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Send PMLoir en Vallee SARTHE, France
Joined: 8/21/2002
Posts: 189
Vette(s): 1978 L48 Auto. Red with Oyster Leather interior. Owned since 1990.
I've seen worse trailing arms that yours, much worse in fact!
Mine, were a bit "crusty", so I opted for new, bare TA's, about $250 (more for me here, plus shipping!) I ended up having to buy a few extra parts, like a spindle, some bearings etc, and I half wished I'd gone for a complete arm assembly, from someone like Van Steel. They come out at around $1100 per side....! But they would have made life easier, and of course I wouldn't have needed to do all the set-up etc.
As an aside, I sold my old arms to a buddy thinking they were more or less scrap. He sand blasted them and cleaned them up and once painted they looked fab! But I wouldn't have had the wherewithal to do that!
I'm interested in your dampers - they seem to have a wire connection? And they don't seem to be seated on the lower shock mounts?
I have a document that details my alignment method. I you need it "down the line" let me know in a PM (with you email maybe?) and I'll send it over
Stephen J Irons
Corvette Club France
Corvette Club France
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Corvettes of Southern California
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Red Corvettes Have More Fun!
Corvettes of Southern California
NCM Family Member
Red Corvettes Have More Fun!
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For new or rebuilt trailing arms check out Bair's Corvettes. They're a former sponsor and are GREAT folks to work with.
Jim Olson 
"The Toys"...!!! Save the Wave! 
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7
One of the problems you could run into with the trailing arms is the rust problem in the shim area unless somebody is already done the stainless steel overhaul in that area. FWIW, yours don't look that bad from the picture unless somebody has repainted in that area. Another potential rust problem area is in the parking brake assembly. If they were not used consistently than they are probably rusted to the point that they have to be replaced with a stainless steel kit. If the car spent a good amount of time in the Rust Belt and it's quite possible that the cable is rusted and locked up inside the housings. If the car has a considerable amount of miles on it then you might want to consider replacing the wheel bearings because when one fails it's not pretty.
Edited 8/10/2026 4:42:15 PM (AZT)
1973 L-82 4 spd
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in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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