Pontiac firebird 1968 - Page 106

REAR SUSPENSION
4-3
LEAF SPRING, SPRING SEAT PADS AND SPRING
EYE BUSHING-FIREBIRD
NOTE: Right and left lower shock mounts will not
interchange.
REMOVAL
1. Raise rear of vehicle at axle housing and sup-
port weight of vehicle at both frame side rails near
front eye of springs with jack stands.
2. Loosen and remove shock absorber lower at-
taching nut.
3. Loosen the front spring eye-to-bracket retain-
ing bolts.
4. Remove the screws securing the spring retainer
bracket to the underbody.
5. Lower axle assembly sufficiently to permit
access to spring retainer bracket and remove bracket
from spring.
6. The spring eye bushing can be replaced without
completely removing the spring from the vehicle. If
bushing requires replacement, proceed as follows:
a. Insert wood wedge or plank between spring
and frame to pry spring eye down for clearance to
use bushing removal tool.
b. Position remover adapter J 21978-1 over
puller screw J 21058-15 so that adapter is against
head of puller screw. Refer to Fig. 4-2 for view
of removal tools.
c. Position puller screw through eye of bush-
ing so that remover adapter J 21978-1 is against
unflanged side of bushing.
d. Position large end of barrel J 22553-1 over
puller screw and seat barrel against spring eye.
e. Position thrust bearing on puller screw.
Then install and tighten nut J 21058-8 against
thrust bearing.
f. Check to make sure that all puller parts are
properly aligned. Then proceed to tighten nut until
bushing is pulled free of spring eye. Disassemble
puller tool.
g. Position installer adapter J 22553-2 over
flange end of bushing. Then position puller screw
J 21058-15 through installer adapter and bushing.
Refer to Fig. 4-3 for view of installation tools.
h. Position puller screw through spring eye un-
til bushing contacts spring. Install small end of
barrel J 22553-1 over puller screw and seat barrel
against spring.
i. Install thrust bearing and nut J 21058-8.
Check puller tools and bushing for proper align-
ment; then tighten nut to pull bushing into spring.
Install bushing until bushing is centered in spring
eye.
NOTE: Do not apply additional torque to nut
J 21058-8 after bushing flange contacts spring.
Torque applied after flange is seated will tend to
distort flange and reposition bushing in spring.
j. Disassemble bushing installation tools and
remove from spring„
7. Pry parking brake cable out of the retainer
bracket mounted on the spring mounting plate.
8. Remove spring bracket-to-axle bracket retain-
ing nuts; remove upper and lower rubber spring pads
and bracket.
9. Support spring; then remove lower bolt from
spring rear shackle. Separate shackle and withdraw
spring from vehicle.
10. Remove rear spring shackle upper bolt and
withdraw shackle bushings from frame.
Fig. 4-2 Removing Spring Front Bushing—Firebird
Fig. 4-3 Installing Spring Front Bushing—Firebird