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Rear swing arms
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2026 8:09 pm
by simon.williams
So I’m prepping for my new bushes and mounts. It is indeed possible to get the swing arm off without removing the stub axle. Bit scary though supporting the rear of the car on just the sills (left the jack under the center of the subframe as well.
Needed some good solid bits of timber and a jack (and a rubber mallet) to free it all up. Spring came out so I can renew the seats. Bushes came out quite easily too with my windy press, no need for threaded bar.
They looked OK to be honest, but one a bit crazed. Not sure if these are the originals but at least it will be done.
Re: Rear swing arms
Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2026 10:05 pm
by johnnydog
Good job!
However, I think you made the job far more difficult by not removing the driveshaft and hub as one unit. It's a really easy job - drum off, remove the 6 hub flange nylocs, undo the tie / gaitor wire on the inner shaft, and remove the whole driveshaft as one! No need to remove the shoes / backplate. If the hub hasn't been out for years, you may have to use a small bar against the hub flange and upper brake shoe seat to start it moving, but it's that simple. When replacing the driveshaft, I use a small scraper just to allow the driveshaft flange to clear the lower pull off springs but that's it, remembering to just to 'nip' the nylocs up only very lightly.
But you got there!
Re: Rear swing arms
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2026 8:31 pm
by simon.williams
Effectively not that hard to take out the half shafts, thanks for the tip. Amazing how light the trailing arms are.
Now I can also grease where grease hasn’t been for years…I didn’t see any way to grease the wheel bearing bit. Not that it looks like it needs it.
Re: Rear swing arms
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2026 8:54 pm
by johnnydog
You are right Simon, the rear hubs are sealed and not greaseable.
I don't know what grease you are thinking of using on the sliding splines, but I find CV joint grease as good as any.