Radius/trailing arm project Part 3. Finally Finished!!

I know it took a month and a half. But, the trailing/radius arm refurbishing operation is completed! Parts BTA 626 (right) and BTA 627 (left) are officially off my workbench!

After stripping the outside of the arms and scrubbing them down with a wire brush, the inside parts were next. I took the arms to John’s and used his angle grinder with steel cutting wheels to get the pivot shafts removed.

Then I brought them home and had to cut the rusted and "frozen" bearing races with a Dremel and pound them out. This was by far the hardest and most frustrating part of the whole operation!!

I decided to use a wire brush wheel on my drill to polish them up instead of sandblasting them. They de-rusted very nicely so they were primered.

And painted.

I found a complete pivot shaft rebuild kit on that auction site. It was a bit pricey but, then again, how many of these kits are there in the world?

The rear brake backing plates were also wire brushed and sanded down. They painted up well. I also splurged and got new handbrake lever boots since the old ones crumbled to bits.

The cleaned up parts...the brake adjusters and handbrake levers, were reinstalled.

I have all the parts…new shoes, springs, retaining springs, and brake cylinders…to rebuild them. But, then again, I may just save everything as spares for Old Biddy.

They were then reassembled. All the newly painted bits look great!!

To see what I started with, scroll through the previous two posts to refresh your memory. I am very pleased with the outcome. And they do not smell bad any more!!

I do not know if I am going to rebuild them completely or try to sell them as is. A few questions come to mind if I decide to sell them. How much are they worth? Will someone actually be interested in purchasing them? Would I get my money back if I sell them completely rebuilt with pivot shaft kits (and roller foot joint kits) installed and all new brakes? Will I need these in the future as spares for Old Biddy?

Next projects to go up on the bench will be cleaning up my spare hydrolastic displacement units and the rear brake drums.

Thanks for visiting.

Toddy