Rear spring bolts on 66

[Eric J.]

Are there no sleeves/bushings that keep the rear spring from traveling up the bolt and hitting the trailing arm? A normal stabilizer link would have a bushing on the top and bottom of both the spring and the arm. Is this normal for a vette. It's the same on both sides, and just wondering why it is designed as such.

[William C.]

Re: Rear spring bolts on 66

The strength of the spring and the weight of the car pretty well define and control the points where pressure is applied.

[Eric J.]

Re: Rear spring bolts on 66

So, How far should we thread the bolt? Is that used for adjustment of the suspension and/or rear end height? Right now we're just threading it at the same height as the other side - but is that something we may want to adjust later?

[Joe L.]

Re: Rear spring bolts on 66

So, How far should we thread the bolt? Is that used for adjustment of the suspension and/or rear end height? Right now we're just threading it at the same height as the other side - but is that something we may want to adjust later?

Eric-----


If you have the CORRECT bolts, they have just a short length of thread and a raised "collar" just above the threads which serves as a "stop" for the nut. Using the CORRECT nut, you thread it on until it stops. Then, insert the cotter pin. Done.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Rear spring bolts on 66

So, How far should we thread the bolt? Is that used for adjustment of the suspension and/or rear end height? Right now we're just threading it at the same height as the other side - but is that something we may want to adjust later?

Eric -- here's the collar that Joe L. mentions. I've screwed the castle nut right up against it. This puts it about 1 or 2 threads past the center of the cotter pin hole (in other words, you could probably thread the nut until it was 3 or 4 threads before the collar, and still get a large enough pin to insert). So there's not much height adjustment to be had with the proper bolt.

Unlike the front stablizer linkage, which is subject to compression and tension forces (hence the need for the sleeve) the rear bolt is always in tension. I like to think of the whole rear weight of the car being suspended from underneath the end of the trailing arms by this bolt, and the trailing arm held from dropping by the wheel.

[Eric J.]

Re: Rear spring bolts on 66

Aha! We obviously don't have the correct bolt. These were on the car when I bought it about 10 years ago. I've got no stop AND about two inches of thread above the pin hole and no collar for a stop - hence my confusion. I don't have a king nut either, just a locking nut. I shall get the correct stuff.

As usual you guys are a tremendous help! Thanks!

[Eric J.]

Re: Rear spring bolts on 66

Thanks. The Pic really helped. The wrong bolts have been on the car since I bought it. I knew something wasn't right!

[Joe L.]

Re: Rear spring bolts on 66

Aha! We obviously don't have the correct bolt. These were on the car when I bought it about 10 years ago. I've got no stop AND about two inches of thread above the pin hole and no collar for a stop - hence my confusion. I don't have a king nut either, just a locking nut. I shall get the correct stuff.

As usual you guys are a tremendous help! Thanks!

Eric------


What you have is an aftermarket bolt set-up, probably one from a "high performance" suspension package. Hopefully, the spring and other items were not changed to some other aftermarket "concoction".

The bolts you need are GM #458982. The nuts are GM #3983037. The rubber cushions are GM #3831586. You should be able to re-use your retainers.