36 Ford; Removing Front & Rear End from Frame

[Bruce/CT]

Hi Barners,

Other than knowing that I need to use a Spring Spreader, are there any other tricks to removing the front & reart ends from the frame?
What are the steps?
Thanks,
Bruce/CT

[vic/ma]

Originally Posted by Bruce/CT

Hi Barners,

Other than knowing that I need to use a Spring Spreader, are there any other tricks to removing the front & reart ends from the frame?
What are the steps?
Thanks,
Bruce/CT

Bruce, you only need a spring spreader to remove the spring from the axels, not the frame.

[Mart]

No tricks, really, it is pretty straight forward.

I would remove the axles and springs from the frame complete, then separate them afterwards.

Be careful with the springs, they can store up a lot of energy.

Mart.

[Bruce/CT]

Thanks for the replies.
I'm at a newbie level with this.
Where and how does the axle/spring group attach to the frame? How does it get separated?
I request beginner type instructions. I have heard horror stories about flying springs. Hope to take all of me to the maker when my time comes.
Thanks again!
Bruce

[Bruce/CT]

ttt

[PeteVS]

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Disconnect the brake rods or hydraulic lines. Disconnect the speedometer from the "turtle" on the torque tube. At the front, remove the two nuts that hold the knob of the wishbone up into the crossmember. At the rear, remove the four nuts that hold the torque tube ball joint clamp to the rear of the transmission. At both the front and rear ends, there are two U bolts that go over the frame crossmember. At the bottom of the U bolts, there are bars that go under the spring and hold the spring up into the crossmember. You can take the eight nuts off of the four U bolts (two forward, two in the rear) which will allow the springs along with the axles to drop down and they can be carried away.

Once the front and rear end have been removed from under the car, the springs must be removed. Realize that they are both under great tension, and if they are suddenly released, for example by cutting one of more of the shackle bars, they can do a great deal of damage to life, limb or property. Personally, I use one or more substantial clamps to hold the leaves together and then remove the center bolt. I do not recommend the use of a "C" clamp because they might get some sideways forces on them which will cause the frame to twist allowing the spring to "explode" with similar damage. I then insert a piece of threaded rod of the same size as the bolt into the center hole of the spring and install nuts on both sides to hold the leaves in place. Be sure that the rod is long enough to allow controlled release of the spring leaves. Next, I loosen up the clamps a bit, putting all the load on the threaded rod. I then back off on one of the nuts on the rod until the clamp(s) is carrying the load and alternate back and forth, rod, clamps, rod, clamps, etc until the leave are all free. Once the tension is out of all the leaves, the main leaf should be able to be removed with little effort. Good Luck!

[Bruce/CT]

Originally Posted by PeteVS

Disconnect the brake rods or hydraulic lines. Disconnect the speedometer from the "turtle" on the torque tube. At the front, remove the two nuts that hold the knob of the wishbone up into the crossmember. At the rear, remove the four nuts that hold the torque tube ball joint clamp to the rear of the transmission. At both the front and rear ends, there are two U bolts that go over the frame crossmember. At the bottom of the U bolts, there are bars that go under the spring and hold the spring up into the crossmember. You can take the eight nuts off of the four U bolts (two forward, two in the rear) which will allow the springs along with the axles to drop down and they can be carried away.

Once the front and rear end have been removed from under the car, the springs must be removed. Realize that they are both under great tension, and if they are suddenly released, for example by cutting one of more of the shackle bars, they can do a great deal of damage to life, limb or property. Personally, I use one or more substantial clamps to hold the leaves together and then remove the center bolt. I do not recommend the use of a "C" clamp because they might get some sideways forces on them which will cause the frame to twist allowing the spring to "explode" with similar damage. I then insert a piece of threaded rod of the same size as the bolt into the center hole of the spring and install nuts on both sides to hold the leaves in place. Be sure that the rod is long enough to allow controlled release of the spring leaves. Next, I loosen up the clamps a bit, putting all the load on the threaded rod. I then back off on one of the nuts on the rod until the clamp(s) is carrying the load and alternate back and forth, rod, clamps, rod, clamps, etc until the leave are all free. Once the tension is out of all the leaves, the main leaf should be able to be removed with little effort. Good Luck!

PeteVS
Thanks for that great description. You make no mention of Spring Spreaders. Do you recommend using one? What does a Substantial clamp look like?. Where do you place these clamps? Could you post a photo?
Sorry to be a pain but I have a fearful respect for those springs.
Bruce