Ford Thunderbird 1966 - Rear Suspension; In-Car Adjustments and Repairs

3-10
GROUP
3
-SUSPENSION, STEERING,
WHEELS
AND
TIRES
The
struts,
which
are
connected
between
the
suspension
lower
arms
and
the
underbody,
prevent the
sus
pension
arms
from
moving
forward
and
backward.
REAR
SUSPENSION
Each
rear
wheel,
hub
and brake
drum
assembly
is
bolted
to the
reai
axle shaft flange.
The wheel
and
axle
shaft
assembly
rotates in the rear
axle
housing.
Two
spring
pads,
integral
with the
axle
housing,
rest
on
two
leaf
spring
assemblies.
The
axle
housing
is
fastened
to the center
of the springs
by
spring
clips
(U-bolts),
spring
clip
plates,
and nuts (Fig. 2). Each
spring
assembly
is
suspended from the under
body
side
rail
by
hanger and shackle
assemblies at
the front
and
rear.
The
upper end
of
each
shock
absorber is
mounted to
a
bracket
in the
under
body;
the
lower end
is
mounted
to
the
spring
pad
at
the
axle
housing.
The springs
and
shock
absorbers
provide for
up
and
down
movement
of
the
rear axle and
wheels
as
required
by
changes
in the road
surface.
They
also
cushion
road
shocks.
SHOCK ABSORBER
REAR HANGER
HUB
AND BRAKE DRUM
HOUSING
/
SHACKLE
ASSEMBLY
WHEEL
SPRING
CLIP
GASKET
REAR
SPRING
FRONT
HANGER
WHEEL
BEARING
/
NUT
F1204-B
FIG.
2
Rear
Suspension
IN-CAR ADJUSTMENTS AND
REPAIRS
HOISTING
INSTRUCTIONS
Damage
to suspension
and/or
steering
linkage
components
may
oc
cur
if care is not
exercised
when
positioning
the hoist
adapters of 2
post hoists
prior
to
lifting
the car.
If a 2 post hoist is
used,
place the
adapters under the lower
arms
or
the
NO. 1
crossmember.
Do not
allow
the
adapters to
contact the
steering
linkage. If the adapters are
placed
un
der the
crossmember,
a piece
of
wood
(2
x 4 x 16
inches)
should be placed
on the hoist
channel between
the
adapters.
This
will prevent the adapt
ers
from
damaging
the front suspen
sion
struts.
UPPER
BALL
JOINT
REPLACEMENT-ARM IN
CAR
1.
Raise
the
front
of the
car and
position
safety
stands
under the
chas
sis.
2.
Remove
the
wheel and
tire.
3.
Loosen
the
upper stud
(ball
joint-to-arm)
nut.
4.
Remove
the
cotter
pin and
loosen
the
upper
ball
joint
stud
nut.
Place
a box
wrench
over the
lower
end of tool
T57P-30O6-A,
and
posi
tion
the
tool
as
shown
in
Fig.
3.
The
tool should seat
firmly
against the
ends of both
studs,
and not
against
the lower stud
nut.
It
may
be
neces
sary
to remove the
cotter
pin
from the
lower ball
joint stud if the
cotter
pin
prevents the
tool
from
seating
on
the
lower stud.
5. Turn the
wrench
until
both
studs are
under
tension,
then
loosen
the stud from the
spindle
by
tapping
the spindle near
the
upper
stud with
a
hammer.
Do not
loosen
the
stud with
tool pressure
alone.
Remove
the ball
joint stud nut.
6.
Slide
the ball
joint
stud
out of
the spindle upper
bore.
Remove
the
upper
retaining
nut,
and
drive
the ball
joint out
of
the
suspension
arm.
8. Position the
replacement ball
joint
in its
recess in the
upper
arm
so
that the
ball
joint notch
faces
the
front
of
the car (Fig.
4).
Install the
retaining
nut on the
upper
stud
and
draw
the ball
joint
into
place
by
tightening
the nut.
9. Position the ball
joint
stud in
the
spindle
bore,
install
the
stud
nut,
and
torque
to
specifications.
Install
a
new cotter
pin.
Tighten
the
nut,
if
necessary,
to align
the
cotter
pin
hole.
T57P-3006-A
UPPER
ARM
UPPER BALL JOINT
LOWER
BALL JOINT
\
LOWER
ARM
T62F-3006-A
F1205-B
FIG.
3
Loosening
Ball
Joint
Stud