[valtiel43]

I've got my 80 firebird all ready for a new rear end swap I got all the lines and driveshaft off at this point. Its ready to be pulled out except I just can't get the rear end to come off the leaf springs. I took off the bottom isolator plate so it should be able to lift up and come out. But the leaf springs are just sealed into the spring perches it seems. There's a bolt that is through the leaf spring under the perch but I was told it just holds the leaf springs together. I got the axle supported on a Jack and I've been banging on the leaf springs but it just wont. Come loose. Am I missing something here? I really wanted to avoid dropping the leaf springs out. Will I have too? Or are the leaf springs just siezed in those perches really bad from 30 years of rust?

 

[poncho62]

Probably seized on there....You will likely have to drop the springs anyways. You will have trouble getting the rearend out of there with the backing plates and brakes on there.

 

[bracketeer]

leave wheels on

leave the wheels on. the weight of the car should pop the rear end off the leafs. then unbolt back bracket on both leafs and roll the rear end out from under car.

 

[cobalt327]

I've got my 80 firebird all ready for a new rear end swap I got all the lines and driveshaft off at this point. Its ready to be pulled out except I just can't get the rear end to come off the leaf springs. I took off the bottom isolator plate so it should be able to lift up and come out. But the leaf springs are just sealed into the spring perches it seems. There's a bolt that is through the leaf spring under the perch but I was told it just holds the leaf springs together. I got the axle supported on a Jack and I've been banging on the leaf springs but it just wont. Come loose. Am I missing something here? I really wanted to avoid dropping the leaf springs out. Will I have too? Or are the leaf springs just siezed in those perches really bad from 30 years of rust?

If everything is loose, jack up on the rear end housing out towards the drums, using a floor jack. Use jack stands and don't jack the vehicle up off the stands- if that happens, something else is holding it. It's a chore doing it yourself but if you have a decent helper the rear end will come out w/o dropping the rear springs, but most likely all the rubber components need replacing- badly- so there's nothing to be gained by keeping the springs in place, unless you just rebuilt the rear suspension, etc.