Anyone have a link to removing control arms and rear spring.
12-28-2002, 10:36 PM
#2
Team Owner
Re: Anyone have a link to removing control arms and rear spring. (Budman78)
It's a pretty simply stated task really.
For the spring: Put a jack under the outer part of the spring (as far out as you can get it without interfering with access to the spring bolt). Jack up the spring enough to take the load off the bolt. Back the nut off, slowly let the jack down. Then take the 4 bolts off the diff and you're set. use wood blocks or something to prevent from mucking up the spring.
The shock is pretty straightforward.
The halfshaft has 4 bolts to hold it to the hub. Make sure you at least loosen the outer bolts before you remove those at the diff if you plan on removing the entire halfshaft.
Let's see...there's the e-brake cable, rear caliper, brake hose, and I think that's all that's attached to the control arm. From there, remove the forward control arm bolt, keeping track of the shims as you remove it, and you're set. Warnign though, removing the bolt is possibly the most difficult task you'll face. If it's at all rusty, give it healthy doses of penetrating oil well in advance of trying to remove it.
That's it in a nutshell. A manual would be a good guide to have, even if it's a Haynes or Chiltons or whatever.
Good luck!
Dave
For the spring: Put a jack under the outer part of the spring (as far out as you can get it without interfering with access to the spring bolt). Jack up the spring enough to take the load off the bolt. Back the nut off, slowly let the jack down. Then take the 4 bolts off the diff and you're set. use wood blocks or something to prevent from mucking up the spring.
The shock is pretty straightforward.
The halfshaft has 4 bolts to hold it to the hub. Make sure you at least loosen the outer bolts before you remove those at the diff if you plan on removing the entire halfshaft.
Let's see...there's the e-brake cable, rear caliper, brake hose, and I think that's all that's attached to the control arm. From there, remove the forward control arm bolt, keeping track of the shims as you remove it, and you're set. Warnign though, removing the bolt is possibly the most difficult task you'll face. If it's at all rusty, give it healthy doses of penetrating oil well in advance of trying to remove it.
That's it in a nutshell. A manual would be a good guide to have, even if it's a Haynes or Chiltons or whatever.
Good luck!
Dave
12-28-2002, 11:46 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Mar 2001
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Re: Anyone have a link to removing control arms and rear spring. (Budman78)
Excellent advice given,I have a midyear and we removed a fiberglass spring and installed a metal one.
I do want to caution you that the spring removal is dangerous. BE carefull the only thing we did differentley was to install 2 c clamp's next to our jack on eather side we were using to raise/compress spring for removal.the clamps were installed to keep the jack from sliding out of position.
Also on the midyears it was a problem if the rear spring was not bolted FAST/FLUSH to the rear end housing before loading the rear spring or you would crack the ears off the rear end housing
I also sprayed all of the rear end parts for robabley 3 weeks prior to starting my rear suspention rebuild every time I would go by it I would spray it with wd40 every thing came off no problem and I feel it was because of the wd40
I plan on replacing my body mounts and have been spraying them all the time
[Modified by Ih2lose, 11:50 PM 12/28/2002]
I do want to caution you that the spring removal is dangerous. BE carefull the only thing we did differentley was to install 2 c clamp's next to our jack on eather side we were using to raise/compress spring for removal.the clamps were installed to keep the jack from sliding out of position.
Also on the midyears it was a problem if the rear spring was not bolted FAST/FLUSH to the rear end housing before loading the rear spring or you would crack the ears off the rear end housing
I also sprayed all of the rear end parts for robabley 3 weeks prior to starting my rear suspention rebuild every time I would go by it I would spray it with wd40 every thing came off no problem and I feel it was because of the wd40
I plan on replacing my body mounts and have been spraying them all the time
[Modified by Ih2lose, 11:50 PM 12/28/2002]
12-29-2002, 09:09 AM
#5
Le Mans Master
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Member Since: Sep 2000
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St. Jude Donor '07
Re: Anyone have a link to removing control arms and rear spring. (Ih2lose)
Thanks for the tips. I've used the corvettefaq in the past to rebuild my front suspension. Great site.
12-29-2002, 10:29 AM
#6
Melting Slicks
Re: Anyone have a link to removing control arms and rear spring. (Budman78)
Hey Budman :)
just did this, so it can't be too difficult :D:D
I agree with everything above. Definitely soak every bolt with penetrating oil first. Pray that your trailing arm bolts are not rusted in place if you are going to take them off for rebuild.
My driver's side bolt was loose enough that I could pry out the shims and get a sawzall in there, but the passenger side shims were rusted into a mass of metal that I needed 4 carbide sawzall blades to get through (including the rubber bushings and sheath).
I've got a bunch of photos that I can send you if you want them.
[Modified by phoenix, 10:30 AM 12/29/2002]
just did this, so it can't be too difficult :D:D
I agree with everything above. Definitely soak every bolt with penetrating oil first. Pray that your trailing arm bolts are not rusted in place if you are going to take them off for rebuild.
My driver's side bolt was loose enough that I could pry out the shims and get a sawzall in there, but the passenger side shims were rusted into a mass of metal that I needed 4 carbide sawzall blades to get through (including the rubber bushings and sheath).
I've got a bunch of photos that I can send you if you want them.
[Modified by phoenix, 10:30 AM 12/29/2002]
