The Ford Barn

sphooch · 09-21-2012, 10:53 AM

HEY GUYS ,I need a little more help with this rear spring.. I went ahead and bought a good American made spreader and am in the process of using it, so the questions come up ..1st I have the spreader installed on the spring as i write this, the spreader is centered under the spring and turned tight pretty good,I stopped because I noticed the spreader moved the right side of the spring far enough so as it touches the perch for the shock. the other side has about half inch left then it to will touch. ARE THE SPRING shackles suppose to get loose to the touch??? Should i keep going with the spring spreader, or will i damage the shock perches??? This is my 1st attempt at this , as you can tell so ALL THE HELP I CAN GET IS GREATLY APPRECIATED THANKS THE HOOCH

jw hash · 09-21-2012, 11:30 AM

You do not have to move the spring more 1/2" total or just enough to get the shackle out. you do not need the any further, try removing the shakle bar it should come off pretty easy then start to remove the shackle by now you will know if it is going to come out depending on the wear and old grease a lot of times they will not feel loose to the touch.

Tom Endy · 09-21-2012, 11:38 AM

When the spring spreader is installed make sure the little grabbers on each end securely fit around the shackle boss on the spring. Crank the two nuts on the spring spreader out evenly so the spreader stays centered. You only need to capture the tension of the spring. Remove the cross braces on each shackle and tap them out with a punch.

You can leave the spreader in place until you are ready to re-install the rear axle assembly.

Tom Endy

Randy in ca · 09-21-2012, 07:00 PM

Is the rear end on or off of the car?

Mitch//pa · 09-21-2012, 08:33 PM

Wrap a chain around it also for a safety backup.

Popeye31 · 09-21-2012, 10:16 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

All good advice but I would like to add to it . put jack stands under the frame withthe wheels off the ground. leave the jack under the rearend so you can take the weight of the rearend off of the shackles. install the spring spredder and spread the spring till the shackels will slide out. I use a few blocks and the jack to keep the rear end from rocking.

TinCup · 09-22-2012, 01:35 PM

Look closely at the pictures and you will see how we placed 2x4's under the spreader. It does help. You just need enough tension off of the shackles to get them off. Don't be surprised if you have to get real aggresive in punching the shackle out of the perch.

Rear Spring Replacement Pictures

jeep44 · 09-22-2012, 03:50 PM

If I could add a little as someone who just did this for the first time-Until I got the rear spring off,I did not really understand the tremendous tension it is under when it's installed-that spring could easily hurt you very badly. I had to remove the spreader to pull the spring apart for cleaning and painting, and when I was done cranking the spreader in on both sides, that spring looked like an upside-down "U",with both legs pointing just about straight down. You certainly don't want any part of you in the way of that spring as you're installing it.

Kaonix · 12-02-2012, 04:00 PM

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I did a search and didn't want to start a new topic on something already discussed, SAVE THE DATABASE SPACE! Anyway, can someone tell me where I can find a REASONABLY priced spring spreader. I would normally make one but at this time I don't have the resources to do so. Meaning the tools or space. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Mitch//pa · 12-02-2012, 04:09 PM

all the model A vendors sell them

Kaonix · 12-02-2012, 04:25 PM

Forgive my ingnorance, as I don't have a Model A could you give me a few decent, reliable, reasonable vendors names to check out?

Mitch//pa · 12-02-2012, 04:29 PM

http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/

http://www.modelaparts.com/default.aspx

http://www.brattons.com

joe at tams will beat anyones price

Mitch//pa · 12-02-2012, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordgarage

I am curious where Tams is located. Their website does not seem to indicate in any of the obvious places.

I have not heard of them, are they a dealer for Snyders or Brattons?

Also, the Brattons link would not work for me. Just returns a Brattons error page.

located at boyleston MA

i have dealt with joe for years he was at hershey and carries the cheap crap or the better stuff just ask. i like dealing with a knowledgeable owner when i order, and he is always a little less than the others on cost.

