Stock Trailing Arms question

[1966ponyguy]

Starting cleaning up the parts to get ready to put everything back together last night and noticed that 1 of my trailing arms (68 swb) is coming apart. I guess the arms are 2 stamped pieces. Is this normal or a problem? Looks like a bolt hole in the side of them where a bolt could / should go to help hold them together, but didn't take one out, maybe missing?

[john@thepier]

There was rivets that held them together not bolts. Darn rust is what ruines them and makes them seperate.

[1968SWBBigBlock]

They have a couple of extra holes not a big deal.
Because of the way they are made rust is a big issue with the trailing arms.
You can take it to a shop and have a plate welded to the top and bottom or box the entire unit if you like.
Or you can always buy a good arm off someone.
The 1/2 ton arms come from the factory with rivets, the 3/4ton are riveted with a reinforcing plate along the bottom

[Green Machine]

Pics wuld be handy - If they are coming apart then the welds have likely rusted off. They could be starting to spread apart. Check for rust growing between the two halves, if it is anthing more than minor, I would replace them. There is a set on the parts board for sale right now. Godd used ones aren'treal expensive and are a lot easier to change now when things are apart.

[1966ponyguy]

This one is not coming apart, it is in 2 pieces. But talk about timing, just saw the post by Ram man on his home fab trailing arms, looks like I need to stop by the steel shop.