so how important is the cold rolled steel bar that goes from the rear end housing to the bracket on the transmission? Just changed out the clutch and looking at the system I could not see a reason for it... so I did not put it back.... but when I took it for a test drive it has a bit of a vibration that gets a bit bad..... I did check the u's and they're oK thoughts.... thanks Dioug

 

You left off the torque arm ?

 

Can't drive the car without it. (not for very long anyway)

It keeps the rear axle assy from rotating. Absolutely critical.

If it's not there, the rear axle can rotate to anywhere it wants, until it breaks something and rotates some more. Probably the shocks would wipe out first. The rear U-joints might not make it all the way around the block. Lord only knows what might happen to the rear brake line.

Park the car and put it back.

 

"mcbitchman"



I lack words.

 

that's what I thought... but don'[t the arms below the rear end tubes act that way? I will put it back though.. lol,,, and thanks they are such a b to get in there. mcbitchman comes from mcdonalds... long story..

 

thank you.... I will ,, don't the lower arms act in that way? any thoughts on putting the arm back in.. tough one for sure. dj

 

I’m sure a gm engineer came up with a way to waste money instead of keepin the axle from wrapping.

 

They are one half of the system. The torque arm is the other half.

You have created the same problem that you would get if you took the LCAs off and left the torque arm on, except worse.

 

This is just an epic quote. Put it back now and don't drive the car any more before you break something and get hurt.

Yes we think you should put it back in. I always start with the rear end side first then pull it down into the mount on the trans side

 

Yikes

 

I'm blown away that the car even moved....the lower control arms (inside of each rear wheel) are what the rear end pushes against to move the car forward, the panhandle bar and brace hold the rear in place left and right, and the torque arm (which you removed ) keeps the rear end from rotating opposite of the wheels....it rotates up when you give it gas and rotates down when you break....that's why on high horsepower F-bodies the trans mounts always go bad, the rear is always trying to lift up on the trans tailhousing when you give it gas...more power=more lift....that's why we replace it with poly or get an aftermarket one that's part of the cross member (like me)

 

OK OK.... It's back in.... I did find an easier way. On the drivers side of the rear housing is a bracket for the sway bar , by putting a bottle jack under the bracket it lifts the rear of the rear end twisting it up in the back and bringing the torques bar down in front making it much easier to install the unit..... thanks for the help guys.... Doug