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09-04-2017, 01:24 PM | #1 |
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Using a spring spreader and surviving
Gotta take the rear axles and bells apart. Plan on leaving the banjo and spring in the car.
Never did this before. With the frame up on stands and the rear axle housing hanging down with the tires off the ground, I imagine the spring bowing together slightly when the weight of the car is off of it. Is the spreader installed at this time and used to slightly spread the spring eyes apart again to take pressure off the shackles and prevent the spring from completely unloading when the shackles are removed? Will the shackles be a little loose with the spreader pushing the spring eyes apart slightly? Is this how you know it's safe to remove them? I'm getting a little nervous about this job.
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09-04-2017, 01:35 PM | #2 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Bolts...........What year rear are you talking about? How do you plan to support the weight of the banjo/torque tube? How do you plan to support the tires/axles/bells while you start taking pieces off of the rear assembly, WITHOUT the support of the spring? I believe the spring spreader may not be your biggest concern. If you have the room, you would probably be better off removing the entire rear/torque tube as an assembly, then removing spring. DD
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09-04-2017, 01:51 PM | #3 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
I would recommend doing it the way V8 suggests. Once the rear is out of the car it's easier to work on. Don't take the spring tension lightly. I usually remove the cotter pins and loosen the shackle nuts first. Once the spreader gets the tension off the shackles, you can see them go "slack". Remove the nuts and shackle bar from one side and then proceed to the other side. Release the tension from the spring and you are good to go.
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09-04-2017, 01:57 PM | #4 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Thanks for the reply DD.
The car is a '48. Just trying to think this through, I thought with the frame on jack stands and a floor jack under the banjo, I would remove both drums and then the spring shackles. Then the driver side backing plate and related to get the driver side bell off. Then remove the crown wheel assembly. Don't know what is involved here, but that's as far as I've gotten in my thinking so far. I have room to remove the entire rear end and do the diff disassembly off the car. I want to replace one axle and install new seals to keep oil off the brakes.
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09-04-2017, 02:18 PM | #5 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
with the chassis on jack stands and the tires still on i used a floor jack under the spring end to release the tension on the shackle . then i used the floor jack to lift the axle to take the tires off and lowered the axle ends on dollies to roll the entire assembly out
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09-04-2017, 02:19 PM | #6 | |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
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09-04-2017, 02:44 PM | #7 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
I am with Coopman with the exception you can roll it out on the brake drums if you lift it so the spring just clears the cross member .Also the oil seal in the brake drum should stop your oil leaks plus the oil catcher ring on the backing plate. When using a spring spreader you first remove the shackles on one end only while its under tension ,its safer .Remove the spring spreader then the last shackle .Ted
Last edited by FlatheadTed; 09-04-2017 at 03:06 PM. |
09-04-2017, 03:01 PM | #8 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Alex, if you have the room, and not constrained by time, yes, removal of the banjo from the car is the more comfortable way to work, as the others have said, particularly if you plan on removal of both bells to replace the oil seals. The difference in this case is simply the unbolting of the torque tube from the banjo, and removal of the driveshaft pin. I personally would leave the spring bolted to the frame, and remove the assembly from the spring.
No matter which way you do the job, you'll see the optimum position of the shackles for removal as being parallel to each other, which indicates close to zero differential between a sprung and unsprung assembly. You can watch this position happen naturally as you extend the spring spreader, taking care that both shackles stay in approximate similar angles, without one or the other becoming overextended to an opposite position. At that time, shackle collars will come free easily, having no pressure to stay in place.
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09-04-2017, 04:17 PM | #9 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Bolts: Follow the advice of V8 and remove the entire rear end with the spring as one unit after installing your 15 in plywood wheels with the 5 x 5 1/2 in. bolt pattern.Then roll the assembly out from under your car and remove the spring using the spreader. It will save you tons of frustration in the long run. In the photos below I knew my (home made) shackles would be easy to remove and re-install so I left the spring hanging in place.
Take photos of how it all goes together as you take it apart. While you have the rear out check the universal joint for play (should be zero play). I refilled the clamshell with cornhead grease. Takes about 2 tubes. Also a good time to replace rubber hose for rear brake lines, if needed. I used the following 0-ring seal and gaskets for the clamshell. Works better than stock cork. REMEMBER TO PUT THE CLAMSHELL GASKETS IN PLACE FIRST BEFORE RECONNECTING THE DRIVE SHAFT SPLINES AND TORQUE TUBE CLAM SHELL. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-flathea...zOMRMQ&vxp=mtr Last edited by 19Fordy; 09-04-2017 at 04:44 PM. |
09-04-2017, 05:34 PM | #10 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Now that is a heavy duty turn buckle!
