Differential front Mount Removal and Rear Suspension Rebuild

[Vincent D.]

I decided that it was time to rebuild my rear suspension. I've been at it for 3 weekends now and have made good progress.....very difficult but good. First removed rear spring, not too bad a job; used floor jack and C clamp method. Removed half shafts hard to get at squarely with a wrench; ended up taping an impact socket on a few bolts and then lossening. Strut rods, one side was easy the other required heat with MAP gas to memove the bottom shock bolt. Shock bolt had a die on it instead of a bolt...what some knucle heads will do..I will need to replace it as the die ruined the threads. Trailing arms...an adventure....what a project! I cut nuts off with a sawsall, not too bad. I got lucky on one side and was able to tap the bolt through. The other side took 15 sawsall blades to cut through the rubber bushing area on either side of the arm itself.
Researching all the discussion board posts helped immensely. thanks to all.
I was going to leave the differential but decided to remove and have it rebuilt or at least looked at. The problem is with the front diff mount bolts. I have them all loose but don't see how to remove the 2 horizontal bolts as they hit the body. Is there any trick for this? I wanted to remove this mount so that I could remove the drive shaft U-bolts. I read some posts that say you can remove the U- bolts without the front mount, if that's the case then is there any trick or tip to get at the U-bolt nuts?
Thanks,
Vin

[Donald O.]

Re: Differential front Mount Removal and Rear Suspension Rebuild

Vincent,

I went through this rebuild last winter.

You'll need to removed the differential and the cross member first as a unit. Then you can remove the cross member and then the two attaching bolts for the front mount. Your crossmember may want to be "a little hesitant" about coming off. Loosed the attaching bolt to the frame and begin to pry off from the sombreros. I used a 6 foot pry bar. When they release, you'll hear them pop. Put a floor jack under the diff, remove the attaching bolts and lower the diff to the floor. Put it back together the same way.

Send the T/As to Bair's with the axles and have them install the new u-joints.
Send the diff to either Bair's or Gary Ramadi (sp).

Get new bushes for the strut rods and new liners for the rear spring as well as your lower rear shock mounts.

Then clean, clean and clean the underbody and detail it.

[Gary R.]

Re: Differential front Mount Removal and Rear Suspension Rebuild

Vincent
When you pull the diff cover off, and you should, take a look over my threads on diff's. I go over what to look for so you'll know what to expect. The 66 posi was not the strongest and are prone to cracking so you really want to check that.
I just did a 67 set of T/A's for a fellow who had the car since 1970 and never had them apart. He was with me when I took them apart and found someone was in there prior to '70 and replaced the bearings with Timkens. Then we took a look at his diff, that was untouched and in good shape, the posi case was not cracked and with the limited miles on the car was really in nice shape.
Point is you never know what was done to these cars over the past 40 years so while you have access to the parts check them good.
Here are the links that may help you, there are more but these are a start. Some are long but I cover a lot of info in them.
Good luck with your car.
Gary

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77000

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76752

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77377

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124412

[Timothy B.]

Re: Differential front Mount Removal and Rear Suspension Rebuild

Vincent,

On the early C2's the diff. front mount bolts came out from each side to allow the diff front mount to be swiveled down and access to the driveshaft bolts. I will check my 67 service manual to see what it say's about the two long bolts like you have.

With the spring out can the mount be moved down to allow the front bolt to be removed..

[Vincent D.]

Re: Differential front Mount Removal and Rear Suspension Rebuild

Vincent,

On the early C2's the diff. front mount bolts came out from each side to allow the diff front mount to be swiveled down and access to the driveshaft bolts. I will check my 67 service manual to see what it say's about the two long bolts like you have.

With the spring out can the mount be moved down to allow the front bolt to be removed..

Thanks everyone!!
I did move the mount down but concentrated on the horizontal bolts. I can probably get the vertical bolt out but without removing the horizontal ones it doesn't make a difference as I can't get at the drive shaft U-bolts. Last weekend, with some difficulty, I was able to get a 3/8" wrench on the nuts but could not get enough leverage to budge them. I'll give it a try this weekend when I'm fresh.

[Bob R.]

Re: Differential front Mount Removal and Rear Suspension Rebuild

On my 63 the front bolts on the hanger car be removed allowing you to drop the bracket and access the u joint. I just checked the photos I took of my car and it looks like there is enough room to remove the u joint bolts with the bracket in place although I'm sure it is difficult. If you have the spring removed you might want to disconnect the rear at the crossmember using a jack to hold the assembly up. If you then lower the assembly slightly it may give you better access to the u joint bolts.

[John H.]

Re: Differential front Mount Removal and Rear Suspension Rebuild

Last weekend, with some difficulty, I was able to get a 3/8" wrench on the nuts but could not get enough leverage to budge them.

Vincent -

Those nuts on the driveshaft U-joint U-bolts are 1/2" hex.

[Vincent D.]

Re: Differential front Mount Removal and Rear Suspension Rebuild

Thanks everyone....I was able to get the 1/2" nuts (not 3/8", my mistake) off the drive shaft U-bolts, a little difficult but accessible. I pryed the crossmember loose with a 3-4 ft. crow bar using threaded rod and fender washers and nuts to catch it. The rear end is out and separated from the cross member. I didn't mark the relationship of the drive shaft U joint to the rear end yoke...does this matter? If it does then I'm going to have to assume that where it now is where it was and make note of it now..if you can understand that.

[Donald O.]

Re: Differential front Mount Removal and Rear Suspension Rebuild

Thanks everyone....I was able to get the 1/2" nuts (not 3/8", my mistake) off the drive shaft U-bolts, a little difficult but accessible. I pryed the crossmember loose with a 3-4 ft. crow bar using threaded rod and fender washers and nuts to catch it. The rear end is out and separated from the cross member. I didn't mark the relationship of the drive shaft U joint to the rear end yoke...does this matter? If it does then I'm going to have to assume that where it now is where it was and make note of it now..if you can understand that.

Put a punch dimple on the Diff Yoke and another on the propeller shaft then re-align the dimples on assembly, only you will see or know they're there.

DonO