Rear Suspension

[JOHNO978]

I have at last finished refurbishing the parts I am going to put back on the car...The Differential is done and is only waiting for the 3 seals to arrive and be installed...Cleaning it up was quite a task, I used a Welders Chipping Hammer, a Nail Punch and a small Cold Chisel..and 2 small grinders with different wire brushes on..I found all through this job that holding the punch and chisel loose in my fingers and doing rapid medium taps with a Mini Hammer worked better than a good belt..Keeping the tool moving all the time..some parts needed a good belt so I used the chipping hammer for that either the point or the chisel side.When I thought I had all the rust off I gave it a light dusting with silver spray...this showed up areas that needed more attention....when I was happy I gave it 2 coats of Hammerite Smooth Silver spray paint 12 hours between coats..once Ive changed the seals I shall mask them off and give the Diff a final coat...turned out not too shabby...next week I will be working on the rear under body...then start to put it all back together......I still expect the unexpected with this car...

 

[JOHNO978]

Did a bit more this morning...Got this job out of the way with a bit of improvisation....the bar is from a spring compressor and the other bits are from my Slide Hammer puller Kit...a bit Heath Robinson but it did the Job...a bit late in life to invest in a press......Start to sort out the under side on Monday....

 

[jasonh]

Threaded bar from a spring compressor - what a brilliant idea. When I've tried the threaded bar approach the thread or nut has failed. I do have a 20 tonne press but it's not as great as you think because you always have to completely remove the part to put it in the press.

 

[JOHNO978]

Threaded bar from a spring compressor - what a brilliant idea. When I've tried the threaded bar approach the thread or nut has failed. I do have a 20 tonne press but it's not as great as you think because you always have to completely remove the part to put it in the press.

Ive had the same happen to me with the threaded bar in the past..Twice on this job so I thought about it and realised that the Bar itself would be stronger because it has to compress a very strong spring and also the threads are a lot tighter. I did find that the part at the top where the thread runs out locked itself in place and took a lot to get it off again so next time when I do the front I will put a locking nut on. I have 2 sets of spring compressors plus the Mercedes Kit so a bit of damage on the bar I used is no problem really. I think it would be prudent to find a length of bar and nuts with the same thread to make different tools to help with the Bushings and Bearings....Ive thought about getting a bench top press but I dont think I would justify the cost for the use it would get as this will be my last Car to get this level of attention....Maybe...I get bored easily...an old 70`s project is appealing...

 

[JOHNO978]

It seems that the ARB Bracket is bolted to the Sub frame with the same bolt that hold the frame to the Body, 6b on the diagram...this is from an MB Site in America....There could be some changes in the Spec..... I will ring the Garage that did its last MOT to see what he has to say about it being missing...

 

[JOHNO978]

I am at the point now where I am ready to spray the underside...all the rust has been treated, I also cut back any loose rubber that had come away because of the rust, this will be resealed after the first spray coat then sprayed over again.The 2 yellowish patches you can see are where 2 cable grommets had started to rust round the edges, I took them out, cleaned up the area then fixed a plate over them from the inside with Auto Panel Adhesive...the following morning I filled the shallow holes with Milliput..If you have never heard of it, its a 2 part putty that you mix in equal length, it sets as hard as the metal...it has some flexibility, 100% water proof and can be drilled etc etc...I always have some handy...I treated all the rust with 2 coats of Hammerite Kurust and shall be spraying it with Silver Hammerite Smooth Gloss..then start to put everything back together...weather permitting as I was intending to do the first coat today..but we have rain just now....The Exhaust Shield just fell off when I lowered the Back Box to get at the Rust...the pins were rusted but still ok once I cleaned and treated them...Ive ordered new push on washers...I think I will use an Aluminium Door/Carpet plate that I have to repair the Shield..its a wide plate...I will grind the Ridges off the back to make it flexible then make some patches that I am thinking of fixing to the shield with either High Temp Silicone..the same as I used on my Wood Burner or fire Rope Glue....trial and error I reckon...I just want the Rain to stop for a week....

 

[JOHNO978]

Ive at last managed to get a dusting coat and a first coat sprayed on the underside.It was a bit snug doing the Dusting coat yesterday so Ive lifted the back end up a bit more..it was a lot better after that..The bottom of the rear Bumper is 27" off the ground and the bottom of the front Valance is 5"..it will make it easier fitting the Sub Frame.. I think... First thing in the Morning I will fill all the few areas that I had to cut away the rubber to expose the rust..I will use panel adhesive as thats flexible...the first coat has shown a few bits that need attention..nothing that will take more than a few mins to sort out...The 3 seals for the Diff arrived this morning so I can get on with that now...new washers for the front Sub Frame Bolts are on their way. Im contemplating fitting the Diff into the Sub Frame then lifting the lot into place...not sure just yet. While I have everything off I am going to sort out the few bits of flaking paint on the arches, I may as well get that out of the way. By this time next week I hope to be re building everything...fingers crossed

 

[Petrol Pete]

Stop typing and get back to work ! I want to see the finished article

 

[JOHNO978]

Stop typing and get back to work ! I want to see the finished article

...Drying time....lol..

