Replacing Rear Leaf Spring! Help!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 611
Likes: 3
From: Girard Ill
Replacing Rear Leaf Spring! Help!
Getting ready to order a composite leaf spring for my 72 vette. I don't want the rear end to be higher than the front so should I also order the optional longer eight inch bolts ? Also I would like to replace this leaf spring myself with a friend so can anyone who has changed the rear leaf themself give me some pointers from experience? Thanks!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
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From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: Replacing Rear Leaf Spring! Help! (yankees1)
It's not a difficult job. Start soaking the 4 bolts holding the spring to the pumpkin about a week before. You might want to order a gasket for the rear end so you can change the fluid while the spring is off, and be sure to get the correct shocks for that spring.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 792
Likes: 2
From: Norcross GA
Re: Replacing Rear Leaf Spring! Help! (Big Fish)
I've got the rear spring off mine right now and am painting all the areas on the frame I can reach with POR15 while it is out of the way. Not a tough job.
Be careful when you put the spring back on. I have seen several posts where people have damaged the rear cover while torquing the spring back on. Evidently, full torque (40 pounds if I recall correctly. Check this) should not be placed on the bolts until the car has weight on the wheels.
If Big Fish is talking about replacing the rear differential cover gasket that will make this a big job. You have to drop the differential from the frame to replace that gasket as two bolts come through the frame and attach to the cover. I was going to replace the gasket while I had the spring out but decided against it when I saw what was involved.
Be careful when you put the spring back on. I have seen several posts where people have damaged the rear cover while torquing the spring back on. Evidently, full torque (40 pounds if I recall correctly. Check this) should not be placed on the bolts until the car has weight on the wheels.
If Big Fish is talking about replacing the rear differential cover gasket that will make this a big job. You have to drop the differential from the frame to replace that gasket as two bolts come through the frame and attach to the cover. I was going to replace the gasket while I had the spring out but decided against it when I saw what was involved.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: Replacing Rear Leaf Spring! Help! (yankees1)
BobChad is right, it's not an easy job to drop and open the differential, but it's a lot easier with the spring out then it is with the spring in. 2 bolts are all that holds the cross member bushings to the sombreros.
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 13
From: Holly MI
Re: Replacing Rear Leaf Spring! Help! (Big Fish)
The key to pulling the spring is a c-clamp and a piece of wood. If you just undo the nuts on the long bolts at the spring ends, you will turn the nuts and washers into bullets. Please don't ask me how I know. Clamp the c-clamp on the spring as close to the end as possible. Then, put a piece of wood next to the clamp, and use a jack to support the spring. The piece of wood between the jack and clamp allows the two to slide past each other as you lower the spring. Without it, the spring will just grab the jack and throw it at you too. Be careful and good luck.
Ken
Ken
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,575
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From: On an island surrounded by sharks Hawaii
Re: Replacing Rear Leaf Spring! Help! (Ed T)
Be careful when you put the spring back on. I have seen several posts where people have damaged the rear cover while torquing the spring back on.
:smash:
:smash:
I just got through installing my rear spring and it wasn't that hard to do on my 79. Sprayed bolts a day ahead of time and only one bolt was hard to come out. And yes, don't over torque bolts going back into the rearend cover.
I am an idiot and I was able to change R/R the rear spring all by myself,
taking my time in one day. Good Luck and post questions here if you have
questions, it worked for me.
:thumbs: :seeya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,165
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From: Where are the Smoky Mountain Cruisers? Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Re: Replacing Rear Leaf Spring! Help! (yankees1)
I might start this project this weekend as the parts have been in the garage for about two weeks. Good luck.
