Having a whale of a time trying too get the rear end out.

[CJHenderson]

I'm down to the suspension carrier, everything else is out but still can't get the rear to drop. The carrier center bolt is out. What do I need to do?

[rgafitanu@gmail.com]

You mean the differential mount? Yes it will not come out easy. I assume you have the car on a lift or suspended by the body. Rotate the axle about this mount in a horizontal plane to break the mount loose. Put something soft where the differential would drop. The differential is the heaviest part and you don't want it to crack on the concrete.

[CJHenderson]

Right now I have a jack setting under the differential with about 2" drop so it will crash onto the floor. I've loaded the carrier area with WD40.

[Shvegel]

Make sure you don't pick up on the right tube too hard when you move it around.  The differential center section is very thin and it will crack if you lift up too hard on th right tube.

[Benz Dr.]

Make sure you don't pick up on the right tube too hard when you move it around.  The differential center section is very thin and it will crack if you lift up too hard on th right tube.

That's for sure..........  Drop the right axle while removing a shock and the same thing will happen. It can be fixed but it's a lot of work and the whole axle has to come out and be taken apart. Not fun!    ALWAYS support the rear axle while working around it. Mistakes are very costly with these things.

[CJHenderson]

Would it make a difference if I pull the axel compensating spring before dropping the axel?

[TheEngineer]

Please  look  at  the  workshop  manual !  You should remove the spring first. Be careful and follow  the  instructions.  Spring can become  dangerous 

[BRYANH815]

It is sometimes a habit for us to assume we know when we in fact do not. I have certainly gotten myself into "Dutch" by not looking at the manuals on earlier cars I have worked on. The repetitive Raps on my German /Dutch skull along with age has taught me to read up before diving it. I am following this because I intend to remove my rear end along with various other power components that tend to leak after 40  plus years. Bryan Hepper Barrington IL;...GOOD LUCK

[CJHenderson]

Was unable to get a spring compressor into the spring so I did the next best thing. Two floor jacks, two small dollies, and six jack stands. Along with WD40. Removed the rear end and now I can get my spring compressor in between the coils and remove the spring with a floor jack to hold the differential steady.

[mbzse]

Was unable to get a spring compressor into the spring.../...

Vince C has described a useful transverse spring compressor, see.
https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=5008.msg31247#msg31247
and the picture

[CJHenderson]

Thanks for posting the photo, you gave me a great idea.

[rgafitanu@gmail.com]

If you would do a simple search on this forum about compensator spring you will find a lot of info together with the fact that it is very easy to remove the spring. In that position the spring is compressed less than an inch. Take the right bolt out of the right bracket and loosen the other. The spring will push/rotate the bracket and it will decompress. Less than one minute.
Actually you don't need a spring compressor at all. You will find on these posts that there is a tool, a crowbar of some sort that can make the spring mounting very easy. I personally used the DIY compressor shown above.

[Shvegel]

If you have access to a welder A quick fixture really helps to keep it all happy.  I made this "T" shaped dolly from a piece of unistrut and 3 casters from Home Depot.  The axle tubes are supported by two posts going up to the shock absorber mount points (right one is removable so you can remove the tube to replace the boot etc ) and the center is supported at the front by a post and at the rear by a 1/2" threaded rod welded to an old drain plug.  I added a post at the very bottom that I machined to fit my floor jack for lifting it up into place but am not sure it is going to work as planned.

[TheEngineer]

Keep it simple (kiss)

[ja17]

Hello Hans,

I use the threaded rod system like you for compressing the spring.