1977-1979 Ford and Mercury

rear springs

Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=9464
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 2:22PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: rear springs

Posted By: fordpower
Subject: rear springs
Date Posted: 17-July-2013 at 2:52AM

Need HELP.Replacing bushings and springs in rear to start.Have everything out bushings removed.Went to install springs,my car has a 1/2 solid rubber washer of some sort under the spring.I believe it was to lift the rear. Does anybody know were to get a reg retainer or what ever it is called or have two I can have so I can put it back together.

Replies:

Posted By: Psquare75
Date Posted: 17-July-2013 at 4:34AM

pretty sure thats just a seat for the spring. I THINK poly pieces for a fox body mustang work, not sure.

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Paul
77 XR7 460/C6/3.00:1 *SOLD*
78 XR7 523/C6/3.5:1
79 F100 460/TKO500/3.25:1
'I also have some left over potatoes-I understand you can generate electricity from them'- Foote500

Posted By: GranTorinoSport
Date Posted: 17-July-2013 at 5:17AM

RockAuto will have them - what you need is a regular coil spring insulator. Rears are still available, it is the front that is harder to get. The insulator will go at the top of the spring in the frame pocket. There is no washer, donut or whatever on the lower end.

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Scott Eklund

Webmaster

Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 17-July-2013 at 6:40AM

So there is no ins. on the bottom,correct? It was the heat,Age and heat do funny things on way home from Ithaca I realized what the hard plastic or rubber was, bottom insert for the air bags I had on the car.

Posted By: GranTorinoSport
Date Posted: 17-July-2013 at 7:12AM

uploads/3/Rear_Coil_Spring.pdf" rel="nofollow - uploads/3/Rear_Coil_Spring.pdf

The attached page from the master parts will illustrate the location of the insulator.

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Scott Eklund

Webmaster

Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 17-July-2013 at 8:30AM

got it no bottom insulator.

Posted By: GranTorinoSport
Date Posted: 17-July-2013 at 7:01PM

Just installed a set myself, really easy.

To get them out, just take the tires off, jack the back end up pretty high, support the rear frame rails with some solid large jacks, unbolt the lower retaining bolt of each rear shock. Then you just lower the rear axle down and the springs will just fall out almost.

To reinstall, put the insulator on top, shove the spring into the seat and the upper pocket, slowly jack up, checking at each pump of the jack and readjusting as necessary, then get the shock hooked back up when able (it will then prevent the axle from coming down far enough for a spring to fall out).

Easy!

Fronts - not anywhere near as easy!

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Scott Eklund

Webmaster

Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 17-July-2013 at 10:58PM

bushing removal not hard either. That's why I started with the rears first.

Posted By: 79orangebird
Date Posted: 28-March-2015 at 10:04AM

I went to change rear springs and after I took rear tires off and disconnected shock absorber and then lowered 1 end of axle, the axle dropped down, but i still coudnt get spring out, it still had some tension on it. It looks like the park brake cable is preventing the axle from coming down far enough for the spring to fall out. Did you also have to disconnect park brake cable?

Posted By: Regul8r
Date Posted: 31-March-2015 at 2:38AM

No need to remove park brake cables but the rubber brake line has alot of tension put on it. You can unbolt it from the rear end and get some more travel.

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Carl Corey (Moderator/Event Coordinator) Contact ANYTIME!
1976 Ford Elite "Lola Mae"
97 Suzuki Intruder 1400
US Army Retired

Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 31-March-2015 at 1:20PM

get both rear wheels off, and both shocks off, then with the axle hanging, and jackstands under both sides of the frame, you can pull/push the opposite side as well to get the springs in/out. I put Mark V springs (stiffer and taller) in mine with no problems. Maybe 30 minutes start to finish.

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"What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind."
Randy
1979 T-Bird
2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD
How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds?