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2007 TrailblazerSS
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75 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Boy oh boy someone was watching out for me. Heading to downtown Chicago on I55 doing 70 to 80 mph. Get off the Dan Ryan West single ramp. At the top where it merges I was going to go right lane and heard weird noise. Pull over in barricades and walk around truck, no flat tire. Im like got to make it to lawyer. Made it there doing 20 mph with hazards on. Inspect vehicle to find both upper control arms cracked at the front rolled formed metal due to rust. Mannnn, rearend turned up and driveshaft yoke screwed up the strap bolts. had to pound socket on old bolts and pray they loosened and didnt slip out of socket. Had to tap threads in diff yoke to accept slightly longer bolts for straps. Broke emergency brake cables. Popped left side rear airbag coming off tow truck due to reversing drivetrain. Mannn, if I was doing 80 and that happened would of been a whole different story here I can imagine. The shocks fully extended holding rearend from turning any more, but high speed would of probably ripped the shocks out of their mounts. Anyway I have never seen any mention on here about watching out for this problem, well here I am. Maybe we should have an inherent problem section or safety section for things to watch out for. Sooooo....watch out for your upper control arms rusting away.
 

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TrailblazerSS
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279 Posts
Wow, I bet the pucker factor was somewhat high! Definitely had someone watching out for you, no doubt about it.

Ive vaguely checked my suspension lately. I’ve noticed some rust, but perhaps I should check a lil closer now!

Thanks for the heads up! You may just be saving someone else, thanks for paying it forward.
 

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TrailblazerSS
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Drove like this for a few weeks before i could get a chance to look at it. wasnt scary just bottomed out alot more i thought the spring failed.. i now check every noise a bit closer. 08 125k damn NJ salt air..

Sent from my boujea ass phone
 

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2007 TrailblazerSS
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75 Posts
Discussion Starter · #7 ·
Oh I see 2007. But how many miles.
I have 120,000 miles on it. One was broken for awhile. Evidenced by rust on all the edges, didnt feel a thing. Then other one finally went. I put Moog upper arms out here for 350 dollars. Then I thought I should buy lowers. So I see these "pretty" red lower arms by Spohn. Grease fitting pumps grease to bolt both sides. Each end polyurethane on the Spohns. My worry is now that they will wear out the mounting ears. Like the metal inner sleeve is steel bonded to urethane then bonded back to eye of bar. There is no give there. So when bolted tight something has to give so the bar will be turning. Is that turning going to wear out my mounting tabs by the inner steel sleeves rotating in the mounting ears. like metal to metal wear. Are you supposed to use a lock nut and leave it a little looser or to torque spec besides air hammering her home? Is that why the grease fitting then cause it will be rotating?
 

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2007 TrailblazerSS
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75 Posts
Discussion Starter · #8 ·
Mine is 2006 Michigan truck.129,000 miles. Well aware of salt issues. I just went out and looked drivers side a tiny bit of surface rust passenger looks new. But I wash mine all the time.
:)
They broke at the front ends of the upper arms guys. Mainly how that metal is bent and rolled together at the end is where they went. Damn I threw them out already, sorry I should of took a pic wasnt thinking.
 

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TrailblazerSS
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Damn pics didnt work, fixed i think

Sent from my boujea ass phone
 

· Registered
2007 TrailblazerSS
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75 Posts
Discussion Starter · #10 ·
Drove like this for a few weeks before i could get a chance to look at it. wasnt scary just bottomed out alot more i thought the spring failed.. i now check every noise a bit closer. 08 125k damn NJ salt air..

Sent from my boujea ass phone
Yes sir. Your all over the place on posts I see. Thanks for your pictures. Thanks for your response. Exactly where mine broke. You can tell by the rusted edges I was driving around with one broken for awhile. Then the other one went. Broke my parking brake cables both sides which I got on ebay. Acdelco parts. So you noticed when only one was broken? What replacement part did you use? Popped my air bag coming backwards off the tow truck cause it throws that pinion flange up and locked the driveshaft. Oh boy it made it off, I got in and he set it to freewheel. Then had to put in reverse and power it off. Twisted air bag and it popped out at lower crimped ring of air spring.
 

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My air pump crapped out a yr before the arm broke so im on lowering springs which prob helped me not tear it up too much. I want to do all Spohn rear arms eventually but i replaced it with a stocker from rockauto for like $35 at the time the pandemic started and future funds were in question.

Sent from my boujea ass phone
 

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Saab 9-7X
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93 Posts
I put all new control arms in the rear of mine due to severe rust. The rest of it had normal surface rust nothing concerning at all. I guess these parts in particular are made out of Chineseium . Moral of the story is if you live near the rust belt inspect your suspension often, rust never sleeps!

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