Re: Stewart's 1955 Packard 400

Posted by Troy Taylor On 2014/10/11 20:22:37

stewart,

I was able to successfully and safely remove the A arm, by removing those two bolts while the main bars still had tension.

I first made sure that the T/L was revealed of tension and removed the short bars from the compensator.

With the front Arm in the jacking screw, I removed the front pins and left the arm suspended as you have.

I then removed the two bolts on the top "A" arm and removed it from the frame leaving only the Bottom "A" arm attached.

Those two screw hold both the lower "A" arm, AND the T/L load arm pivot bracket.

Those were the last two screws I removed, the pivot bracket on the front arm will rise or gap about 1/4" from the frame, it will hold securely on the back fasteners. I promptly removed the lower suspension and replaced the bolts and re-tightened them for T/L integrity.

I had no qualms in doing it, but again, I look at it, think twice and then do it. I realize it is not the proper way, but it worked without damaging anything.

I plan on doing the reverse project and rewind the T/L from the front using my jack screw and process.

Do be careful, move slowly and keep clear just in case of a snap, there is a lot of tension there.