Hey Guys, I'm in the process of removing the springs/rearend from my 73 4dr parts car. I have the back of the car jacked up with blocks infront of the rear wheels. The problem is I can't get the bolts to turn they have tension on them. I need to know how to get the tension off of them so I can remove them as well as the rear axle. I have never removed springs or a rearend before. Step by step instructions would be nice.
1. Jack up the car, support it in front of the leaf springs. 2.remove, the vent hose, disconnect the brake lines, and E-brake cables 3. use a floor jack, and support the rear end housing. 4. Undo the shackles at the rear of the car, both sides. 5. Undo the nuts on the bolts that hold the front of the leaf springs in, pull out the bolts. 6. Lower the floor jack, the rearend and leaf springs will come out. All this information is given free, you'll have to use common sense to make sure the car does not fall on you.
Thanks for the info. The car is supported by blocks infront of the rear tires, I had the jack under the rear end jacked up some. I cut the brake lines, I can't figure out how to disconnect the E-brake lines, and I can't get the nuts to budge. I also tapped on the bolts that are through the shackes with a hammer, that didn't do anything.
You have to disassemble the rear brakes to get the E-brake disconnected. Use a small hose clamp to tighten around the prongs and the cable will slide out. Remove clamps on springs as well. You have to remove the nuts on both sides of the shackle ... frame and spring ... and the entire shackle will slide out.
If the shackles are the factory style, remove the top and bottom nut, and pull the one side off, the other side has the studs welded to it. You may need an impact gun, and put a wrench on the nut on the outside of the front spring mount, then once the nut is off, tap the bolt through with a punch. You can take the E-brake assembly apart were it pivots underneath the car, then the 2 cables are held together with a clip.
Easier to disconnect the emergency brake cables at the front and pull them out with the rear. Sometimes the shackles are stuck pretty good in the bushings and are a bear to get out. Same with the front spring bolt. If the bottom of the car is real rusty, chances are the bolt is rusted to the metal sleeve in the bushing. In that case its time for a cutting torch. If your junking the car anyway and the motor & trans is out, get a bunch of buddies and flip the car upside down. Its much easier working on the bottom side when it is now the top side.
Yea, I tried to remove the rearend and springs as a unit from my '76 parts car, could not get the shackles to budge. Had to just cut them in half.
I did the flip the donor over one time and man it sure made things easier...lol of course when it was time to haul it off my buddies were no where to be found and so i just drug it onto the roll back on its roof