09-21-2012, 10:53 AM	#1
sphooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 356	Rear spring removal help HEY GUYS ,I need a little more help with this rear spring.. I went ahead and bought a good American made spreader and am in the process of using it, so the questions come up ..1st I have the spreader installed on the spring as i write this, the spreader is centered under the spring and turned tight pretty good,I stopped because I noticed the spreader moved the right side of the spring far enough so as it touches the perch for the shock. the other side has about half inch left then it to will touch. ARE THE SPRING shackles suppose to get loose to the touch??? Should i keep going with the spring spreader, or will i damage the shock perches??? This is my 1st attempt at this , as you can tell so ALL THE HELP I CAN GET IS GREATLY APPRECIATED THANKS THE HOOCH

09-21-2012, 11:30 AM	#2
jw hash Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn Washington Posts: 2,552	Re: Rear spring removal help You do not have to move the spring more 1/2" total or just enough to get the shackle out. you do not need the any further, try removing the shakle bar it should come off pretty easy then start to remove the shackle by now you will know if it is going to come out depending on the wear and old grease a lot of times they will not feel loose to the touch.

09-21-2012, 11:38 AM	#3
Tom Endy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,131	Re: Rear spring removal help When the spring spreader is installed make sure the little grabbers on each end securely fit around the shackle boss on the spring. Crank the two nuts on the spring spreader out evenly so the spreader stays centered. You only need to capture the tension of the spring. Remove the cross braces on each shackle and tap them out with a punch. You can leave the spreader in place until you are ready to re-install the rear axle assembly. Tom Endy

09-21-2012, 07:00 PM	#4
Randy in ca Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,642	Re: Rear spring removal help Is the rear end on or off of the car?

09-21-2012, 08:33 PM	#5
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Rear spring removal help Wrap a chain around it also for a safety backup.

09-21-2012, 10:16 PM	#6
Popeye31 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kenner LA Posts: 248	Re: Rear spring removal help Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) All good advice but I would like to add to it . put jack stands under the frame withthe wheels off the ground. leave the jack under the rearend so you can take the weight of the rearend off of the shackles. install the spring spredder and spread the spring till the shackels will slide out. I use a few blocks and the jack to keep the rear end from rocking. __________________ Live your dreams

09-22-2012, 01:35 PM	#7
TinCup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: OKC / Tonkawa, Ok. Posts: 1,977	Re: Rear spring removal help Look closely at the pictures and you will see how we placed 2x4's under the spreader. It does help. You just need enough tension off of the shackles to get them off. Don't be surprised if you have to get real aggresive in punching the shackle out of the perch. Rear Spring Replacement Pictures __________________ Oklahoma City Model A Restorers Group.

09-22-2012, 03:50 PM	#8
jeep44 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: canton,michigan Posts: 312	Re: Rear spring removal help If I could add a little as someone who just did this for the first time-Until I got the rear spring off,I did not really understand the tremendous tension it is under when it's installed-that spring could easily hurt you very badly. I had to remove the spreader to pull the spring apart for cleaning and painting, and when I was done cranking the spreader in on both sides, that spring looked like an upside-down "U",with both legs pointing just about straight down. You certainly don't want any part of you in the way of that spring as you're installing it.

12-02-2012, 04:00 PM	#9
Kaonix Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Goodyear A.Z. (Phoenix Suburb) Posts: 61	Re: Rear spring removal help I don't mean to hijack this thread but I did a search and didn't want to start a new topic on something already discussed, SAVE THE DATABASE SPACE! Anyway, can someone tell me where I can find a REASONABLY priced spring spreader. I would normally make one but at this time I don't have the resources to do so. Meaning the tools or space. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

12-02-2012, 04:09 PM	#10
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Rear spring removal help all the model A vendors sell them

12-02-2012, 04:25 PM	#11
Kaonix Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Goodyear A.Z. (Phoenix Suburb) Posts: 61	Re: Rear spring removal help Forgive my ingnorance, as I don't have a Model A could you give me a few decent, reliable, reasonable vendors names to check out?

12-02-2012, 04:29 PM	#12
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Rear spring removal help http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/ http://www.modelaparts.com/default.aspx http://www.brattons.com joe at tams will beat anyones price Last edited by Mitch//pa; 12-02-2012 at 04:57 PM.