Replacing rear spring seat pads

[yolner]

Putting my rear axles back together and ran into an issue with the spring seat pads on the passenger side See the screenshot if you don't know what I'm talking about. On one side they're worn down to nothing and the spring was starting to wear down the bracket. I was able to find replacement pads (waiting on UPS), but I can't figure out how they're supposed to come out of the brackets. The manual just says remove and replace, but beating on them with a punch didn't do a whole lot. My next step is going to be to drill a hole in the center and see if I can yank it out with a slide hammer. Is that a good idea or am I missing something obvious?

 

[GopherHill]

Look at a you tube video "Watch Wes Work".
He does a m35 rear spring and all. Good info.

 

[yolner]

Looked at that and he shows one bracket with the pad removed for just a second, but he doesn't say how he got it done. I'm guessing it just needs some violence applied to it since he didn't mention anything special in the video.

 

[gringeltaube]

Some of those are loose and fall out when you remove the bracket; others are a tight fit, and then some are like solid, welded in place... But that's only from rust built up.

So don't be shy and just use a bigger punch and heavier hammer, with the bracket firmly supported. PB-blaster; Rust-Off; etc. will help here, too.

My next step is going to be to drill a hole in the center

Ha... good luck with that! It's a hardened piece of steel.

 

[yolner]

Makes sense. All of mine are rust welded in there. Thanks for saving me a drill bit though. I'll try heat and a bigger hammer.

 

[davidb56]

Makes sense. All of mine are rust welded in there. Thanks for saving me a drill bit though. I'll try heat and a bigger hammer.

And safety glasses. Some metals will splinter/chip when knocking the crap out of them.

 

[yolner]

Bigger hammer did it. Now just have to wait for new ones to come in. Anyone know if there's an aftermarket version of these pads available? Ones I got were NOS and not easy to find.

 

[yolner]

And safety glasses. Some metals will splinter/chip when knocking the crap out of them.

Yeah I don't work without a face shield anymore. Takes only one visit to the ER to have them dig metal out of your eye to teach you that lesson.

 

[topo]

If you want to post the dimensions or send me one of the old one I can make then on a lathe and send them to you for the cost of shipping

 

[yolner]

Thanks for the offer! I already got some ordered, but I will post the dimensions when they come in. I think in a couple of years they'll be impossible to find.

 

[yolner]

Finally got my new spring pads. Here's the dimensions as promised.

OD of the lip at the bottom: 2.865"
Slot in the middle is 1.015" wide and 0.325" deep
OD of the pad: 2.375
Height of the pad measured from the lip to the center of the pad: 1.05"
Height of the pad measured from the lip to the edge of the pad: 0.905"

 

[topo]

Thank you I will give making them a try

 

[gringeltaube]

Finally got my new spring pads. Here's the dimensions as promised.

OD of the lip at the bottom: 2.865"
Slot in the middle is 1.015" wide and 0.325" deep
OD of the pad: 2.375
Height of the pad measured from the lip to the center of the pad: 1.05"
Height of the pad measured from the lip to the edge of the pad: 0.905"

Height of the "lip"? (should be ~ 0.28")
Radius of the dome? (should be ~ 5.5")

I take it that the total height is 1.05" in the center and 0.905" at the edge?

Please measure to confirm. Thanks!

 

[yolner]

Height of the lip is more like 0.265" but it's sort of rounded closer in to the pad.

Total height to the center of the pad is 1.05 and 0.905 at the edge of the pad.

Not sure where I should be seeing the 5.5". Radius of the pad should be 1/2 of the 2.375" OD. Sorry as you can tell I'm not a machinist lol

 

[gringeltaube]

Not sure where I should be seeing the 5.5"

The shape of the top of pad is not conical but spherical, machined to a certain radius.

I put your dimensions into a drawing (PDF, all to scale) and found that said radius is more like 5.0"
To confirm it you could compare the contours of the pad with a Ø10" disc as background, and see if they do align, more or less.


If possible, let us know that "r", where you said the "lip is rounded"... (?) Or simply shoot and post some close-ups of that area.

 

[yolner]

Here's some shots. One with a 5/32 drill bit which seems to be about the size of the rounded corner.

 

[gringeltaube]

OK, so I edited my drawing, accordingly. (updated my previous post #15)

 

[topo]

Making a spring pad from a peace of scrap it all ready had a hole in the center and I did not even try to dome the top the mounting it in the lathe several different ways I'm learning '