Rear spring misc.

[WALTER]

When I replace the rear springs on my late BJ8 I was going to order rear bushing, center pads and u-bolts. Does that generally make sense? Have I missed anything? Each main spring is broken in two places. On both sides of the u-bolt plates. They were so uniform I thought they were supposed to be that way.

Thanks
Walter

 

[Dave Russell]

Wow - If your car didn't have the radius arms which I assume it has, since it is a late model, something would likely have been on the ground by now.

You may or may not need front bushings, sometimes the springs come with them. Same for front bolts. Sometimes folks have to saw the front bolts off to get things apart. Consider radius arm bushings also.

Good luck,
D

 

[Keoke]

Hi Walter, based on experience I would not replace the "U" bolts unless you know the quality of the aftermarket Items.Things may have improved but all new ones I have seen are of very poor quality.Others on the forum may have a good source for them though.By the way you had better look at the rear shocks too-FWIW---Keoke

 

[Cutlass]

My rule of thumb is to replace anything rubber if you've got the parts apart, unless you know for sure that the rubber parts are new or relatively so. But those radius arm busings are expensive! And not easy to replace.

As a side note, when disassembling my 1966 BJ8, I discovered that it had no radius arms, and no panhard rod, and no radius arm attachment points on the chassis. The rear end does have the radius arm brackets. So I'm having to weld in all chassis attachments for the radius arms. One knowledgable person suggested that when this car was assembled, the factory just had an earlier chassis on hand, and built it without the radius arms or panhard rod. Yes, I have verified the chassis number does conform to the car number and the year of assembly. Anyone ever heard of such?

 

[Keoke]

No Cutlass, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif that is a new one on me.However, the 1966 BJ8 does not utilise a panhard rod.---Keoke

 

[Cutlass]

You're right. It was just amazing that this car apparently made it for almost 40 years without either system.

 

[WALTER]

Thanks for all your input. What an adventure. Sawzall, grinder, torch, big hammers, big wrecking bars, after 37 years different parts tend to become one. Two of the U-bolts had to be replaced as well as all the rubber and the front bolts. If I had to do it over again (please no!) I would replace everything, considering the amount of work involved. I also had to drop the exhaust system. Miraculously none of the manifold bolts broke. The car now sits two inches higher. But that could be because it is so much lighter now (after knocking so much rust off).

Happy Healeying
Walter