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2005/Chevrolet/Trailblazer Snapped rear lower trailing arm.
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jginsing
New User
Mar 10, 2008, 8:24 AM
Post #1 of 7
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2005/Chevrolet/Trailblazer Snapped rear lower trailing arm.
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Hi, we heard a clanking in the back of our car so we brought it in for service. Seems that right rear lower trailing (trailering?) arm was snapped in two.
1. Is it safe to drive in this condition?
2. It seems this is not under my 3 year warranty because they claim I ran over something, so it's collision related. Does this sound right? I was never in an accident. Can I fight this somehow?
3. Does $250plus tax sound right to install the new part?
Thanks in advance!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 10, 2008, 8:40 AM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: 2005/Chevrolet/Trailblazer Snapped rear lower trailing arm.
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Not safe to drive!!!! These things should bend not snap so I can't even guess what happened. Keep the old part-now parts as it could show evidence of a defect. $250 is fair to fix that and should include a 4 wheel alignment.
I've NEVER seen one just snap but that doesn't mean it couldn't and I'm confused as to what happened to cause that. Was it jacked up by that by mistake and bent first by any chance??
T
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jginsing
New User
Mar 10, 2008, 8:53 AM
Post #3 of 7
(4188 views)
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Re: 2005/Chevrolet/Trailblazer Snapped rear lower trailing arm.
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Yes, the mechanic at the dealer seemed a bit surprised about that too. He claims I must have run over something, but I just do normal street driving, and I would imagine a SUV could handle a pothole or something. I've certainly never got into an actual collision with anyone. How high off the ground is the part?
What would be my recourse to fight paying for this?
Thanks so much for your help
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 10, 2008, 9:46 AM
Post #4 of 7
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Re: 2005/Chevrolet/Trailblazer Snapped rear lower trailing arm.
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Just suggest for now: Get it done for the silly $250 - write on the repair order that this will be disputed upon some research and you want the parts back. If you don't need the car for some time leave it and fight with it inoperative but that's a hassle for most folks too.
There's a few us here. I'm just one and others may have seen this with no particular abuse. I've only seen things like this at all with wild car wrecks and some altered vehicle use with full abuse on purpose. If it somehow was bent by something unseen or by accident for jacking it up that would not be a defect. I have seen cast parts with air bubbles in the metal that failed....... engine blocks, u-joints even right away, and assorted CAST parts. When metal is made to start with it is checked and graded for the use it will get. Stuff happens there too. I'm not a manufacturing expert but I think just from looking at those type parts that they must start as flat stock metal and are bent and cut to make the part. These trailing arms are (just having glanced at many over the years) one peice of metal and not welded or bolted,riveted together anywhere. The rubber bushing ends are pressed in and a know strengh bolt and nut secure them. Here, I've seen rust play an issue with all kinds of parts but not in just a few years as this vehicle is.
Keep records on this and who said what. I wonder if there is unseen damage which should show up with a four wheel alignment and then you could be talking collision damage and insurance involvement.
Whatever is said here is really no good as we are not looking at this. Perhaps I've confused the part that broke. If this is just a stabilizer pin that looks like a long bolt with rubber isolators at each end those could break and yes I've done several but on front pins not the rear. Good luck,
T
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 10, 2008, 9:50 AM
Post #5 of 7
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Re: 2005/Chevrolet/Trailblazer Snapped rear lower trailing arm.
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These are typical stabilizer/sway bar pins,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Mar 10, 2008, 9:55 AM
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Re: 2005/Chevrolet/Trailblazer Snapped rear lower trailing arm.
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Wow, thanks so much for the info Tom.
The exact description the mechanic used was the "right rear lower trailering arm which connects the rear differential to the body". Does this sound like the part we are talking about?
In general - if the part was faulty, and I keep it as evidence, who do I fight with - the dealer? Or do I contact Chevrolet?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 10, 2008, 10:37 AM
Post #7 of 7
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Re: 2005/Chevrolet/Trailblazer Snapped rear lower trailing arm.
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Ok: So it's not just those pins - you could do without those entirely. The bar that hold rear axle and the controls arms if independant from moving forward or rear like I think you are talking about are mandatory! There would be another for side to side control. I just surfed the whole web for an exact good pic of what GM used for this.
They can be rounded steel bars also but the same thing - they shouldn't just up and snap! These bars are stong! I find the weaker link to be the bushings which could wear out, or perhaps welded brackets for this stuff on control arms, axle itself, or the body/frame of vehicle.
If this vehicle uses "leaf" springs they can do all the work for front to rear forces and side to side but I don't know if this model did that. That's usually super HD stuff for later vehicles that would carry heavy loads.
While I'm here........ the bushing of parts like this usually have a barbed metal inner sleeve where a bolt goes thru. Those must be tighten up in the same position the vehicle would be sitting on the ground with wheel taking the weight or the torque of the rubber can alter ride height as the rubber is vulcanized to the metal parts. Not this but for some front end parts with replaceable bushings like those (idler arms for example) can cause the car to pull to one side.
I was a tad surprised at that estimate from a dealer for the job!
T
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