These trailing arm bolts AKA pivot bolts are HIGHLY stressed. They are also torqued near their tensile limit. Just like highly stressed critical bolts in aircraft they should be considered only usable and torqueable ONCE. To replace of course you raise the car. The bolt is replaced with the weight of the car off the suspension. The only precaution is that when the bolts are torqued the weight of the car is resting on the suspension so use a jackstand under the mount by the rear shock to "load" the suspension. On an automatic getting the left bolt out requires disconnecting the trailing arm from the rear carrier. If the bolts are bent you might have to slice them up into little pieces to get them out. It is best to have this done at an alignment shop so the bolts won't get retorqued too many times and they have the expertise and equipment to do this AND set the thrust angle. David Teitelbaum vin 10757 --- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Joe Thome" <joethome@xxxx> wrote: > Hello Fellow List Members, > > Great discussion on trailing arm bolts. Is there any precaution which should be followed in the removal of these bolts for inspection or replacement? Do you simply get under the car and screw these bolts out, or do you have to secure the trailing arms or other parts so that they don't suddenly spring out position and do damage to person or car? > > Many thanks. > > Joe Thome > > VIN 6467 as of 2/12/01 > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]