Pontiac FIREBIRD 1972 Service Manual page 307

REAR SUSPENSION
2. Tighten anchor plate attaching nuts to 40 Ib. ft.
torque.
3. Tighten shock absorber lower end stud nut to 65 Ib.
ft. torque on B Series or to 10 lb. ft. torque on F Series
or to 55 lb. ft. on X Series.
CAUTION: Make sure all grommets and retain-
ers are correctly installed (F Series). Shock ab-
sorber stud must not rotate while tightening
nut.
FRONT BUSHING
(LEAF SPRING)
REMOVE
NOTE: On B Series, remove spring (see LEAF
SPRING
-
REMOVE) and then follow proce-
dure in steps 8 through 12 outfined below.
1. F & X Series: Raise car at axle housing.
NOTE: Support weight of car at both under-
body side rails (F
&
X Series) near front eye of
springs with jack stands.
2. F & X Series: Remove nut, retainer and grommet or
nut and lock washer which attach lower end of shock
absorber to spring and shock absorber anchor plate
(Fig. 4-18 or Fig. 4-20, View D).
CAUTION: Shock absorber stud must not turn
while loosening nut. I f necessary, use pliers or
wrench to hold bottom o f stud while removing
nut.
3. F & X Series: Compress shock to move out of way.
4. F & X Series: Loosen spring front eye bolt (Fig. 4-20,
View
B
or Fig. 4-23).
5. F & X Series: Remove the screws securing the spring
front mounting bracket to the floor pan.
6. F & X Series: Lower axle assembly enough to permit
access to spring front mounting bracket and remove
bracket from spring.
7. F & X Series: Insert wood wedge or plank between
spring and underbody side rail to pry spring eye
down for clearance to use bushing removal tool.
8. Position remover adapter J 2 1978-1 over puller screw
J 21058-15 so that adapter is against head of puller
screw (Fig. 4-26).
Fig. 4-26 Removing Leaf Spring Front Bushing (F Series
Shown)
9. Position puller screw through eye of bushing so that
remove adapter J 2 1978-1 is against unflanged side of
bushing.
10. Position large end of barrel J 22553-1 over puller
screw and seat barrel against spring eye.
11. Position thrust bearing and washer on puller screw.
Then install and tighten nut J 21058-8 against thrust
bearing.
12. Check to make sure that all puller parts are properly
aligned. Then proceed to tighten nut until bushing is
pulled free of spring eye. Disassemble puller tool.
INSTALL
NOTE: On B Series, follow procedure in Steps
I through
6
outlined below and then install
spring (see LEAF SPRING
-
INSTALL).
1. Position installer adapter J 22553-2 over flange end
of bushing (Fig. 4-27).
Fig. 4-27 Installing Leaf Spring Front Bushing (F Series
Shown)