Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Rather than confuse things with the trailing arm bushes topic, I thought it might be better to start a new one about the stabiliser bar (watts linkage). Accordingly, I have copied my last post on that topic to this new one:

"I'm starting to do my homework regarding the possibility of using polyurethane bushes for the rear stabiliser bar. However, I've come up with a quandry and need some expert advice. When I refurbished the bar on my Patrician a few years ago I actually had two bars, one of which came on the car and one which I was given as a spare. Unfortunately I can't recall which one I recoe'd but I think it was the one which came with the car. At that time I didn't realise '55 and '56 bars had different part numbers ('56 = 6480534 & '55 = 445831). So the question is, what's the difference between the two bars as I might have one of each? Is it something readily identifiable? If I'm going to run with polyurethane I want make sure I do it on a '56 bar".

Cheers, John

On the 55s, the center bracket that bolts to the rear crossmember is shorter; thus the pivot point is higher relative to the axle, and the arms of the Watts Linkage are longer than on a 56. Haven't measured, but the difference is going to be slight. Regardless, they take the same bushings.

Ross, can the 55 and 56 bars interchange?

Here is a photo of the two. The one at the top is the 56 with the shorter bracket and the one below is the 55(longer bracket). I am not here to contradict or step on anyone's toes but what I am saying is opposite from what Ross stated, but I double checked on a 56 Caribbean that we had in the back and it had the shorter bracket. I will agree with Ross that the bars themselves look virtually identical but one set may be longer but with out dissembling and laying them a top each other it would be hard to tell with the curves.

<a href="http://s671.photobucket.com/user/JamesRFrom/media/Packard%20400/IMG_5220.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv72/JamesRFrom/Packard%20400/IMG_5220.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_5220.jpg"/></a>

Thanks men. My spare bar isn't fitted to a bracket so I think I'll source the bushes first and when I'm ready to do the job, remove the bar from the car and measure each bar against each other. Hopefully they'll both be the same but if not, I'll reco the one with the longest arms. I'm still looking for some suitable polyurethane bushes over here instead of the rubber ones that are readily available. Cheers, John

Ok, Question from the Novice corner.

I plan on removing my rear stabilizer tomorrow. I have the shocks already off. Am I correct, that the torsion arm needs to be either unwound or tied up before removing the stabilizer?

I didn't see any warning in the manual like on the front arms. It looks like the stabilizers are the link taking the torque. I don't want to knock them off and unleash a hurting. I think I am correct, I will need to address the rear torque arms before attempting to remove the stabilizer.

Experts????

No toes stepped on, just a memory failure. Could have sworn the 55s had a higher roll center. Oh well.

On Troy's question, there is no memory failure: The rear end of the bars can not unwind as they rotate within the rear frame outrigger. If you look you will see that they can only rotate until the bar strikes the edge of the outrigger.

i did mine, the bar only goes so far, my load arm came off the bracket, was waiting for a wham,,,,but arm stayed up, watch the torque arm, ,, i used a bar to get it back in,,,play with it, with a jack,,

what those bushings are,,,are a mini load arm bushing,,

not the end ones,,the ones inside bracket..

I'm still on the hunt for suitable polyurethane bushes, but it's proving a little difficult to find something the same size as I can source in rubber. One supplier recommended a "tapered cotton reel bush" that's essentially the same as two of the rubber ones joined in the middle. The sizing is very close with the overall length being the greatest difference at 1.85mm, approx 1/16" (rubber bushes x 2). The ID is 16mm which is only marginally bigger than 5/8" (15.9mm). Has anyone used these type of bushes and if so, were there any difficulties in pressing them in to the arms? I've never tried this before and am a little cautious as from what I can find out, these types of bushes are usually pressed into flat surfaces, not like the eyes on the bars which are tapered on both sides. I suppose I could cut them in half but I'd prefer not to have to do that. Cheers, John