The ultimate Off-Road suspension!

[meach4x4]

... My TrailBlazer has this type of axle under it. It also has significant mileage on Baja's washboards, and a trip to Copper Canyon under it's belt (before my custodianship of the trailer). It has not had a failure of this (or any) type. The sole difference that I can see is that the man who built it's substantial replacement frame added dampers in the form of Rancho RS9000's. I'm not all that fond of Rancho shocks, but I see no reason to change something that is working.
...

Thom,

Very interesting and informative. I am interested in how your TrailBlazer has the shocks mounted to the trailing arm. (Pictures???) I have been trying to figure out how to add shocks to my torflex axle, for the same reason you have stated. I figure if I can get my torflex on my Wells Cargo to last as long as your Trailblazer, I'll consider it a success.

Thanks!

Gil

[ntsqd]

This is the only picture that I have at the moment of the shock mounting. They are just a pair of shock tabs welded to the rear of the trailing arm and a square tube welded to the frame tube that stick s up into the fenderwell.

[meach4x4]

This is the only picture that I have at the moment of the shock mounting. They are just a pair of shock tabs welded to the rear of the trailing arm and a square tube welded to the frame tube that stick s up into the fenderwell.

Thanks, Thom. This is all I needed to see so that I can duplicate the shock attachment to the trailing arm.

Also, I was looking at this and came up with an idea for the backup in case the rubber breaks loose:

Measure the distance at full droop (trailer on jack stands) from the bottom shock mount bolt to a good spot on the frame where you can attach a limit strap. You can buy limit straps in lengths from 1 foot to over 3 foot long. Then, you just put one end of the strap on the shock bolt and the other to the frame. I will probably weld a could of tabs on the inside of the crossmember to attach the top of the limiting straps.

When I get the work done, I'll take pictures. Until then, you can find "Beard limit straps" on ebay for $26 and up.

Gil

[ntsqd]

What I was thinking to do was a short steel strap across the end of the trailing arm where it pivots. Set it on spacers so that it's close, but not in contact during normal operation.