Removing the Rear end!
Removing the rear end is a big dirty job, The first part is getting
the rear wheels off and removing all the brake parts, including the brake
lines, and parking brake cables.
The rear brakes looked pretty good, when I got the drums off, I noticed
that new wheel cylinders were installed at some point. Closer inspection
of the cylinders showed that they were leaking. I'm glad I opted for all
new ones.
Getting to this point was no small task. The differential is over 100
pounds, which makes it really difficult to move and lift under the car. Rust
is also a real problem once you get away from the engine compartment.
I had to buy an axle puller to get these out. Another pile of rusty
parts to get bead blasted.
The rear springs were in good shape. I guess they weren't on the car
that many years, since it had air ride when new.
This is the rear yoke. this part connects with a ball joint to the
differential. The ball joint is out now. The yoke is what causes the patented
Cadillac tail drop when accelerating.
Here are a couple of rear suspension parts after sandblasting. One with paint, and one without.
Another dirty job which I associate with the rear end, for whatever reason,
Is removing the U joints. Each one of these took a entire night of pounding to
get out. I used a butane torch to heat them up and then drove them out with a
ball peen hammer and a 3/4 inch steel punch. My arms were sore by the time I got
them out.
After I got the U-Joints out, I blasted both the shafts and repainted before putting in new Joints.
Here is a joint after removal. These U-joints aren't easy to find. I ordered
them from Kanter and they sent 2 or 3 were wrong, So, I sent the two wrong ones
back, and one of my originals. The second set were also wrong!! So I sent them
back and got a refund. Then I took my parts down to my local auto parts store
and ended up making correct joints by taking 3 joints and making 2. I had to reuse
caps from the 3rd joint on one joint even then. I came out way ahead on the price.
Kanter charged $65 each. I got the three joints locally for between $15 and $18!
It pays to shop in non classic shops when possible. By 59 many parts had becomes
standard and were used on GM products up into the seventies or eighties.
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Author: Bill McKenna
email bill@mckennasgarage.com