steves_77vette

I'm at the point of removing the t-arms this week for my frame off. Man those things are buggers to remove!

Now that I'm to the point of next steps I've been educating myself on the rebuild itself. The trouble I'm finding is that a t-arm rebuild seems to use some rather specialty tools for removal and installation of the spindle, bearings, etc plus check the runout for shimming. The cost of the tools may well swamp out the savings of DIY vs sending to a shop like Vansteel.

What is the experience of others? Anyone done the complete DIY or what?

stingry

Send them to VAN STEEL. Talk to Dan or Art. There are lots of things that YOU can do wrong and THEY always get right with T-As. They also give the Forum a good deal. www.vansteel.com

I had mine done 2 years ago and they still look great.

Pete

NHvette

Second the recommendation to Van Steel, BUT ...
I do EVERYTHING myself. If you are like that, you can do it.
The most expensive tool is a hydraulic press. If you have access
to use one, then the rest of the tools are pretty cheap.
Besides all the new parts, you need a dial indicator, magnetic
base, and a bearing puller. All these are about $10 each at Harbor
Freight. Enco also has a dial/base set for about $20 use-enco.com
Oh yeah - much easier with some kind of setup tool.
I used an old spindle that I ground down for a slip-fit of the
bearing races. Basically bolt everything together and check for end-play.
Once it is good, press all the parts onto the spindle/carrier.

If uneasy about setting up precision bearings ... let Dan do it.

Chumpzilla

From what everyone says, Van Steel is very good. But I'd consider shopping around locally if I were you first. I had my done locally (Fast Corvette in Dallas) and the price was great.. but more importantly the work was top notch.

I say this because shipping a pair of T-arms to Van Steel must cost a small fortune. For the price of shipping your T-arms both ways plus rebuild costs, you may as well just buy some new ones.

Van Steel

Thats why we offer free shipping from me back to you.

Chumpzilla

In that case, ship 'em to Van Steel.

Not worth the effort rebuilding them yourself if you've never done it before.

DonBecker

If I put them in the mail today, when would I get them back?

(full rebuild, both arms)

Van Steel

Our turn around time is 3-5 days plus however many days it takes for shipping. At the worst, it will be 5-7 days.

steves_77vette

The crazy thing is the wife and kids are heading to see her sister in Tampa at the end of the week for Spring break. Might as well "ship" the t-arms with the family and let Vansteel ship them back to me regular. Some things in life do work out!

Gator81

Got mine from Van Steel in 2001. According to my notes, I paid $790 for both T-arms, plus another $40 for a stainless bolt and shim kit, for a total of $830, plus shipping. I do recall the shipping hurt the wallet, but I didn't write the amount down. Depends a lot on how far it has to go. I'm in Utah. They're heavy. It hurt.

But I got beautiful and mechanically perfect pieces, new bearings, new rotors, poly bushings, and a stainless park brake. I'm a happy customer.

I'm pretty much a DIY guy, but I'm glad I farmed that one out.

turtlevette

not criticizing or anything, but it blows me away that people aren't afraid to take the body off their vette and have the whole thing in a million pieces all over their garage and yard but afraid to bang some bearings off a shaft.

steves_77vette

Two things come to mind: know your limitations and have the right tools.

I'm lacking in the "right tools" department for this job. "Banging out bearings" is the easy part. Putting them back IN and aligned properly is totally another.

Twin_Turbo

The tools are reasonably priced if you buy them from ebaymotors (there's a guy on there..forgot his name, several people, including me, have his tools..they are top notch), can't have too many tools. As for the other requirements apart from a spindle puller/installer and a spindle setup tool..most people have the other tools required (a mag base + dial micrometer)

mrvette

After decades of working on cars...make that about 30 years some time ago, I did not know of Van Steel, but farmed out the entire rear suspension rebuld to Tony's Corvette shop in G'burg Md,...this was about ten years ago....they did a fine job, and it's all still in the car, what they did....I have changed a few things, but the T-arm rebuild was not one of them, since then I have had more time to spend with the car, and am not so scared of rebuilding them as previously....

now, IF you have the tools, press, shims, TIME, talent, and resources to KNOW what to DO and what NOT to do for long life, fine, have at it....

IMO, as more or less of a novice today.....Van Steel....

case closed...

and I fix just about damn near everything on a car, ANY car...

but I don't do heads, shortblocks, and get involved in what is totally necessary involved with 'special tool #J-10005.525 and 1/2"......

GENE

I'm Batman

How much of the rebuild work can be done at home without the benefit of a press?

Frankenvette

I just ordered Van Steel trailing arms a few weeks ago. I came very close to doing this myself, as I like to learn. In the end, since this is hopefully a one time rebuild, I decided to go with Van Steel. I did not have any of the tools nor the press needed. These rebuilt t/arms are sure pretty.

bertmeister

Van Steel did my trailing arms. Top quality job and great people to work with. Shipping trailing arms Fedex ground to Vansteel cost me $52.00.

vettfixr

Van Steele, nothing more to say.

MsVetteMan

What? I did mine for around $90 tops. Is that worth the effort? You can check around and find a local machine shop to press the bearings on for you. I think it's worth the effort.

I'm Batman

My thoughts were leaning toward the 'do everything but the bearings myself' line. The rotors are a bit of a question mark, though. From what I hear, the rotor rivets were just there to keep them in place on the assembly line, and aren't really necessary.