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dmorrison · #5 04-03-2003, 02:59 AM

Progress report number 3

I couldn''t work on the car that much today. To many things to do

I removed the left trailing arm of the rear end today.
I decided to completely remove the arm instead of just repositioning the unit and still have to work on it in the wheel well.
It is so much easier to work on the trailing arm on the work bench .
I had a little difficulty getting the coil spring out. I could not get the compressor to tighten the spring tight enough. I positioned it incorrectlly when I started. It was compressed enough but I could not get the spring out. So I just released the subframe bushing and I was able to remove it.
Removing the trailing arm bushing was a little difficult. This was the first time I had to use a penetrationg solvent on the car. I let it soak for 1 hour and the bolts released.
Disconnected the emergency brake cable at the pivot arm and fed it through the eyelets.
To remove the inner bushing bolt on the left trailing arm You still need the driveshaft disconnected and out of the way. Or the bolt will not come fully out.
Completely removed the trailing arm with the parking brake cable attached.
Removing the bushings I use a 3 jaw puller this time.
On the right side I had to "grind" off the rubber lip on the bushing so the ball press could work properly. I "ground off the lip using a large pair of channel lock plyers.
This time I use the ball press to move the bushing out 1/2 inch and then used the 3 jaw puller. It worked great.
Cleaned the trailing arm with a good degreaser. Painted it with POR-15 and tommorow I'll install the bushings and reinstall the arm.
Hopefully the coil spring will go back in easily.
I did mark the right spring with zip locks so I will know where to place the plates on the coil spring during installation

Dave