Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Maybe the body rubber.

Is causing the uneven wheel covers.

I think I'll make a pin that is 5.0" long, which seems like it would make it #4.5 or so pin. I'll check the bushing that Howard pointed out before installing the pin.

I made the pin and have removed the one that was on the car. I've been trying to remove the ball and socket that are in the old one. I've tried soaking, pounding on the outside of the pin, and heat. I'm open to any suggestions.

See if gerry Psw. Has them

I lay them across the anvil of my vise and pound the pin mercilessly with a big hammer in the area where the shank of the end is pressed in. This eventually stretches the softer steel of the pin to where I can pull them out.

Ross - I like your approach. When you can't get the part out the pounding is a great therapeutic for the frustration that is building up within.

Per the old saying don't use force get a bigger hammer

The bushings in the arm looked OK. When I would push up and down on the front end of the car, both sides seemed to go up and down together.

Well, I got a bigger hammer and it worked. I made two pins one at 5.0” and the other at 5.25” and I think the fix is going to be closer to the 5.25”, but I’m not sure if that’s too long and more than the suspension can tolerate.

I want to share how I removed the old pin. Of course, I didn’t have a J-6065 tool so I improvised. I put a piece of chain around the arm and bolted it together. I then connected the hook from a coil spring compressor to one of the links above the arm. I fed the 5/8” threaded stock from the compressor through two pieces of steel that were sitting on top of the upper A Arm. With a nut on the 5/8” threaded stock I took up the slack in the chain. I jacked up the car per the STB and everything worked as expected.

Attach file:

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  Parts Coil Spring Compressor.jpg (415.56 KB)


  Chain Around Arm.jpg (226.52 KB)


  Top View Threaded Stock.jpg (114.42 KB)


  Threaded Stock through Steel Bars.jpg (203.28 KB)


  5 quarter Pin.jpg (208.18 KB)

I tried to install the new pin and was unable to do so. The distance between the top and bottom is too close. How can I increase the distance between the points on the lower A Arm and the arm on the TL system?

If the chain is holding the load arm as hight as the J-6065 tool would then about the only thing left would be to remove the top rubber rebound bumper to let the A arms drop a tiny bit farther down.

If the rebound cushions are the kind that have a stem with a groove and is held to the frame by a steel clip sort of like brake hoses use located under the hole then you could probably remove and replace the cushion without damage. If it is the kind where there is a sort of arrow shaped knob on the end of the stem that is compressed and forced thru the hole when installing the cushion would most likely be damaged on removal and need a new one to replace it.