Removing Rear Spring on 70 Vette

[steve]

What is the safest way to remove the rear spring? My car has 2 inch spacers and I want to remove the rearend, spring, and trailing arms to replace and restore them. My car is a 70 LT-1 convertible. Thanks, Steve

[Mark J.]

Re: Removing Rear Spring on 70 Vette

Steve,

Chilton's and the Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual outline similar procedures for replacing the rear spring, both of which involve compressing the spring with a floor jack and chaining it to the crossmember temporarily while you remove the link bolt nut. Then recompress the spring to remove the chain. If you don't have these references, I recommend getting one or both.

I replaced the rear spring in both my '64 and '66. It's not that difficult as long as you take all the necessary safety precautions. In fact the spring on my '64 was so flat, it lost its tension before clearing the link bolt.

Mark

[R Bridge]

Re: Removing Rear Spring on 70 Vette

I think it is also recommended to slightly loosen the spring attaching bolt before you untension the spring to prevent any possibility of causing cracks in the cover. bob

[Terry M.]

Re: Removing Rear Spring on 70 Vette *TL*

Steve,

Bob and Mark provide good advice. I would also caution you to have the weight on the wheels (or at least have the car weight on the spring - jack stands under control arms, wheels on ramps or the like) before fully tightening the spring hold down bolts to the differential cover. This move is the analog to Bob's recommendation to loosen the bolts while the weight is still on the spring.

The ears on the differential cover are prone to breaking if you use them to let the tension off the center of the spring or to pull the spring center flat.

Terry