-25:6543066:Comment:2125782020-01-25T23:11:18.658Z3ft7bqmb7dryohttps://6364cadillac.ning.com/xn/detail/u_3ft7bqmb7dryo
<p>You can not use the poly bushings in the stock rear control arms. The stock arm is too small and will not take the larger poly bushing. It would have been an easy fix otherwise.</p>
<p>You can not use the poly bushings in the stock rear control arms. The stock arm is too small and will not take the larger poly bushing. It would have been an easy fix otherwise.</p> What was/is the latest with t…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2020-01-25:6543066:Comment:2124792020-01-25T20:08:47.566Z1n7b92in0cq10https://6364cadillac.ning.com/xn/detail/u_1n7b92in0cq10
<p>What was/is the latest with the rear bushings?? I’m replacing the front suspension and figure might as well replace the rear ball joint and bushings while I’m at it, but after reading this thread I’m now concerned at quality and performance. </p>
<p>What was/is the latest with the rear bushings?? I’m replacing the front suspension and figure might as well replace the rear ball joint and bushings while I’m at it, but after reading this thread I’m now concerned at quality and performance. </p> It will probably be sometime…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2019-06-10:6543066:Comment:2039152019-06-10T18:59:11.533Z2920a2crpjlydhttps://6364cadillac.ning.com/xn/detail/u_2920a2crpjlyd
<p>It will probably be sometime in the fall when I will be able to swap out the rear links on my 64 Deville, at that time I will send them to Rare Parts.</p>
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<p>It will probably be sometime in the fall when I will be able to swap out the rear links on my 64 Deville, at that time I will send them to Rare Parts.</p>
<p></p> i used the McNarry replacemen…tag:6364cadillac.ning.com,2019-06-10:6543066:Comment:2040022019-06-10T05:56:00.326ZKim K Kaiserhttps://6364cadillac.ning.com/profile/KimKKaiser
<p>i used the McNarry replacements on my 63 per suggestion from Russ,, my back end wobble at 63 -65 mph went away,, really smoothed it out for me... i was happy with the move</p>
<p>i used the McNarry replacements on my 63 per suggestion from Russ,, my back end wobble at 63 -65 mph went away,, really smoothed it out for me... i was happy with the move</p>