47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

We have made a big change in rear suspension offerings for the 47-54 1/2T shortbed (wide chassis). We now have in production a trailing arm rear suspension package for these trucks. The wide tapered frame is a natural fit for a trailing arm suspension. These are available with Viking double adjustable coil-overs ($1175), with air ride using an 8000 series Firestone rolling sleeve bag and Nitro shocks ($1175), or as the trailing arm kit only - no shocks or bags, ($745). All kits include a new front crossmember, front trailing arm mounts, trailing arms with adjustable monster ball ends, axle saddles, U-bolts, Panhard rod and mounts and complete hardware pack. Coil-over kits add lower shock mounts and spacers, billit viking double adjustable shocks, springs, upper shock crossmember and hardware. Air bag kits add Firestone 8000 bags, upper bag mounts, upper and lower shock mounts, shocks and hardware.:metal:

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

Do you have a picture showing one installed? Im interested.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

Nice looking set-up...Jim

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

coming soon, with full instructions.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

That should make a of guys happy. I was pondering the merits of pulling the trailing arm setup out from under a trailer I have that uses a 70 C10 chassis and putting it under my 48 on the way home today.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

Good morning. I have a 1948 Chevy 3100. Is that the narrow or wide frame?

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

Wide.

3600 and 3800 are narrow.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

I like this kit , having made several for 47-53 $1175 seems a decent price when you consider the time it takes to convert a 72 setup to fit.

What's the wall thickness on the trailing arms? Do I see a booster mount on the cross member? That solves some issues on 3100's

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

Yes, considering that the RideTech coil-overs list for $575.00, we think it a very good value. The trailing arms are .120 wall. Yes, there is a booster mount on the crossmember. This can be linked to the OE pedal with a pushrod, and mounts the booster/master farther back, out of the way of transmission crossmembers, headers, and all of the heat. It is a standard square pattern, so most aftermarket and OE boosters will fit. We commonly use the 8" dual diaphram Delco units.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

nice work rob :D

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

That keeps looking better all the time. The built in booster mount solves one more problem that a lot of us face.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

Here are pictures of the No Limit Trailing Arm kit on my 49' 3100. The kit went in smooth, however the RideTech coilovers were a few inches too high. I swapped them out for some smaller QA1 units.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

Kaliforniaman, please PM. Thanks.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

I couldn't see what was going on very well with the dark photos so I lightened them up a bit.

Rob, I am going under the assumption that that will work with the GMC half ton long wheelbase frame that is stretched in the middle but wide at the rear like a short bed?

I may have to sell off more junk now that I see those photos

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

I like this! Can the cross member be narrowed to work on 3600's?

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

This rear suspension is designed for the "Tapered" rail chassis. Narrow in front (28" or so) and wider in the back (46" +/-). This rail lay out fits very well with a trailing arm suspension. 3/4 tons that stay parallel at 34" out back would be better off using our FatBar 4 bar suspension.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

Is this trailing arm setup a better suspension for autox as compared to a four bar design?

On the fence whether to modify my original frame or start over with an aftermarket chassis.

Re: 47-54 Trailing Arm Rear Suspension
 

hey rob - am I correct in that this crossmember does not include a rear trans mount? can you provide dimensions as to where it mounts to the frame? Also, how do you think this set up would work with a dropped front axle on stock springs? Thanks.