76 soft front removal
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 353
Likes: 1
From: Sugar Land, TX
76 soft front removal
Need to replace a couple of headlight bucket bearings and think I need to remove the soft front to do so. Need help on what bolts need to be removed to remove soft front. As always, advanced thanks for your help.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 3
From: Charlotte North Carolina 704-394-5150
You do not need to remove you front bumper to do the headlight bearings. You will gain nothing by removing the front cover. Call me at work and I can easily tell you other than writing a essay on what to do in getting these bearing replaced. Free of charge ---other than your time & making the call. (704)394-5150 EST M-F 8:30-5:00 Sat 9:00-4:00 Sun 10:00-2:00 GMC "DUB"
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Here is an exploded view of the headlamps and you'll need to raise the housing support to do this.
To remove the upper housing,
Remove the screw number 3 from the spacer number 4. You will find one on each side of the housing.
Remove stop bracket A from the side of the housing.
Remove the screws B from the pivot bearing support C. There are three per support and one on each side.
Once you do this the housing will be loose on the car. You will need to get the bearing supports to slide inward on the shaft which should allow you enough clearance to clear the headlamp support. Once this is cleared on one side you should be able to lift the housing out of the car.
The bearing and housing assembly shown in the picture is the replacement style used on the later cars and made from stamped steel. The earlier cars used a cast bearing support and will not look like this. Some people want to re-use the original bearing support so the simple solution is to drive the new bearings out of the new support and then drive them in the old cast one. They will fit and this will work as long as you take your tiem and do not score the plastic bearings up. The bearing is show as D in the picture.
Before you go back together you should make sure the surface on the housing shaft is polished to a nice smooth finish to allow fee movement on the new bearing. Your old bears will probably be hard to break free and sometimes it can be very difficult to get the bearings to move on shaft for removal.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/images/he...etters%202.jpg
We have a good picture on this write up for the actuator replacement. http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=250
Good luck,
Willcox Inc.
To remove the upper housing,
Remove the screw number 3 from the spacer number 4. You will find one on each side of the housing.
Remove stop bracket A from the side of the housing.
Remove the screws B from the pivot bearing support C. There are three per support and one on each side.
Once you do this the housing will be loose on the car. You will need to get the bearing supports to slide inward on the shaft which should allow you enough clearance to clear the headlamp support. Once this is cleared on one side you should be able to lift the housing out of the car.
The bearing and housing assembly shown in the picture is the replacement style used on the later cars and made from stamped steel. The earlier cars used a cast bearing support and will not look like this. Some people want to re-use the original bearing support so the simple solution is to drive the new bearings out of the new support and then drive them in the old cast one. They will fit and this will work as long as you take your tiem and do not score the plastic bearings up. The bearing is show as D in the picture.
Before you go back together you should make sure the surface on the housing shaft is polished to a nice smooth finish to allow fee movement on the new bearing. Your old bears will probably be hard to break free and sometimes it can be very difficult to get the bearings to move on shaft for removal.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/images/he...etters%202.jpg
We have a good picture on this write up for the actuator replacement. http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=250
Good luck,
Willcox Inc.
