Rear Spring Replacement on 73
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Common hand tools and common sense is all you'll need !
It's a little bit of work.....one good afternoon should do it.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 893
Likes: 7
From: Orange Park Florida
Easy.
I jacked the car up at the rear frame crossmember (then used jack stands), removed the tires, used a bottle jack to hold up the spring ends while I removed the spring bolt nuts, then removed the four bolts holding the spring to the rear end. The spring is heavy but manageable.
I jacked the car up at the rear frame crossmember (then used jack stands), removed the tires, used a bottle jack to hold up the spring ends while I removed the spring bolt nuts, then removed the four bolts holding the spring to the rear end. The spring is heavy but manageable.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,229
Likes: 4,321
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi gc,
It's not too difficult a job, but you DO need to be careful until the spring is unloaded.
The original springs have a bolt in the center that fits in a hole in the spring mounting plate. If the bolt's in the hole, it's centered.
The AIM and service manual say to not completely tighten the 4 mounting bolts until the wheels are back on, and the car's weight is on the spring.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
You can see te hole inthe mounting plate in this picture.
It's not too difficult a job, but you DO need to be careful until the spring is unloaded.
The original springs have a bolt in the center that fits in a hole in the spring mounting plate. If the bolt's in the hole, it's centered.
The AIM and service manual say to not completely tighten the 4 mounting bolts until the wheels are back on, and the car's weight is on the spring.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
You can see te hole inthe mounting plate in this picture.
Last edited by Alan 71; Apr 10, 2012 at 05:49 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 766
Likes: 97
From: Lake Norman, NC
Alan is VERY correct. Be careful.
In addition to the potentially dangerous load on the o/board bolts, you need to peen the bushing cups onto the new spring before assembling to the car.
Also, and very importantly, you need to compare the total thickness of the new spring assy to the one you take off. If the new one's total (all 9 leafs + shims) are shorter than the one you take out, be very careful when torquing the 4 center bolts. Two of them (I forget which 2 but you'll see when you are there) go into blind holes in the diff case. If the new spring assy is shorter, you may need to shorten the bolts or risk driving the bolts through the diff case, causing it to break and lose the gear oil. BIG PROBS THEN!
Take your time and use the service manual for your step by step guide. In my '72 manual, it's section 4-23.
In addition to the potentially dangerous load on the o/board bolts, you need to peen the bushing cups onto the new spring before assembling to the car.
Also, and very importantly, you need to compare the total thickness of the new spring assy to the one you take off. If the new one's total (all 9 leafs + shims) are shorter than the one you take out, be very careful when torquing the 4 center bolts. Two of them (I forget which 2 but you'll see when you are there) go into blind holes in the diff case. If the new spring assy is shorter, you may need to shorten the bolts or risk driving the bolts through the diff case, causing it to break and lose the gear oil. BIG PROBS THEN!
Take your time and use the service manual for your step by step guide. In my '72 manual, it's section 4-23.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,229
Likes: 4,321
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
I believe the blind holes are the forward holes in the cover.
It's also pretty easy to break the rear tabs, w/holes, off the cover because there's so much area for the bolt to rust to the cover that they can be over torqued getting them loose.
Regards,
Alan
I believe the blind holes are the forward holes in the cover.
It's also pretty easy to break the rear tabs, w/holes, off the cover because there's so much area for the bolt to rust to the cover that they can be over torqued getting them loose.
Regards,
Alan