Trailing Arms?

simpleplan9995 · 08-05-2007, 09:17 PM

This may make me sound dumb but i need to know...
I have a 1991 Saturn SC with the DOHC 1.9 and the trailing arm mounting locations have rotted away on me. I have only have the car for a year and i'm wondering how important are the trailing arms to the car and what do they do...and if anyone can tell me how to fix it and what parts to get to do it or a price that i might expect to pay.
P.S. the driver side mount is rotted to where i can put both the fist in the hole at the same time

, the passenger hasn't broken though yet... Please help me!!

**Ssicarman** · 08-06-2007, 08:12 PM

Are you talking about the front or rear suspension? If the front there are no trailing arms. If the rear I have not seen the frame work for the trailing arms rust out.
I suspect you mean the front. This would then likely make it the front engine cradle that is rusted out where the lower control arms attach.
The only proper SAFE repair is to replace the engine cradle/front sub frame.

You may have a hard time finding a replacement frame as it is specific to the 91 model year. As far as I know no other year will work.

simpleplan9995 · 08-07-2007, 01:08 AM

It is the rear trailing arms...the undercarriage is rotted away and the inner metal wall of the car is visible. I have never heard of this happening either that is way I was hoping someone could help me out. Thanks for replying by the way!

**Ssicarman** · 08-07-2007, 02:05 AM

The rear trailing arm mounts on the body?? Not the lateral links that go from the center out to the wheels?

If it is the trailing arms on the body then unless you can get a body shop to install new body pan panels the car is not safe and should be junked. Yesterday not tomorrow. The trailing arms stopp the lateral links from moving back and forth when the car starts and stops.

If it is the lateral links then the rear sub frame can be replaced.

simpleplan9995 · 08-07-2007, 06:20 AM

So if a body shop but new body panels up and installed the mount on the new panels it should be ok? cause it is at the mount on the body. God i wish it was the laterial links.

**Ssicarman** · 08-08-2007, 01:53 AM

Find a body shop that is willing to do this and you should be ok. The hard part will be finding the body shop. Rust repairs tend not to be straight forward. There is usually more rust that you see.
Another thing is finding replacement panels for a 91. Certainly worth chekcing out though. I think though that you will find it expensive.

simpleplan9995 · 08-09-2007, 01:08 AM

Thanks for the info....