Rear Suspension; In-Car Adjustments And Repairs - Ford Thunderbird 1966 Shop Manual

3-10
GROUP 3
-SUSPENSION,
STEERING,
WHEELS AND TIRES
The
struts, which are connected
between
the
suspension
lower
arms
and
the underbody,
prevent
the
sus
pension
arms
from moving forward
and
backward.
REAR
SUSPENSION
Each
rear
wheel,
hub
and
brake
drum
assembly is bolted
to the
reai
axle shaft
flange. The
wheel and axle
shaft
assembly
rotates
in
the
rear axle
housing. Two
spring pads,
integral
with
the
axle
housing,
rest on
two
leaf
spring
assemblies.
The
axle
housing is
fastened
to the
center of
the
springs
by
spring
clips
(U-bolts),
spring clip
plates,
and nuts
(Fig. 2). Each spring
assembly
is
suspended
from
the
under
body
side rail
by
hanger
and shackle
assemblies at
the
front
and rear.
The
upper end of each
shock absorber
is
mounted
to
a
bracket in
the
under
body; the
lower
end
is
mounted
to the
spring
pad at
the
axle
housing.
The
springs
and shock absorbers
provide
for up
and
down
movement
of
the rear axle and wheels as required
by
changes
in
the
road surface.
They
also cushion road shocks.
SHOCK ABSORBER
REAR HANGER
HUB AND BRAKE
DRUM
HOUSING
/
SHACKLE ASSEMBLY
WHEEL
SPRING CLIP
GASKET
REAR SPRING
FRONT HANGER
WHEEL BEARING
/
NUT
F1204-B
FIG. 2
Rear
Suspension
IN-CAR ADJUSTMENTS AND REPAIRS
HOISTING INSTRUCTIONS
Damage
to
suspension and/or
steering
linkage
components
may
oc
cur
if
care
is
not exercised
when
positioning
the
hoist
adapters of
2
post
hoists
prior to
lifting
the car.
If
a
2
post
hoist is
used,
place
the
adapters under
the
lower
arms or
the
NO. 1
crossmember.
Do
not allow
the
adapters
to
contact
the
steering
linkage. If
the
adapters are placed un
der
the
crossmember,
a piece of wood
(2
x
4
x
16
inches)
should
be
placed
on
the
hoist
channel
between
the
adapters.
This
will prevent
the
adapt
ers
from
damaging the
front
suspen
sion
struts.
UPPER
BALL JOINT
REPLACEMENT-ARM
IN CAR
1. Raise the
front
of
the car and
position safety
stands under
the
chas
sis.
2.
Remove the
wheel and
tire.
3. Loosen the
upper
stud
(ball
joint-to-arm) nut.
4. Remove the cotter pin and
loosen
the
upper
ball joint
stud nut.
Place
a
box
wrench over
the
lower
end of
tool T57P-30O6-A,
and
posi
tion the tool
as shown
in Fig. 3. The
tool
should seat
firmly
against
the
ends of
both
studs,
and not
against
the
lower
stud nut.
It may be
neces
sary
to
remove
the
cotter pin
from
the
lower ball joint
stud
if
the
cotter pin
prevents
the tool
from seating
on
the
lower
stud.
5. Turn
the
wrench
until
both
studs are under tension, then
loosen
the
stud
from
the
spindle
by
tapping
the spindle near the
upper stud with a
hammer. Do
not
loosen
the
stud with
tool
pressure alone.
Remove
the
ball
joint
stud nut.
6. Slide
the
ball joint
stud out of
the
spindle upper
bore. Remove
the
upper retaining nut, and
drive
the
ball
joint
out of
the
suspension arm.
8. Position
the
replacement
ball
joint in its
recess
in
the
upper arm so
that the
ball joint
notch
faces
the
front
of
the
car
(Fig. 4). Install
the
retaining
nut on the
upper stud and
draw
the
ball joint into
place
by
tightening
the
nut.
9. Position
the
ball
joint
stud
in
the
spindle
bore,
install
the
stud
nut,
and
torque to
specifications.
Install
a
new
cotter
pin.
Tighten
the
nut,
if
necessary, to
align
the
cotter pin
hole.
T57P-3006-A
UPPER ARM
UPPER BALL JOINT
LOWER BALL JOINT
\ LOWER ARM
T62F-3006-A
F1205-B
FIG. 3
Loosening
Ball Joint
Stud