Found out what the clunking noise was

[Kalgorn]

For those of you that remember me posting about a "clunking" or "rattling" in my rear, I found out what it was. It actually got worse a couple days ago but I took yesterday off of work and went home to work on my car. I thought the problem was my rear brakes... boy was I wrong!

 

I jacked the car up and took the driver's side tire off. Turns out my trailing arm snapped in half. :shock: I slid into a curb this past winter because some jackass in front of me decided to attempt to stop very suddenly in the snow. It was either hit him or try to avoid him... I attempted to turn into a side street but sort of overcorrected and hit the curb on the driver's side. Popped the tire off the bead but I'm assuming it also hit the trailing arm and bent it. The bend eventually got worse and snapped in half...

 

So now I've gotta find one in a salvage yard. I rigged it up for now... used a piece of metal fence and 4 hose clamps until I pick up another one and find time to replace it.

[5speedz34]

Dude, around here you can get them at the parts store for $20 a arm. Hell you can get the GMPP for like $17 (for both)+ shipping.

 

FWIW: Most will be bent.

[dsgrntld187]

Just buy a new one, there like 50 bucks a piece for the GMPP trailing arms.

[terryk2003]

Just buy a new one, there like 50 bucks a piece for the GMPP trailing arms.

 

umm...dunno where you got your info...but there only like 35 for BOTH from gmpartsdirect...thats where i got mine...

 

part number is 12498649

 

if you decide to go that route

[dsgrntld187]

Wait, 50 bucks total through my dealership.

[19Cutlass94]

either way, where ever you get them from, its not that much money, so your better off buying brand new ones than going through a j/y trying to find "good" ones

[Kalgorn]

Ahh, alright. I'm going to go through GMPartsDirect. I called NAPA yesterday and he said that they don't carry trailing arms and that I would have to go to a dealer or a junkyard.

 

Oh, and about the bend:

 

The arm was bent together, not bent down. It looks like the metal twisted and eventually snapped. I should have this fixed within 2 weeks. I start my 2 week break from school so I'll have some time off. BTW, I'm gonna take some pictures of it rigged up, plus pictures of the damage. I'll be sure to post 'em on here.

 

EDIT: Is that the correct part #? When I use that, I get rear trailing arms with this description:

 

For use on 2000-2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala; 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. This kit increases rear suspension performance by eliminating rear suspension flex. It includes two rear trailing arms.

 

Will they still fit on my Z34?

[Guest TurboSedan]

i had a bent arm once. some idiot decided that the trailing arm was a GREAT mounting point for a floor jack. oh yeah, that will hold 3500lbs.

 

it wasn't me i swear! :oops:

[19Cutlass94]

had a bent arm once. some idiot decided that the trailing arm was a GREAT mounting point for a floor jack. oh yeah, that will hold 3500lbs.

well give that person the benefit of the doubt and say that the floor jack just slipped

[terryk2003]

EDIT: Is that the correct part #? When I use that, I get rear trailing arms with this description:

 

For use on 2000-2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo; 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala; 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. This kit increases rear suspension performance by eliminating rear suspension flex. It includes two rear trailing arms.

 

Will they still fit on my Z34?

 

yes...that is correct...they are listed for the newer gen w's...but they are the same...i have those on my cutlass...!