Trailing Arm

This procedure covers the replacement of the rear trailing arm (also called a control arm or suspension link) on a 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L V8 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear trailing arm (control arm) × 1 — Use OEM or equivalent heavy-duty aftermarket
• Control arm mounting bolts and nuts × 1 — Replace if corroded or damaged
• Anti-seize compound × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels
3. If bolts are rusted, spray penetrating oil on all trailing arm mounting bolts and allow to soak for 15-30 minutes
4. Loosen wheel lug nuts on the side being serviced while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)

Procedure

1. 1

   Raise and support vehicle
   Use a floor jack to lift the rear of the vehicle at the rear axle or frame jack point. Place jack stands under the frame rails on both sides for stability. Ensure the vehicle is secure before proceeding. The rear axle should be supported but able to move down slightly to relieve suspension tension.
2. 2

   Remove rear wheel
   Remove the lug nuts completely and remove the wheel from the side being serviced. Store the wheel away from the work area.
3. 3

   Support rear axle
   Place an additional floor jack under the rear axle housing near the trailing arm mounting point. Raise slightly to support the axle weight but do not lift the vehicle. This prevents the axle from dropping excessively when the trailing arm is removed.
4. 4

   Mark alignment reference
   Before removing any bolts, use a paint pen or marker to mark the position of the trailing arm mounting bolts relative to the mounting brackets. This helps maintain approximate alignment during reinstallation.
5. 5

   Remove front trailing arm mounting bolt
   Locate the front mounting bolt that connects the trailing arm to the frame bracket. Use a breaker bar and appropriate socket to remove the bolt and nut. The bolt may be tight due to load and corrosion. Support the trailing arm as you remove this bolt to prevent it from dropping suddenly.
6. 6

   Remove rear trailing arm mounting bolt
   Locate the rear mounting bolt that connects the trailing arm to the rear axle housing bracket. Remove this bolt and nut using appropriate sockets. You may need to use the floor jack under the axle to adjust height slightly for better access or to relieve binding.
7. 7

   Remove trailing arm
   With both mounting bolts removed, carefully lower and remove the trailing arm from the vehicle. Inspect the mounting bushings on the arm. If only one side is being replaced, compare the condition of both arms and consider replacing both if significant wear is present.
8. 8

   Clean mounting points
   Use a wire brush to clean the mounting bracket surfaces on both the frame and axle housing. Remove rust, dirt, and old thread-locking compound from bolt holes. Apply penetrating oil to clear any debris from the bolt passages.
9. 9

   Install new trailing arm
   Position the new trailing arm between the frame and axle brackets. Apply a thin coat of anti-seize compound to the bolt threads. Insert the front mounting bolt first, threading the nut on by hand but do not tighten. Then insert the rear mounting bolt and thread its nut on by hand. Align the arm to your reference marks made earlier.
10. 10

    Install wheel and lower vehicle
    Reinstall the wheel and thread lug nuts on by hand. Lower the vehicle using the floor jack until the full vehicle weight is resting on the wheels and suspension. The suspension must be at normal ride height before torquing control arm bolts. Remove the jack stands but keep the floor jack in position for safety.
11. 11

    Torque trailing arm bolts at ride height
    With the vehicle weight on the suspension, torque both the front and rear trailing arm mounting bolts to specification. This is critical - torquing these bolts with the suspension hanging will twist the bushings and cause premature failure. Torque both bolts fully before moving to the next step.
    ⚠Control arm bolts MUST be torqued at normal ride height with vehicle weight on wheels. Failure to do so will cause premature bushing failure.
    Torque spec

    Control Arm Bolts165 Nm (122 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Torque wheel lug nuts
    Using a torque wrench, tighten the wheel lug nuts to specification in a star pattern to ensure even seating of the wheel against the hub.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts169 Nm (125 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. If replacing both trailing arms, repeat the procedure on the opposite side
2. Double-check that all fasteners are torqued to specification
3. Verify nothing was left loose or disconnected in the work area

Verification

• Test drive the vehicle at low speed in a safe area and listen for any unusual noises from the rear suspension
• Verify the vehicle tracks straight and there is no pull to either side
• After 50-100 miles, re-torque the trailing arm bolts to specification as a precaution
• Have the rear wheel alignment checked and adjusted if necessary, as trailing arm replacement can affect toe and thrust angle

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