Suggestions for removing or repairing cross member

[72ArizonaBurb]

Someone cut my cross member where the carrier bearing is suppose to hang to make room for a 1 piece drive shaft after putting airbags on. I want to return it to stock and have 2 options as I see it. 1) weld some new metal back in and drill holes for the carrier bearing mount or replace the cross member. I will have to disconnect the trailing arms, remove the emergency break cable and my muffler mounts if I replace it.

Does anyone know a good way to get those factory rivets out? It's in a tight place to get to so I don't know if I can get a grinder in there or not.

I'm open to any suggestions on what to do.

Thanks,

Keith

[Classic Bowties]

If my truck, I would replace the whole trailing arm cross member from frame rail to rail, I have had good luck using an air chisel on them factory rivets. Mel

[Hoffa]

Another method I have successfully used is to use a grinder to remove the head flush with the frame and then tap them out with a punch. if the are touch coming out, I have also used a cutting torch to blow the center out and clean out with a punch.

That is my experience.

[Mieser3]

I've had great luck using an air cut off tool and cutting an "x" in the head of the rivet as deep as you can go without getting into the frame or crossmember. I then use an air hammer with a chisel bit to chisel off the head of the rivet. Once that is done I simply input a punch bit into my air hammer and punch the rivet out through the other side. Has worked perfectly for me.

[ChopperDr]

All those methods work great, most of the time for me. Sometimes I'll find one that fights me to the end. Some that I can't get to budge with a punch will get drilled out with a step drill. That usually does the trick.


You don't have to do them all at once if you are having problems getting them out. Once one is out you can bolt it back together through the hole and keep your truck on the road if that is a concern. Just a thought.


Chopzilla

[72ArizonaBurb]

You guys are great! I guess I will start preparing myself mentally to remove the whole thing. It has really been a big job returning the suspension to stock. Thanks for the replies!

Keith

[oldblue1968chevy]

Ive got a crossmember on a parts truck thats upside down in my field. Mcminnville TN. I dont own any torches, but its yours if you can get the rivits out/or bring your own torch or something.

[72ArizonaBurb]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Ive got a crossmember on a parts truck thats upside down in my field. Mcminnville TN. I dont own any torches, but its yours if you can get the rivits out/or bring your own torch or something.

Thanks for the offer on the cross member. I am going to do some checking locally and see what I can come up with. If I don't have any luck I will contact you and take a road trip. I do have a set of torches handy...

[oldblue1968chevy]

Let me know something. Im on christmas break until tuesday, then back to school.

[1970 CST STEP]

Originally Posted by Classic Bowties

If my truck, I would replace the whole trailing arm cross member from frame rail to rail, I have had good luck using an air chisel on them factory rivets. Mel

+1

[72ArizonaBurb]

Yesterday I tackled removing the cross member. I ground the 1st off and had trouble getting it punched out. On the next ones I ground a flat spot then hit it with a punch to make a dimple. Then I drilled the center out about 1/4" into the rivet. I then took my air chisel and cut it off. This was by far the fastest and easist method to remove them. On the top 2 rivets I had to grind them off and I still don't have them punched out. Once they are out I'm ready to do it all over again on a donor truck. I'm not looking forward to that.

[Mieser3]

I just removed a factory trailing arm crossmember on my project if you need one. It's already even been blasted. See my build thread for pics if you're interested.

[72ArizonaBurb]

I have one in parts truck I have. Hopefully I will be able to remove it much easier with the cab and bed off the truck. I took the one off my Suburban with the body still on the frame. I don't want to do that again anytime soon.

Thanks for the offer!

Originally Posted by Mieser3

I just removed a factory trailing arm crossmember on my project if you need one. It's already even been blasted. See my build thread for pics if you're interested.

[oldblue1968chevy]

glad ya got one closer to home!

ya dont have any nice cabs up there do ya?

[72ArizonaBurb]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

glad ya got one closer to home!

ya dont have any nice cabs up there do ya?

I have a 72 Cheyenne Super Cab with AC but I wouldn't say it is nice. The dash is uncut but it needs rockers, cab corners and other repairs. I do have the title for it if you are going to build a project out of several trucks.