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09-04-2017, 06:43 PM | #11 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Dont forget about the discontecting of the brake cable , brake line , removale of turtle, circlip, clams ... And a lot of swearing...
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09-05-2017, 08:19 AM | #12 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
The car is a 1948, you don't need a spring spreader.
The shackles are relaxed on these, just take the weight and undo the shakles job done. Martin. |
09-05-2017, 09:50 AM | #13 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Yep
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09-05-2017, 12:36 PM | #14 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Wow, that's a BIG bonus. Is it also that easy to reinstall the spring?
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09-05-2017, 01:13 PM | #15 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
You do not need the spring spreader. Pull the rear end and spring as a unit. Just jack up the rear end undo the clam shell, flex line, brake cables, speedo cable, shocks, and the u bolts. The rear end will roll out and the spring can be taken off.
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09-05-2017, 01:50 PM | #16 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Oh man! Am I ever glad I asked about this.
T H A N K Y O U .
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09-06-2017, 07:34 AM | #17 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
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09-06-2017, 11:21 AM | #18 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Bolts, one last thought. Remove the speedo-gear turtle cover when you fill the clamshell with cornhead grease.
That way you can see when the shell is full. |
09-06-2017, 12:32 PM | #19 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Guess I missed something.. Was wondering why you are taking the rear end apart?
If this is being done due to a leaking axle seal, why not just solve the problem by adding an aftermarket external seal.. I hope you know that the axle housing gaskets are very critical for thickness, the thickness of the gasket determines the gear lash for the ring/pinion.. The original Ford type of axle housing gasket came in layers which could be pealed off in one-thousand's to achieve the correct lash. Refrain from using RTV/silicon type sealants, very hard to control the thickness..
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09-06-2017, 01:00 PM | #20 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
I agree with placing the frame on stands, then using a floor jack under the ends of the spring to release tension on the shackles to remove and replace them. If you are removing the spring assembly after the shackles are off to work on it, be sure to use a new center bolt when you put it together, and orient the head of the bolt parallel to the spring so it will enter the hole in the cross member. We use a couple of big "C" clamps to hold the spring while the bolt is tightened. Those springs have a lot of power, so be careful.
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09-06-2017, 01:01 PM | #21 | |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Quote:
"I want to replace one axle and install new seals to keep oil off the brakes." DD |
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09-08-2017, 04:39 AM | #22 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Can I suggest you get a guide on rebuilding rear ends? I'm just doing the job on my 41 now (replacing both axles, seals etc), and the Vern Tardel guide has been very helpful to me, although there may be others. A small expense and a useful step through the job.
I could not imagine how much harder the job would be with the diff centre in the car! The other thing to consider is its only 10 mins more work to take the whole unit out of the car. It's not rocket surgery but banjo diffs have their quirks - have you looked into setting the lash on the drive pinion yet? A lot easier on the bench. Last edited by fortyonerag; 09-08-2017 at 06:58 AM. |
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09-08-2017, 07:23 AM | #23 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Is rocket surgery easier than brain science?
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09-08-2017, 09:36 AM | #24 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
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09-08-2017, 12:15 PM | #25 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
.........seemingly true of that goofy little chubby guy playin' with his rockets. DD
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09-08-2017, 02:40 PM | #26 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
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What a thing to do to a perfectly good head of hair. !?!?! .... Mark
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09-08-2017, 02:56 PM | #27 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
"the job" is to change out an axle. You don't need to mess with the torque tube for that. ...And 10 minutes? OK, with a hot wrench, maybe.
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09-09-2017, 04:58 AM | #28 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
OK, clamshell, rear brake hose and speedo cable, maybe not 10 mins.
How do you set the lash with the drive shaft attached? What effort would you save leaving the banjo and torque tube in the car? I haven't put it back in the car yet, so I may yet have to eat my words.... (Certainly, I'll be eating Ibuprofen!) Last edited by fortyonerag; 09-09-2017 at 06:07 AM. |
09-09-2017, 12:57 PM | #29 | |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
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09-09-2017, 02:14 PM | #30 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
I have to agree. It's a fairly easy task to swap out an axle. There is no need to remove the differential from the chassis.
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09-09-2017, 02:30 PM | #31 |
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Re: Using a spring spreader and surviving
Yes I agree to, it could be done in the car ,it could save removing the floor boards to get to the clam shell ,just a difficult working position .
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