needing help
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
If you've just got a rear frame with the suspension attached, then the best way to remove the spring tension is with a ratchet strap wrapped around the spring near the end and then up around the frame. Tighten it up and then remove the nut off the end bolt and let the strap loose. You should be able to do 1 end at a time.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Ron,
You need to be careful!!!
There's a tremendous amount of energy stored in the spring while the end bolts are still through the trailing arms.
You need to come up with a way to hold the spring and t-arm securely together and then remove the end bolt and GRADUALLY release the extreme tension on the spring.
I think you need to secure the whole assembly in some way, use a heavy strap that you can gradually release to hold the spring, and then release the bolt.
BE VERY CAREFUL!!!
Regards,
Alan
I'm really not sure how you get it ALL off the car with the spring still under tension?!?
Normally the spring is released while the suspension is still on the car. This allows you to work against the weight of the car. Much safer.
You need to be careful!!!
There's a tremendous amount of energy stored in the spring while the end bolts are still through the trailing arms.
You need to come up with a way to hold the spring and t-arm securely together and then remove the end bolt and GRADUALLY release the extreme tension on the spring.
I think you need to secure the whole assembly in some way, use a heavy strap that you can gradually release to hold the spring, and then release the bolt.
BE VERY CAREFUL!!!
Regards,
Alan
I'm really not sure how you get it ALL off the car with the spring still under tension?!?
Normally the spring is released while the suspension is still on the car. This allows you to work against the weight of the car. Much safer.
Last edited by Alan 71; Jan 1, 2013 at 06:37 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Hate to give you bad news, but. You may need to put the diff and crossmember back onto the frame to remove the spring . I can't imagine how you could safely hold the work otherwise.
And let me repeat what everybody else has said.
BE CAREFUL. The compressed spring has enough energy in it to kill you.
And let me repeat what everybody else has said.
BE CAREFUL. The compressed spring has enough energy in it to kill you.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Hate to give you bad news, but. You may need to put the diff and crossmember back onto the frame to remove the spring . I can't imagine how you could safely hold the work otherwise.
And let me repeat what everybody else has said.
BE CAREFUL. The compressed spring has enough energy in it to kill you.
And let me repeat what everybody else has said.
BE CAREFUL. The compressed spring has enough energy in it to kill you.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Ron,
I'm still curious.... how'd you get the rear suspension completely off the car with the spring still bolted to the trailing arms?
Just the weight alone would make it a difficult job.
Regards,
Alan
I'm still curious.... how'd you get the rear suspension completely off the car with the spring still bolted to the trailing arms?
Just the weight alone would make it a difficult job.
Regards,
Alan
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
I had the body off the frame, I drop the frame to the floor, I then unbolted the rear suspension from the frame the trailing arms still intact. Then I used floor jacks to lift the frame, the rear suspension stayed sitting on the floor.
Ron
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Ron, in this case your spring should not be under tension. Just remove the bolts from the spring ends to the trailing arms, then remove the 4 bolts holding the center of the spring pack to the diff cover.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Ron,
Now I'm beginning to understand what you have.
Is the spring in a large arc? free; or basically straight? under tension.
ANY chance of a picture?
When the spring is free it has the large arc as shown in my picture.
Regards,
Alan
Now I'm beginning to understand what you have.
Is the spring in a large arc? free; or basically straight? under tension.
ANY chance of a picture?
When the spring is free it has the large arc as shown in my picture.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Ron,
Now I can see what you have facing you.
One last question before I try a solution... it appears there is something holding the ends of the spring up close to the underside of the t-arms. Is there something wrapped around the long bolt?
Normally the spring's natural arch wants to keep it tight againt the washer and nut on that long bolt.
When the spring is free it wants to have as much arch as the one in my picture... it comes close to forming a half circle.... I don't quite understand why yours looks the way it does.
Regards,
Alan
Now I can see what you have facing you.
One last question before I try a solution... it appears there is something holding the ends of the spring up close to the underside of the t-arms. Is there something wrapped around the long bolt?
Normally the spring's natural arch wants to keep it tight againt the washer and nut on that long bolt.
When the spring is free it wants to have as much arch as the one in my picture... it comes close to forming a half circle.... I don't quite understand why yours looks the way it does.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Hi Alan,
First I want to thank you so much for the help.
Ok, that looks to me that it’s some kind of spacer, maybe a part to lift the body higher!
When I removed the front springs, it did have spacers, two spacers for each spring.
I’m finding a lot of strange things with this rebuild.
I can try to send a closer pic this afternoon ,if it would help.
Ron
First I want to thank you so much for the help.
Ok, that looks to me that it’s some kind of spacer, maybe a part to lift the body higher!
When I removed the front springs, it did have spacers, two spacers for each spring.
I’m finding a lot of strange things with this rebuild.
I can try to send a closer pic this afternoon ,if it would help.
Ron
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,109
Likes: 4,170
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Ron,
Not to prolong this but a close-up would help.
I don't want to give you some advice that might cause an injury.
The spring is a pretty powerful object under some conditions.
Regards,
Alan
Not to prolong this but a close-up would help.
I don't want to give you some advice that might cause an injury.
The spring is a pretty powerful object under some conditions.
Regards,
Alan
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Irma Northern WI
I think that you have created a monster there. It would appear that you have a lot of parts understress from the tension of the spring.
The easiest way and perhaps, at this point, the safest way to remove the spring would be to lift the assemby from an engine hoist or similar. With the assembly off the ground, high enough to prevent the spring from impacting anything below it, simply take a torch and cut the bolts at the end of the spring. STAY CLEAR OF THE SPRING!! You can clearly see which way it is going to go! Use caution!!! If confronted with this situation, that it how I would resolve the issue. If you do not feel comfortable doing the job, hire someone who feels comfortable with the project. Good luck.
.
The easiest way and perhaps, at this point, the safest way to remove the spring would be to lift the assemby from an engine hoist or similar. With the assembly off the ground, high enough to prevent the spring from impacting anything below it, simply take a torch and cut the bolts at the end of the spring. STAY CLEAR OF THE SPRING!! You can clearly see which way it is going to go! Use caution!!! If confronted with this situation, that it how I would resolve the issue. If you do not feel comfortable doing the job, hire someone who feels comfortable with the project. Good luck.
.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Ron