1983 wagon chassis parts needed

[odie]

I need a pair of trailing arms for a 1983 wagon.

OK, you are asking why.......

I had a couple blow-outs on a long road trip. The jack would not lift the rear axle high enough when placed under the rocker panel where most sissor jacks go. So I slid the jack under the trailing arm. Yes, not the correct place but when you are in the middle of the West Texas wasteland and you must get the tire changed you do what you gotta do.

But the jack was too high to slide the edge of the trailing arm into the slot on top of the jack. But I was able slide the jack under the trailing arm between both "edges" and lift the car.

Anyway, the middle of the trailing arm "spread" open from the jack being under and in the middle of the arm. It's now slightly bent/curved resulting in effectively shortening the trailing arm maybe 1/8-1/4 inches max.

I have not tried to straighten it yet. I think if I use a big clamp and "squeeze" the sides back into place, the arm will straighten back up. But the metal will be weakened a little. I'm not sure if this will be an issue or not. The car drove another 2000 miles just fine with no funny handling..

I don't recall if I jacked the other side up the same way or just under the edge and not the middle of the trailing arm. So the left side might or might not have an undetectable to the naked eye bend.

Anyway, I'm hoping to just straighten the trailing arm, but if not I'm considering options...meaning replacing the trailing arms. Hopefully someone has a junk, parts car 1983 wagon. I think the rear axle stuff all changed from 82-83.

[asavage]

I think the rear axle stuff all changed from 82-83.

Wagons only: rear leaf springs through '82, trailing arms and coils '83-84.

So '84 trailing arms would work too.

[HowlerMonkey]

good job getting home.

I was coming back from a lexus training in atlanta with another tech and we had a blowout but no jack.

I turned the car around and backed the non-flat tire up one end of an armco guard rail (the angled part where it comes fron the ground) until the other tire lifted and we were on our way soon after.

[odie]

WOW

now that's a neat trick.

[kassim503]

that is a neat trick!