Rearend Cover Installation
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 76
Likes: 4
From: Bethel Park, PA
Rearend Cover Installation
I'm going to be replacing the rear spring on my 71 in a couple of weeks and have heard all the stories about the rearend cover breaking when unbolting or bolting on the spring. I was under the car last night taking a look at what it would take to change the rearend cover if it broke and have this question. Does the cross member that it's bolted to have to come off? I assume it does because I can't see any other way to get to the bolts.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 235
Likes: 2
From: York pa
Re: Rearend Cover Installation (JimD)
I have a 72 and rebuilt everything on the rearend inlcuding trailing arms. It started out as replacing the spring but my rear end cover was cracked where it bolts to the spring. I found it is much easier to remove the entire carrier from the car. A floor jack makes this job very nice to remove and install. I have not heard of the cover cracking when installing new spring. If it is original cover and it is not crakced yet you probably got a good one. Of course a new cover relatively cheap when you have the car this far. Do it once and on't have to worry about it again
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Rearend Cover Installation (JimD)
To replace the cover the rear end must be removed. This turns into a big job. If you are just replacing the spring hopefully nothing else needs doing. I remove and replace my spring once a year and have never had a problem breaking the cover. If you need to replace the cover at least check and replace the yokes while it is apart. This is easy once the rear is out. Hopefully the spring replacement is just an evenings job
Good luck
Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 0
From: colorado springs CO
Re: Rearend Cover Installation (norvalwilhelm)
no no no!!
the rear end doesnt have to be removed!!!
what you wanna do is mount the differential crossmemeber to the new rear end cover and install them as a unit!!! those top bolts are almost impossible to reach if u try to do them separately.... but if u want to do em separately a book suggests to drill holes in the cargo trunk to reach em :conehead sounds kinda bubba-ish to me though.....
i have installed them as a unit and its a bit of a tight fit, but it works.
:smash:
if i was replacing the spring, i would replace the cover with a heavy duty one while i was under there...
why work twice???
replace it now while you have the spring off and are under there!!
the rear end doesnt have to be removed!!!
what you wanna do is mount the differential crossmemeber to the new rear end cover and install them as a unit!!! those top bolts are almost impossible to reach if u try to do them separately.... but if u want to do em separately a book suggests to drill holes in the cargo trunk to reach em :conehead sounds kinda bubba-ish to me though.....
i have installed them as a unit and its a bit of a tight fit, but it works.
:smash:
if i was replacing the spring, i would replace the cover with a heavy duty one while i was under there...
why work twice???
replace it now while you have the spring off and are under there!!
