I started a thread about changing my bushing on the rear of my 65 skytop wagon (then I could not access this site for a few months) So I will start a new thread I want to change out all 8 bushing on the rear, The lowers should be easy but can anyone suggest how to do the uppers (even one arm at a time) without dropping the whole rear end? Do I need scissors orbottle jacks? wood blocks? Anyone done them without dropping the rear? How about pressing the new bushing in? Should I boil them just before I put them in? I purchased these bushings from Autozone for $5 each and figure they have to be better than the 40 year old rock hard ones I have now Any sugestions?
Just drop the rear, since you are doing all the bushings, the only items hold the rear in place are shocks, brake hose and driveshaft. Will be much quicker and easier to do the job with the rear out. Also, don't boil bushings. Use a ball joint press from Autozone to install them. For the arms, use a socket to hold the ends apart when you press them in. Otherwise, you can easily crush the arms.
Not to hijack the thread, but can you be a little more specific in the process of dropping the rear out of a car? Is there any (safe) way to do it without a coil spring compressor? I'm considering doing the same thing, Roger. I haven't had any luck finding a quality one-piece coil spring compressor big enough for my springs. I actually have a posi rear to swap into the electra but the non-posi needs to be reinstalled in the parts car. So I get to do it all twice! Any feedback appreciated.
HR Parts & Stuff makes an awsome tool for doing the upper bushings on the rearend.The rear can stay in the car.I bought one,and it also has other uses that you can use it for
Sorry, I didn't catch your first name... No need for a spring compressor for the rear springs. If you jack the car up on both sides, you will notice that there is no tension on the springs. The weight of the axle alone is enough to make them sit loose.
I know it would be slower and harder but I would like to do one arm at a time, I was looking at the upper arms with the rear on jack stands, and as far as I can tell the arm(s) look like they could be removed without the rear popping out of place I might place a block of wood and U-bolt a bottle jack to the axle shaft incase it does shift on me I just wonder if anyone has tried to remove one arm at a time and how they did it (I understand the key is to have no tension on the arm or have it where it is "Floating")
