Hotchkis 1304, Installation Instructions

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 

# 1304 AND 1304R MUSTANG LOWER TRAILING ARMS 
 

Please read these instructions carefully and if you have any questions regarding 
installation please do not hesitate to call Hotchkis Performance directly, we will be more 
than happy to help. 
 

THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING HOTCHKIS PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS 

1)

With the front wheels securely blocked, raise the rear of the vehicle to an adequate 
working height, then support the vehicle / chassis / body 

securely

 with jack stands, 

leaving the differential slightly supported with the jack. 

2)

Remove the rear wheels then remove the bolts that retain the lower shock absorber 
mounts. If you have a 

Quad-Shock 

equipped car remove the nuts

on the frame side 

of the axle dampening shock and pull it from the pivot. 

3)

Gradually lower the differential far as possible ( be very careful not to over extend the 
flexible brake line that runs from the chassis to rearend.). At this point there should be 
little or no tension on the rear springs so they can be easily removed from the car 
allowing the easiest and safest trailing arm installation possible. 

NOTE –

 pay 

attention to the position of the cutoff spring end and be sure to re-install the springs 
clocked in the same position as this will affect ride height and ride quality. 

4)

Unbolt the rear sway bar from the lower trailing arms and remove the bar. 

5)

Working on one side of the car at a time, remove the two trailing arm pivot bolts. The 
front pivot bolt has very limited clearance between the muffler and frame rail, but can 
be reached with a deep socket / ratchet combination. Remove the old trailing arm. Be 
sure to only remove and install one trailing arm at a time, failure to do so will let the 
rearend housing rotate and will make your installation much more difficult. 

6)

Clean the surface of the pivot points on the car checking to make sure there are no 
rough edges that may tear into the new bushings. After apply a light coat of grease to 
the outer surfaces of each bushing, slide the forward end of the new trailing arm up 
into the position and reinstall the front pivot bolt. 

Note –

 for proper sway bar 

installation – make sure the arms are positioned so that the stickers are towards the 
outside of the vehicle – the arms are marked left and right. 

7)

Slide the rear of the trailing arm into place, reinstall mounting bolt and torque both 
bolts to 70 ft./lbs. 

Note – 

locating and aligning the rear pivot bolt is a little tougher 

and may require the use of a small pry bar or similar tool to line up the mounting 
holes correctly. 

Repeat steps 5 & 6 for the opposite side of the vehicle