Removal And Installation Of Spring Shackles; Lubrication Of Rear Springs; Adjustment Of Rear Shock Absorbers - Cadillac 1937 LaSalle VVI Information

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R E A R W H E E L S U S P E N S I O N
The cap screws used for the universal joints are
made of special material and heat treated. W h e n
reinstalling a joint, therefore, use either the
original cap screws or new screws for this purpose
secured from the factory Parts D i v i s i o n . Ordinary
cap screws must not be used. N e w locking plates
should also be used when the retaining screws are
reinstalled
Care should be exercised to assemble the u n i -
versal joint spline connection and the propeller
shaft in the correct position. T h e arrow on the
universal joint should always be i n line w i t h the
arrow on the propeller shaft.
7. Removal a n d Installation of Spring
Shackles
The spring bolts at the front end of the rear
springs on all 37-series cars are easily removed or
installed without interference from any sheet
metal parts. R e m o v a l of these bolts is simply a
matter of turning the bolt out of its bushing on
series 37-50 and 60 cars, or removing the retaining
nut and pulling the bolt out of its rubber bushings
on series 37-65, 70, 75, 85 and 90 cars.
T o reinstall, reverse the above procedure.
Disassembly and assembly procedure for 37-
series rear spring shackles is apparent from
Plate 20, Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
R e m o v a l of a rear spring requires removal of
the front spring bolt, the U-bolts that clamp the
spring to the rear axle, the spring shackle bolt
on series 37-65, 70, 75 a n d 85, the spring shackle
.bushing on series 37-50 and 60, and the complete
• disassembly of the spring shackles on series 37-90.
8. Lubrication of Rear Springs
Series 37-50 and 60—
These cars have rear springs w i t h waxed liners
as shown i n Plate 20, F i g . 9. These springs should
not be lubricated i n service.
Series 37-65, 70, 75, 85 and 90—
These cars have conventional type rear springs
* w i t h metal covers.
" Attention need be given to spring lubrication
only in the event of springs squeaking or of
.hard riding due possibly to need of lubrication.
In such instances, the springs can be lubricated,
using a special tool provided for the purpose, i n
the following manner:
1. Disconnect shock absorber links.
2. Raise the rear end of the car w i t h overhead
hoist or chain fall u n t i l a l l weight is taken off rear
springs.
_3. Install the clamp (Tool N o . J-595) over one
of the spring covers w i t h the lubricant outlet
fitting entering the hole i n the under side of the
cover, and screw the injector t i p in u n t i l it has
tully penetrated the inner canvas covers.
4. A p p l y a grease gun filled w i t h graphite
lubricant (G-15) to the connection i n the clamp
and force the lubricant into the spring cover.
5. A t the same time, insert a large screw driver
in the end of the spring cover and p r y the second
leaf away from the eye leaf to permit the lubricant
to flow between the leaves.
6. A p p l y lubricant u n t i l it seeps out at both
ends of the spring cover.
If it should seep steadily out at the large end
and not appear at the spring eye end, a clamp
should be applied to the large end to prevent
further flow while the lubricant is being forced to
the spring eye end.
If the lubricant seeps out between the sections
of the cover, the tool has not been inserted through
the canvas. T h e tool must penetrate the inner
canvas covers.
Caution: D o not let the car down while the injector
tip is inserted, otherwise the tip will be
broken off by the end of the nearest leaf.
7. U p o n removing the clamp, plug the hole
with one of the special buttons furnished w i t h the
tool. Install the button b y s i m p l y tapping in
place w i t h a light hammer.
9. A d j u s t m e n t of Rear Shock Absorbers
T h e adjustment of the rear shock absorbers on
series 37-65, 70, 75 and 85 cars is made by push-
ing up on the locking cap and turning the adjust-
ment operating shaft w i t h a screw driver u n t i l
the desired " r i d e " position is secured. See Plate
21, F i g . 14. T h e shaft has three positions—soft
(S), medium ( M ) and firm (F). T h e firm position
is w i t h the operating shaft turned in a clockwise
direction to the (F) position, etc. It is important
that both rear shock absorbers be adjusted to
the same position of control.
T h e Cadillac V - 1 6 is equipped w i t h a dash
controlled ride mechanism. T h e procedure for
adjusting this additional ride regulator is as follows:
1. P u t ride regulator handle at steering column
in the " f i r m " position, which is a l l the way up.
2. Disconnect the rod from the control lever
at each of the four shock absorbers.
3. T u r n each control lever to the fully closed
or compressed position. I n this position, it
should be at an angle of 45 degrees to the center
line of the car.
4. If a n y of the control levers are not in the
correct position, they should be readjusted on
the control shaft b y loosening the locking screws
and turning them to the correct position.
5. A d j u s t the yokes on the rods at the right
front and right rear shock absorbers so that the
control levers are in the fully closed position at
the same time, w i t h all slack i n the rods taken up.