At 08:41 AM 7/23/99 EST5EDT, you wrote:
>List Meisters,
>
>I ran into some trouble last night installing my rear springs. I gave
>my buddy Peter S. a call at 10:00pm and he gives me good advice -
>but I am hoping to find an alternative because I couldn't get his
>suggestion to work - and I wasn't going to call him back at 11:00.
>
>On the left side (haven't gotten to the right) of the car, I installed the
>rear spring to the car using the plate in front and the shackle in the
>rear. Now I can't get the U-bolts in the center to reach. Peter told
>me to place a jack underneath the spring and raise it to the axle.
>Well, the jack started to lift the car off of the jack stand - as he
>warned me. He told me to place bags of quick-crete in the boot for
>weight. "I ain't got none!"
>
>So, has anyone tried using long u-bolts to draw the spring up and
>when close replace with the proper size u-bolts, one at a time?
>Will I be strong enough to draw the spring up?
>
>Alternatively, if I drop the check strap and the exhaust, will the axle
>drop low enough to meet the spring? If I do this, how will I get the
>check strap back on?
>
>Thanks in advance for the help.
>
>Later,
>Paul
>
Paul,
Definitely remove the axle check-straps, attach front spring eyes first,
rear spring eyes next, and then jack axle into place in order to attach
u-bolts. Once everything is loosely attached you'll probably have to lever
rear shackles over center. Tighten nothing until car is on the ground with
springs loaded by the weight of the vehicle.
We replaced the rears on Cindy's car just last month, and this is how I did
it, and all went smoothly.
Hope this helps, if not give us a call and we'll see what we can do over
the phone.
Bill & Cindy
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