Rear Leaf Spring Removal
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Rear Leaf Spring Removal
Hey Guys;
Did a search on rear spring bolt removal (four center bolts). Consensus was plenty of PB blaster and breaker bars, any other suggestions ? would like to avoid doing any damage.
'73 Vert
Thanks
Did a search on rear spring bolt removal (four center bolts). Consensus was plenty of PB blaster and breaker bars, any other suggestions ? would like to avoid doing any damage.
'73 Vert
Thanks
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Do not remove one bolt at a time.....loosen each bolt the same amount as the others to keep from breaking the "ears" that the bolts screw into off of the differential
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,399
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spring
Not sure if you have removed the ends bolts but the spring is under tremendous pressure so you need to be careful. A 2x4 block of wood clamped to the spring about 6" up from the end will help the jack from not slipping out on you while you jack the end up to remove the bolt.
ZIO
ZIO
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,430
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From: Hamilton NJ
Agreed. And be careful if you're replacing the original with a new spring (eg Monospring) that the bolts you use are the correct length. Too long and you'll punch a hole right through the diff cover (tough lesson for sure).
PB Blaster and breaker bar is about right unless you have air tools. Leverage is your friend.
best of luck,
Steve
PB Blaster and breaker bar is about right unless you have air tools. Leverage is your friend.
best of luck,
Steve
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Thanks for all the replies. I am just trying to replace the spring and bushes. The spring is ready to come off and I am aware of the pitfalls you'all have stated Trying to be very carful around those ears. I don't have a compressor , maybe try and rent one and an air wrench to go with it if need be.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 59
From: Emerald Isle NC
Don't torque the bolts their full amount initially. PO did that to my car and broke the diff cover, resulting in my having to pull the diff the first time.
Done it a couple more times since...
Put it all back together, put the car down, then finish torque the bolts. There are lots of instructionals out there. VB&P has some good ones.
Carter
Done it a couple more times since...
Put it all back together, put the car down, then finish torque the bolts. There are lots of instructionals out there. VB&P has some good ones.
Carter
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Hey guys;
got the spring out without much trouble. On installation I understand about not torqueing the bolts until load is on the suspension, but what should the initial torque be, 10- 20 lbs? I remember as a teenager back in the sixties breaking an ear off a transmission on a GTO so all the talk about breaking ears has me concerned.
thanks again.
got the spring out without much trouble. On installation I understand about not torqueing the bolts until load is on the suspension, but what should the initial torque be, 10- 20 lbs? I remember as a teenager back in the sixties breaking an ear off a transmission on a GTO so all the talk about breaking ears has me concerned.
thanks again.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Initial you just snug them up (10 to 20 would be fine). Then when under weight torque them down. Failure to do so can and in most cases will break the ear off the rear cover.
The final torque is 60-80 ft lbs...
-Willcox
The final torque is 60-80 ft lbs...
-Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Feb 23, 2016 at 09:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Burning Brakes
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
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From: Palm Desert California
Ok gang;
Installing the new steel spring, here's what's happening. New spring torqued to 20 lbs , one side hooks up perfectly , the other side is off center by a good 1.5 inches. I understand about the geometry being off due to the wheel sag raising them helps a little but it's still off.
Also looking at the spring bolts that go into the diff cover at the ears one bolt has clearance against the spring pack the other bolt is resting against the spring pack so it appears to me the spring is shifting a little during/after installing one side. Right now all is disassembled and the spring is loose . Thought better is leave everything loose and get some expert advise before I break something.
What do you think.
BTW this is not cheap Chinese spring and hardware.
Installing the new steel spring, here's what's happening. New spring torqued to 20 lbs , one side hooks up perfectly , the other side is off center by a good 1.5 inches. I understand about the geometry being off due to the wheel sag raising them helps a little but it's still off.
Also looking at the spring bolts that go into the diff cover at the ears one bolt has clearance against the spring pack the other bolt is resting against the spring pack so it appears to me the spring is shifting a little during/after installing one side. Right now all is disassembled and the spring is loose . Thought better is leave everything loose and get some expert advise before I break something.
What do you think.BTW this is not cheap Chinese spring and hardware.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Ok gang;
Installing the new steel spring, here's what's happening. New spring torqued to 20 lbs , one side hooks up perfectly , the other side is off center by a good 1.5 inches. I understand about the geometry being off due to the wheel sag raising them helps a little but it's still off.
Also looking at the spring bolts that go into the diff cover at the ears one bolt has clearance against the spring pack the other bolt is resting against the spring pack so it appears to me the spring is shifting a little during/after installing one side. Right now all is disassembled and the spring is loose . Thought better is leave everything loose and get some expert advise before I break something. What do you think.
BTW this is not cheap Chinese spring and hardware.
Installing the new steel spring, here's what's happening. New spring torqued to 20 lbs , one side hooks up perfectly , the other side is off center by a good 1.5 inches. I understand about the geometry being off due to the wheel sag raising them helps a little but it's still off.
Also looking at the spring bolts that go into the diff cover at the ears one bolt has clearance against the spring pack the other bolt is resting against the spring pack so it appears to me the spring is shifting a little during/after installing one side. Right now all is disassembled and the spring is loose . Thought better is leave everything loose and get some expert advise before I break something.
What do you think.BTW this is not cheap Chinese spring and hardware.
His suggestion was to loosen the bolts up and then snug them down tighter while making sure the spring stays centered between them. You don't have to worry about doing damage unless you sit the car down and roll it out. Once you have the end bolts in place you can take some of the torque off the bolts before lowering and re-torquing the bolts. A tiny shift on center can make a heck of a difference at the end.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Feb 25, 2016 at 03:36 PM. Reason: Typo king
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
I have one of the guys from my shop sitting next to me right now...
His suggestion was to loosen the bolts up and the snug them down tighter while making sure the spring stays centered between them. You don't have to worry about doing damage unless you sit the car down and roll it out. Once you have the end bolts in place you can take some of the torque off the bolts before lowering and re-torquing the bolts. A tiny shift on center can make a heck of a difference at the end.
Willcox
His suggestion was to loosen the bolts up and the snug them down tighter while making sure the spring stays centered between them. You don't have to worry about doing damage unless you sit the car down and roll it out. Once you have the end bolts in place you can take some of the torque off the bolts before lowering and re-torquing the bolts. A tiny shift on center can make a heck of a difference at the end.
Willcox
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
I have one of the guys from my shop sitting next to me right now...
His suggestion was to loosen the bolts up and then snug them down tighter while making sure the spring stays centered between them. You don't have to worry about doing damage unless you sit the car down and roll it out. Once you have the end bolts in place you can take some of the torque off the bolts before lowering and re-torquing the bolts. A tiny shift on center can make a heck of a difference at the end.
Willcox
His suggestion was to loosen the bolts up and then snug them down tighter while making sure the spring stays centered between them. You don't have to worry about doing damage unless you sit the car down and roll it out. Once you have the end bolts in place you can take some of the torque off the bolts before lowering and re-torquing the bolts. A tiny shift on center can make a heck of a difference at the end.
Willcox