I am the owner of a 1965 Coupe and have removed the rear spring for rebuild. What I need to know is what the compressed height of the spring should be prior to installation. Once removed and free it cannot be installed. THe manual tells you to compress it prior to installation, but that's as far as it goes. Any help will be appreciated. Carl E. Hallman Mt. Vernon, Oh. 43050
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Re: 1965 Rear Spring reinstallation
Hi Mr. Hallman!
Is the question you are asking: "How do I replace the rear spring once having removed it?"
First, be careful. These springs have enormous kinetic potential once compressed. The factory manual (as I remember) reccomends installing a safety chain around the half-shaft during removal. Then the spring is raised upon its outer margin and the nut is freed. The spring is then slowly lowered. The shop I have had replace my spring puts the car up on a lift. A 5-foot jackstand apparatus is then placed under the spring just inboard of the bolt. The lift is lowered until the jackstand compresses the spring, the nuts is removed, and hte lift is raised to gradually take tension off the spring. I have seen the spring lift that side of the car up off the lift runners. Re-installation is reverse of removal. I have not personally done this, but perhaps you could do a similar job with a large floor jack? (I have heard of people putting C-clamps on the spring to stabilize jacking points.)
Hope this is of some help!
Carl -
Re: 1965 Rear Spring
Carl----
Removal and reinstallation of the rear spring, unlike the front springs, is really not that difficult at all. As with all chassis springs, and as Carl Rose points out, you need to exercise EXTREME CARE AND CAUTION. However, if you follow the procedure in the GM assembly manual, which includes photos of certain aspects of this operation, you should have no trouble. An hydraulic floor jack works very well to compress the spring on the car.
Generally, to install the spring, fit the spring to its mounting on the differential cover and install the spring retainer plate using the 4 bolts. Run the bolts down as far as necessary, BUT DO NOT TIGHTEN OR TORQUE THEM. Install a C-clamp on one end of the spring as shown in the service manual. Using a floor jack positioned outboard of the clamp near the end of the spring(but not over the spring end cup)raise the spring up just enough so you can install the spring end bolt, including retainers and rubber cushions, and install the nut. Then, lower the jack slowly and do the same on the other side. With the weight of the car on the spring and the spring in the "dearched", "flat" configuration, torque the four spring mount bolts to the proper installation torque specified in the service manual. That all there is to it.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 1965 Rear Spring
As Joe and Carl have pointed out, this is something that has the potential for risk but is not that difficult. I have removed and re-installed my 66 9 leaf rear spring two now. Joe's techniques are accurate and, I will add, the NCRS Driveline had two good articles in past years that describe this procedure in detail. I followed the article as well as the procedure in the repair manual. Mostly grunt work and not too difficult, if you follow the safety procedures. Good luck.Comment
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Re: 1965 Rear Spring
As usual Mr. Lucia you are correct! Thanks! (not that I intend on doing this job on mine anytime in the near future...!)
CarlComment
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