C Beam Re And Re Tips ???
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,322
Likes: 248
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
C Beam Re And Re Tips ???
Alright, I have spent 20 minutes wrestling this bitch. What is your technique ??
We are heading to the beach for a swim, I should be cooled off enough to wrestle again, in an hour.
We are heading to the beach for a swim, I should be cooled off enough to wrestle again, in an hour.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 915
Likes: 0
From: salinas ca
Agent...Mine came off pretty easily with all the weight off the rear. Take all four bolts loose, then use a 3/8 extension and beat the bolts out. Then it should come out pretty easily. If your installing it back in, i put in one bolt on one end, then beat a bolt in the other end of the c beam from the bottom. Then it should be pretty lined up. Sorry if this is no help for you, i use a lift so i'm not sure how hard it is if the car is on stands.
Last edited by 1989vette; Jun 14, 2009 at 07:52 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Getting it out?
Slide it back past the diff, lower the trans slightly, then bring it forward along side the trans ext housing so you can roll it down and out.
Unless seized in place bolts will almost drop out IF you have the weight off the beam with support under trans and diff head.Sort of go / no go situation.
Same for reinstall , when lined up correctly the bolts will just slide in; a fraction of a inch in height at trans can make a world of difference
Slide it back past the diff, lower the trans slightly, then bring it forward along side the trans ext housing so you can roll it down and out.
Unless seized in place bolts will almost drop out IF you have the weight off the beam with support under trans and diff head.Sort of go / no go situation.
Same for reinstall , when lined up correctly the bolts will just slide in; a fraction of a inch in height at trans can make a world of difference
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,322
Likes: 248
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Back from the lake, and cooled off nicely. 
Thanks guys, the bolts came out easy, it's trying to twist and drop the beam, which was giving me grief.
The wifey came in and suggested a swim, just as I was removing the last shifter arm, so I could drop it some more. I'm going to head out and try my luck again.
Thanks guys, the bolts came out easy, it's trying to twist and drop the beam, which was giving me grief.
The wifey came in and suggested a swim, just as I was removing the last shifter arm, so I could drop it some more. I'm going to head out and try my luck again.
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,322
Likes: 248
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Pushed it forward, pulled/pryed the front end down, pushed forward again, until the back end came off the diff. Then I could roll it out.
When I say pushed, I mean pounded !!
When I say pushed, I mean pounded !!
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 610
Likes: 1
It should come off easier than that. On my 96 I can shove the automatic transmission far enough to the side so that the beam slides right out, or back in. IIRC I push it back a little to initially free it, then forward and down.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City
LT style motor mounts are different, which may allow for pushing the motor/trans some.
I don't take it off enough to have an exact plan. What I can add is my trans jack helped greatly with instal/removal, and bolt allignment. The jack helps control the trans angle when doing instal/removal of beam etc. by yourself. When the allignment is 'on' (mostly controlled height w/trans jack), all c beam and motor mount bolts slide in very easily.
I don't take it off enough to have an exact plan. What I can add is my trans jack helped greatly with instal/removal, and bolt allignment. The jack helps control the trans angle when doing instal/removal of beam etc. by yourself. When the allignment is 'on' (mostly controlled height w/trans jack), all c beam and motor mount bolts slide in very easily.
Last edited by mseven; Jun 15, 2009 at 01:02 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
Is your car an auto or a stick? Is it actually an 86?
On my 91 M6 (which could be completely different from your car, since I don't know what you drive) I do it this way:
I support the trans with a floor jack, then take out all 4 bolts. I push it forward as far as I can until it pops off the rear end. Then, I stretch the parking brake cable back and around the C-beam. Finally, I'll scoot the C-beam back until it falls out.
It sounds like that is what you did for the most part, so you didn't do anything differently than I would have.
You might consider some beam plates on re-install. They make the install much easier, and there are some debatable performance gains.
On my 91 M6 (which could be completely different from your car, since I don't know what you drive) I do it this way:
I support the trans with a floor jack, then take out all 4 bolts. I push it forward as far as I can until it pops off the rear end. Then, I stretch the parking brake cable back and around the C-beam. Finally, I'll scoot the C-beam back until it falls out.
It sounds like that is what you did for the most part, so you didn't do anything differently than I would have.
You might consider some beam plates on re-install. They make the install much easier, and there are some debatable performance gains.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,322
Likes: 248
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
I'm going to assume that my 86 4+3 does not have the same clearance as an auto or newer year. I can barely move the trans towards drivers side, and I mean barely. There was no point until the end, where it would move freely around. It was a real bitch until the C beam cleared the dif.
I see more cussing in my future.
I see more cussing in my future.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Akron Ohio
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I had similar issues on my '90 with a ZF6. I had no room to move the tranny over to have room to get the c beam out. I had to mess with the angle up and down of the tranny (with a floor jack) and wiggle the crap out of the c beam. Getting it back in is much more fun!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 3
From: The Motor City