Rear Tire Jacking info on 1955 ford stationwagon.

[poolplayer1]

I don't know why I am having a problem in removing the rear tire of my wagon. The current tires were installed about 10 years ago. The size is
P205/75R14.When I put the floor jack on the frame just in front or behind the tire,most of the tire comes off except the top part of the tire.It hits the fender and therefore,cannot bring it out. I don't have a bumper jack but I think I can get one if I have to.I remember they use to make the heavy duty bumper jacks.I just had the bumpers re-chromed so I if there is any other way to remove the tire,I would go that way.I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions in this matter. As always,thank you for your help.

[dmsfrr]

Disconnect a shock mount on that side...

(a link that was a little farther down the page)
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=266348

Originally Posted by poolplayer1

... The current tires were installed about 10 years ago. ...

If you're planning on any highway driving you could use some new tires.
.

[scicala]

Try to put a jack stand under the frame with the tire off the ground, then put your floor jack under the same side of the axle to raise it up slightly and try again to get the tire off. The problem may be that the top of the tire (widest part) is hitting the top edge of the wheel well opening. Maybe not. Just a guess.


Sal

[Jwawhite]

This does not seem like the correct answer but works for me.
The differential is dangling, car frame on jacks but needs to be raised enough for tire to clear.
With the nuts off, of course, heard that joke about a man missing his nuts and the insane asylum? I bet you have Kultulz!
Just push the bottom inwards on the tire towards the diff, it will come off.

[Daves55Sedan]

My '55 Fairlane sedan has P215/75R15's on the back, 205's on the front. The 215's on the back are a bear to get off.
Remember, the wagon's have 7-leaf springs in the rear as opposed to the 5-leaf on the car models, so your tires could actually be another 1/2" or 3/4" up into the wheel well on the wagons.
On my car, I have to raise the rear of the car with a bumper jack almost to the top of the jack rail. Also need a scissor jack or bottle jack under the rear axle to manipulate height of axle to remove the tire. Watch to see if your shock absorber is fully extended. You may need to disconnect shock at the bottom.

[LD-Ordie]

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I found the shocks needed extensions to allow me to remove the ones on my Courier.

[Daves55Sedan]

You guys must be getting the wrong rear shocks. I can jack the back of both my '55 car and '55 Courier wagon almost to the top of the bumper jack and lower the scissor jack down (under the rear axle) as far as it will go, and the shocks will stretch that far.
I will crawl under the wagon and look at the part number of the shocks I got. They are gas-charged shocks, purchased new around 1998. Real good shocks.

[KULTULZ]

Originally Posted by Daves55Sedan

You guys must be getting the wrong rear shocks. I can jack the back of both my '55 car and '55 Courier wagon almost to the top of the bumper jack and lower the scissor jack down (under the rear axle) as far as it will go, and the shocks will stretch that far.

I will crawl under the wagon and look at the part number of the shocks I got. They are gas-charged shocks, purchased new around 1998.

You are one brave man. SPECIAL OPS VETERAN?

[JimNNN]

I disconnect the shock on my '54 Ranch Wagon. It's a hassle, but not frustrating if you're prepared for it. (And that's how the shop installed the radial tires.)


If you don't want to do that regularly, air shocks may be the only solution.

[poolplayer1]

Thanks guys for all the great advice and suggestions. I will try again soon using one of the methods that are mentioned here and see if I can remove the tire. I am also going to look and see if the shock is extending all the way out.

[JeffB2]

Originally Posted by JimNNN

I disconnect the shock on my '54 Ranch Wagon. It's a hassle, but not frustrating if you're prepared for it. (And that's how the shop installed the radial tires.)


If you don't want to do that regularly, air shocks may be the only solution.

Actually the collapsed and extended specs for the Gabriel Hi-Jacker air shock 49105 are the same as the Gabriel 81270 that we are finding to be shorter that the OEM shock Ext 17.67 Col 10.56, KYB KG5517 is 17.87/10.91 but the KYB KG5550 might do the trick without an extension at 19.29 Ext and 12.01 Col.

[grumppyoldman]

II had the same problem with my 55, I added the extensions and that solved the problem. Al

[Merc Cruzer]

I had the same issue on my 53' Merc until I found and bought this bumper jack. No, I never jack it up by the bumper, but rather the frame. They are around if you look for one and not to expensive either. I bought two for $25 each off of Craigslist. They lock at progressive height levels, so they are safe.

[paul2748]

What size tire?

Originally Posted by Daves55Sedan

You guys must be getting the wrong rear shocks. I can jack the back of both my '55 car and '55 Courier wagon almost to the top of the bumper jack and lower the scissor jack down (under the rear axle) as far as it will go, and the shocks will stretch that far.
I will crawl under the wagon and look at the part number of the shocks I got. They are gas-charged shocks, purchased new around 1998. Real good shocks.

[Daves55Sedan]

I thought I mentioned before; rear tires on car are P215-75R15's. Rear tires on wagon are OEM 710X15's.
Here is a photo of the wagon rear tire as the wagon is normally sitting on the pavement without any jacks. Notice that the entire wheel is exposed due to the improved arch in the rear leaf springs. This helps a lot, but you still need bumper jack and bottle jack under rear axle to keep the axle from getting so close to the ground that you can't get the tire back on, and that is with the bumper jack all the way up to the top.

[Daves55Sedan]

BTW, sorry I could not get stock # on my shock absorbers. They only have the patent # stamped on the shocks.
AND, on my '55 Fairlane sedan, which has modern radials, the 5-leaf rear springs have never been re-arched, but I corrected somewhat to near mint condition height using overload springs on the older oil shock absorbers (circa 1984) but still in great condition. The rear wheels are partially concealed at the top by the rear fenders. The P215-75R15's are a bear to get off and on. Always need both bumper jack up to the max and bottle jack under rear axle. Without bottle jack, brake backplate would probably hit the floor and that is with bumper jack up to the max. That is without the need to disconnect oil-shocks. So they extend pretty far too.