Sandblasting/disassymbling suspension components

[bjde0b]

I have been sandblasting the frame. Tonight I took off all the suspension stuff. Do I need to take the radius arm off of the pivot arm? How is the position fixed? The angle appears to be very specific. If I were to undo them, I don't know if I could get them back together the way they are supposed to be. I can sandblast them the way they are and then repaint them while they are still together. I am also having trouble getting the u-bolts off of the rear axle. I don't want to grind or break them off because they are $15 each in LMC.

I have also included a few pictures of the frame before blasting and after. I am going to flip the frame and blast the rest tomorrow then paint with Rust Encapsulator in a week or so.

[fordman]

wow your seriously getting after it aren't you. the radius pivot there can be reset if you take it apart. when you put it back on. just dont tighten it down until the radius arm is bolted into the frame brack for the radius arm. then tigthen the king bolt down to the axle once it is bolted to the frame also. or if you want it coul dbe just left on and painted around. i dont see a real problem with that area not getting paint. i guess it could pour rust out faster if you didnt atleast clean that are up.

[bjde0b]

I felt like an idiot about the angle of the arms when I read your replies, especially because I call myself an engineer.

It is a triangle with three arms with a specific length. Two corners are fixed which would fix the third angle and position.

I hate forking over $60 for the u-bolts, but you are probably right. I am going to replace the leaf spring bolts while I am at it.

[fitzwell]

60 bucks for u bolts?????????????

Check around, i would think Houston would have a leaf spring service shop. Last set cost me $24 and they bent 'em up in about 10 minutes. I've got a brother in law in that part of the world...i can have him check around if it would be of any help.

[mnagatani]

I recall when I took off my U bolts for the first time I used the impact wrench. No other way. Crank up the air presure and buzz em off!

Mike

[bjde0b]

I am going to cut off the u-bolts. I have found a pa0ir at Autozone for $18, two pair for $36 so I don't mind that as much as $60.

http://www.autozone.com/R,5184088/store ... Detail.htm

While I have you on the hook, I need some info about the spring wraps. Mine have metal folded around them. LMC shows bolted brackets wrapped around them. Are mine not from a 67-72. Also, I am missing a wrap on one of the springs, that is why I am asking what I should do about this? It is kind of hard to see it in the picture but look a couple inches from the top.

Disc brakes were put on the front. Are the pivot and radius arms from a 73-79 or will they probably be from a bump? Are the springs bump or dent?

http://www.lmctruck.com/ICATALOG/FB/full.aspx?Page=108

[fordman]

so you have the flexomatic rear springs or the nonflexomatic? the way to tell on the front springs is to look at the bottom spring cups. or post a pic of them.

[1971ford]

heres my bumpside leaf springs for reference. The clip on your leaf pack looks different..

[fordman]

that is a flexomatic rear spring setup there.

[mnagatani]

I got my spring wraps from a local spring shop. They came with a rubber insulation inside of it.




Only pic I had

[fordman]

that looks good. and that is a pic of the non flexomatic springs.

[mnagatani]

ya, non flexomatic