https://imgur.com/a/AL797jJ

can you view the 4 images here?

And I think the trailing arm only broke the last time i drive it home. The original quote was just after an accident the car had after I borrowed it to a family member, about a month ago. They just quoted that stuff as things that I should do.

They shop i just brought it to sounded like they believed they could fix the arm, but looking at pictures again I hope it's not there was no where for bolts to hold onto anymore...

Edit:

Found the broken part lol drivers side



https://imgur.com/a/KAc438d

But would it be bad idea to replace myself? Or is it too risky to be working around that rusty mount , let professionals do it ?

 

Left side rear is obviously broken. Rusted clear through it appears or was partially rusted and the accident snapped it off at a weak point.

Right rear if you expand and blow up the picture, appears to be either completely or partially fractured in the exact same spot. Can't tell without actually examining it in real life.

The mounting locations look fine.

You can do the work on the trailing arms yourself but it is very easy to snap the bolts off because they need to be soaked to dissolve the extensive rust before they can be removed..
It sounds like the labor cost to have them done is pretty low so I would probably let them do it.

 

What would be good to soak it with to help remove the rust to prevent breakage? And a friend who worked on Saturn's a lot is offering to help

Also is there anything i should apply to the bolts or mount area after replacement to help slow down rusting issues ?

Also is it necessary to get ABS hub? My ABS hasn't worked since owned it, hoped can do non ABS version to save money

 

I have an 02 sl2 dead in my driveway that I got from my niece.

Both trailing arms were broken.

When attempting to remove the forward bolts - the blind nuts spun out due to rust. Parts car now.

So - get the old one out first before buying the new part....

 

Good idea thanks for advice, will try to see if can remove the bolt at mount first to inspect threads first before buying all the parts

 

I had the exact same problem. But my trailing arm broke when I jacked up the left rear tire.

It seems that the torsion on the body; of jacking up the left rear of the car and letting the left tire hang low, and compressing the right tire up into the wheel well, put just enough torque on the rusty trailing arm to break it at it's weakest point. I actually heard it POP!

But I was too occupied that I didn't check it out at the time. The next morning on the way to work, I took a minor curve on a road, and the car over-steered so severely that I almost lost control of the car. At work, I looked underneath with my phone camera and found the issue.

I was lucky: practically no rust, except for the trailing arm. I bought a pair from Rock Auto for less than $100 and replaced both. I also did the sway bar bushings up front at the same time.

Preston

By-the-way: I bought a pair of rear wheel hub bearings from Detroit Axle for less than a hundred dollars. With shipping it was about $130. AND, they're lifetime warranted.

 

Someone needs to create a frame patch panel for the front mount of those lower trailing arms. There would be a left and right of course, but if created correctly, it could be welded in at the appropriate position and fix the rust problem.

Over on the "other" dead Saturn site, one of the posts showed a man doing JUST THAT. He created a flat panel with a pocket in it, and two holes with nuts welded to the back side. He shaped the panel like the bottom of the frame rail at that point. He may even have braced it along the sides, but I don't recall. But the bracing would just be flat metal I think.

Preston

 

Cool idea.

But if the trailing arm mounting points are rusted out such that the blind nuts come loose, isn't it likely that the frame in that area is also badly rusted?

​​​​​​You'd have to offer two or three sizes to account for the fact that some frames will be rusted worse than others and the distance away to where the frame still has integrity may be different on different vehicles. They could just be standard sizes and the customer cuts it to fit. Chances are whoever is welding the plate in has the means to cut the metal or send it to a shop

 

Yup. Rust is rarely "just one spot".

 

I remember what rust belt Geo Metro owners went through trying to save their front frame horns. There are still lots of Metros here in Oregon but they are gone in the NE part of the country.