 

[zipdip]

Very impressed,lots of work ,and given your back is not in great shape one hell of a task you have set yourself,but you are nearly there well done.

 

[Petrol Pete]

...Drying time....lol..

Ha ! any excuse !!

 

[JOHNO978]

Very impressed,lots of work ,and given your back is not in great shape one hell of a task you have set yourself,but you are nearly there well done.

Thank you,I will be glad when this back end is wheels down..its been like the Forth Road Railway Bridge....I will drive it for a week..if Im out of Shielding..then do the front...need to keep the old bones moving...I appreciate your comment...

 

[JOHNO978]

Ha ! any excuse !!

Ha ha....I was getting high on the fumes..right now Im washing the taste away with a few nice Brandies...Medicinal...

 

[JOHNO978]

Thats it...the final spray coat done...time to put it all back together...the Green and Blue marks on one of the pict is to remind me what side the ABS Sensors go...weather permitting I will do the Diff Oil Seals and refit the Flange..I am still thinking about fitting the Diff to the Sub frame and lifting the whole thing in one go..I have a Garage Jack with an extension bar that pulls out and two adjustable pads that screw up or down and fits the frame just right...may be a bit too much weight for me to move about under the car on my own....Ironically it was the 10th April I started to take the car to bits and here we are the 10th June ready to put it all back again...been a long haul...I know I have some problems ahead of me but I shall work them out with help from you good folks...

 

[JOHNO978]

I intend to start rebuilding my Rear Suspension tomorrow, Today I did the seals in the Diff, I had a bit of a scare when it came to the pinnion seal as the one that came out was different to the new one..it turned out that the dust shield was fitted to the seal so all was good in the end. I used the Old wheel Hub Bearing to drift the seals into place as they are the exact same size..always good to keep old Bearings just for that job. When I put the flange back on I used an impact socket as a drift and gently tapped it home. In the photo`s you will see bits of tape with a Red dot on them, I do this on everything that needs Torqued down and have Blue Locktite on the thread...if its Red it has neither...once Ive done that I put a green mark on the tape to tell me that its all sorted...for those few extra minuets it takes it makes sure you dont miss a bolt or any fastening..Something Ive done for many years...when I come to put all the Arms back on I will mark both sides as you never know which way you will end up on your back...I found it quite a task to get the Diff and Frame together on my own but won in the end...getting it on the car will be very interesting...thats it for now

 

[JOHNO978]

Things didnt go as planned today.....getting the Subframe and Diff to my car was a task in itself..it is very heavy indeed and a terrible shape to grip..I had to put it down a few times but got there in the end..a terrible struggle getting it into position with Jacks and blocks....then the heavens opened...Its now in a position that it needs lifting from both sides at an angle to allow the front legs pass the fuel Tanks then lift the back...not something I can do alone......or is it....just have to try...

 

[jasonh]

If you lived a bit nearer I'd give you and hand, 2m apart of course.

 

[JOHNO978]

If you lived a bit nearer I'd give you and hand, 2m apart of course.

Thanks Jason...we have torrential rain again today so the job has stopped...good in a way as I injured my right forearm yesterday it got jarred pretty badly and I have Steel rods and plates in it..quite painful today...A friend is going to come after he finishes work a big strong lad...we call him the Silver Back..pure natural muscle..a scaffolder by trade and in his mid 40`s...he will probably lift it on his own..Ive decided to cut the exhaust and lower the car by about 3 inches at the jacking point..that will set the rear about 5 inches lower and with luck make the job easier....some task Ive set myself thats for sure...once the frame is up it should be plain sailing...famous Last Words...lol..

 

[jasonh]

For stuff like this you can't really beat a set of helping hands.

 

[JOHNO978]

Im Glad to say that after a very frustrating few days weather wise the Subframe and Differential are now bolted back under the car. I must admit it was really hard going and took 3 of us with different types of Jacks...Remember the car is lifted quite high at the rear so we had to get the angle right to lift the Frame...It took us about an hour from start to finish bearing in mind we had to social distance...I put the upper arm on the frame before we lifted it (The one with the backward bolt) but I put the bolt in with nut nearest the body as I wanted to see if a spanner could be used if it needed to come off at any time....and you can..both sides no problem..this is with the new bolts of course as you can see in the pictures.So the next few days shall be spent putting everything back together again...a bit of touching up of the paint is needed but was expected..pretty chuffed all in all....