Re: Stewart's 1955 Packard 400

Posted by Ross On 2014/8/18 5:23:32

There is no need to restrain the unwinding of the bars at the rear, as the frame does it for you. The load arm will rotate down to a particular position and then stop as it can not go any farther.

The only real need to remove the bars is if they are sagged, otherwise damaged, or as in Troy's case--which is the first I ever heard of-- that the load arm bearings are toast.

Oh, one other thing: There are heavy steel sleeves on the u-bolts that attach the rear axle to the suspension arms. (You can't see them yet-they are inside the rubber bushings) They are almost always rusted to the u-bolts tighter than the hinges of hell.

There is no particular advantage to removing them unless there is some sort of serious damage. Consider them a permanent part of the axle assembly, replace your rubber bushings and keep going.