removing bolt on differetial crossmember...

I forgot the trick for removing this crossmember ??

anyone care to refresh my memory..

it is the crossmemeber bolted on to the rear of the differential and the gussets in front of the crossmember second from the rear...

If I'm thinking of the right piece, 4 bolts go into the carrier from the top. 2 bolts go into the frame (1 on each side) through a big rubber doughnut type bushing at the frame rail. These bolts go in from unda. The fit into the bushing is very tight. We had to really battle mine to get it off! The problem with this is a knob looking fitting that fits into the bushing, just a bit of rust on it and it's siezed to the bushing. Lubricants may break up the rust, but they swell the rubber. Darned if you do, darned if you don't!
Is this the one you're asking about?

When I removed my crossmember I used a wheel puller to ease them off. They were really stuck on. I tried prying but it didn't work. I found using the wheel puller they came off fairly even and easy. I replaced the donuts but using this method they weren't all damaged.

Hope this helps,
Jim

daveb12 said: The problem with this is a knob looking fitting that fits into the bushing, just a bit of rust on it and it's siezed to the bushing. Lubricants may break up the rust, but they swell the rubber. Darned if you do, darned if you don't! Is this the one you're asking about?

yes that the one im talking about..

the differential is gone..

im just trying to get that damn donut connected crossmember off..

I vividly remember taking mine off! It really was a pain! I just wedged and pried, put pressure on it, then found something else to work on while it sat. It eventually broke loose. Funny part was the rubber was in great shape, just had to paint it and reassemble. an hour to recondition and several hours to remove! Gotta love these cars!
I signed it right before the body went back on!

I messed with mine for a good long while before I gave up and took the front of the differential off since replacing the rear-main seal doesn't involve a specific seperation I went with what was easy!

Scot

Paragon75Ray said: I messed with mine for a good long while before I gave up and took the front of the differential off since replacing the rear-main seal doesn't involve a specific seperation I went with what was easy! Scot

yeah, but im getting it ready for sandblasting... I need it off...

It'll come off. I just used a big pry bar, and went from side to side. If you plan on replacing the bushings, a little heat might help. The culprits are the knobs on the member siezing to the bushing.

I guess I was lucky. Mine came right off. I used a ball joint seperator between the frame and the cross member hit with a hammer a couple times and it came loose.