Thread: Swapping Rears
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Old 12-21-2003, 10:23 PM   #20
lukecp
Formerly yellow72custom
 
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 7,531
Update:

I finished the rearend swap today
Like you guys said, it was super easy. I started on Friday, and worked a few hours each day until this afternoon when i finished it up. I recruited a friend to help me so it went pretty easy.

The u-bolt nuts came right off after a night's soaking in PB blaster. I did have to put a cheater bar on the 3/4" drive, but a firm push with both my feet broke them loose.
They were still rust welded in the trailing arms though, so i had to cut them off with a angle grinder and a cutoff wheel. Like Paul72 said, they popped because of the pre-tenision and scared the crap out of me, lol.
I was able to beat the remanats of the U-bolts out of the trailing arms after another night's soaking in PB. Then the new one went in without a hitch.
I did have to use heat on the tracking arm though....the nut didn't want to come off. Even with a little propane torch's help it was still a PITA.

The new one dosen't howl or anything, dosen't leak yet (knock on wood!!), and the brakes even were in good shape from what i could tell (couldn't pull one of the drums off).
And i did actually enjoy putting it in....remids me of why i love these trucks so much...easy to work on!

Once again, thanks for the help
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'72 Chevy C10 Mild 350/TH350/3.07. Ochre/White. Old high school ride.
'70 GMC C2500 '62 327 4bbl/SM465/4.56-geared Dana 60. White/White. Project or parts truck.
'97 Saturn SL DD. 1.9/5-speed. 40+ highway mpg
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