Hello All, thanks for reading the following and please comment.

I recently replaced the rear leaf springs on my 69 Camaro ( Multi leaf ).

I upgraded the rubber components with PST Polygraphite.

There seems to be a conflict with information found in the Factory Assemble Manual and the Chassis Manual concerning when to torque the three attachment points. What is the proper time to torque the following:

Front Eye Bolt

Front Eye Bracket

Rear Shackle

The Shock Mount Plates at axle

I currently have ALL the hardware snug and need to know when to apply the torque.

THANKS MUCH

Everything except the spring eye-bolts, top shackle-bolts and the "U"-bolts can be tightened in the air.

(I.e., shocks and front spring mounts)..

Then tighten down easy to remove some slop at the plates and front spring eye-bolts and rear shackle-bolts then drop her to the ground and then finish tightening on the ground.

BUT before you do the final tightening get Fat Marge and Bubba to help you bounce her up and down several times to hopefully settle her down proper.

pdq67

Thanks for the reply.

I installed the springs and as mentioned I snugged them down at the axle ( U-bolts and T-bolts ) to the point the Poly pads began to compress. I did not torque them, but they did start to compress, I was worried the axle may shift.
The poly pads are pretty tough so I will back them hardware off to the point the pads aren't compressed and then wait to do torque as you mentioned.
I am in a garage with a slopped floor for drainage and I quess I best level the surface before setting the car down for Big Mama. :-) I could build the surface up with a plank to get surface level side to side and then set car down.

So, to recap, I will torque the Front Eye, Rear upper shackle mount, Axle T-bolts / U-bolts once he car is level and with weight.

I hope by me snugging the axle hardware I didn't cause a problem. I will back the hardware off as mentioned today.

THANKS

Thanks for the reply.


So, to recap, I will torque the Front Eye, Rear upper shackle mount, Axle T-bolts / U-bolts once he car is level and with weight.

I hope by me snugging the axle hardware I didn't cause a problem. I will back the hardware off as mentioned today.

THANKS
The T-bolts / U-bolts need to be torqued before setting it on the ground!

No, on the ground!

pdq67

No, on the ground!

pdq67
Ok I stand corrected. Sorry about that. I just read through it in the chassis service manual and sure enough it says place lower mounting plate on and loosely install nuts and torque later with weight on. But it doesn't say why. I understand the reasoning about the shackles but not the shock plate. Just curious if you don't mind?

The weight of the car far exceeds the clamping force of four fasteners to squeeze the upper cushion,the one between the rear axle perch and top of the spring.

OE nuts on the T-bolts are lock nuts, hence the torque value given to not squeeze the bejesus out of the OE pads, but firmly clamp the pads in place. Repalcement lock nuts should be used, Nyloc® are a good choice and readily available at your local hardware store and come in Gr 8 flavor.