I've found that a few ratcheting cargo straps, and a couple of big drift punches can be your friend as well. Once you've got 1 or 2 bolts in you need to "pull" something over a bit, then stick the punch in the hole while you find where the bolt/nut rolled off to.
(Especially with the polygraphite bushings... those things DO NOT have any sideways "give". Don't forget to shmear them and the pockets with the silicone greasy snarf so they don't squeak)
Some of you may have already seen it, but it makes sense and seems like an easier way to do it. Having a motorcycle jack does look to work better than a std. jack with the puck in it, and trying to balance the center of the axle on it's own though.
I also figured out that the upper control arm bolts I removed were installed backwards, which is why I fought clearance issues when removing one of them...
Tim H said
Feb 27, 2012
So do you want me to dig out my motorcycle jack for you?
SShink said
Feb 27, 2012
Tim H wrote:
So do you want me to dig out my motorcycle jack for you?
No, but thanks. I've seen Dashboard make up some creative holding fixtures for his trans, so I have something similar in mind for the axle. Or, I will just have my son and somebody to stop by to help guide it when lifting with the floor jack.
As you know, handling the axle is more awkward than anything else. Just keeping it from rolling forward because of being nose heavy is half the battle!
Bowtieman427 said
Feb 27, 2012
The motorcycle jack does work well, and is what I used to my rear end and tranny back in. I did slide around a little with the rearend, which I did not like when attatching the the arms, but that was mostly do to my inexperience. The motorcycle jack I have constantly safety locks which is a pain somtimes. The motorcycle jack is good for the gas tank too.
SteveS said
Feb 27, 2012
I used a motorcycle jack as well, makes the balancing act a little easier.
Chris R said
Feb 28, 2012
I was thinking about welding up a contraption that supports the axle from pivoting forward without tiliting side to side like some sort of a cradle with a tube welded to the bottom so it will slide right into the round eyelet that the pad on the floor jack sits in.
Most floor jacks have a jackpad that just comes off and you essentially have a round hole in the "toungue" of the floor jack. Kind of like these transmission adapters you may have seen that are designed to fit into your floor jack. Why not a custom made cradle thats designed to accomidate a rear end.
I dont have the space for a motorcycle jack and I dont think I would do this kind of work enough to warrant getting one.
I've found that a few ratcheting cargo straps, and a couple of big drift punches can be your friend as well. Once you've got 1 or 2 bolts in you need to "pull" something over a bit, then stick the punch in the hole while you find where the bolt/nut rolled off to.
(Especially with the polygraphite bushings... those things DO NOT have any sideways "give". Don't forget to shmear them and the pockets with the silicone greasy snarf so they don't squeak)
Found this on TC when researching the reinstall of my axle: http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=348761&highlight=rear+control+arm+installation
Some of you may have already seen it, but it makes sense and seems like an easier way to do it. Having a motorcycle jack does look to work better than a std. jack with the puck in it, and trying to balance the center of the axle on it's own though.
I also figured out that the upper control arm bolts I removed were installed backwards, which is why I fought clearance issues when removing one of them...
No, but thanks. I've seen Dashboard make up some creative holding fixtures for his trans, so I have something similar in mind for the axle. Or, I will just have my son and somebody to stop by to help guide it when lifting with the floor jack.
As you know, handling the axle is more awkward than anything else. Just keeping it from rolling forward because of being nose heavy is half the battle!
I was thinking about welding up a contraption that supports the axle from pivoting forward without tiliting side to side like some sort of a cradle with a tube welded to the bottom so it will slide right into the round eyelet that the pad on the floor jack sits in.
Most floor jacks have a jackpad that just comes off and you essentially have a round hole in the "toungue" of the floor jack. Kind of like these transmission adapters you may have seen that are designed to fit into your floor jack. Why not a custom made cradle thats designed to accomidate a rear end.
I dont have the space for a motorcycle jack and I dont think I would do this kind of work enough to warrant getting one.