Rear Shackle Bushes

[jaguar68]

Hi,

How difficult is it to replace therear shackle bushes? In theory it should just be undo the nuts on the shackle pin, remove the old bushes, replace with new, retighten nuts.

However,

I am painfully aware that things rarely go that smoothly. What is the best way to go about tackling the shackle pin nuts? Try to undo then, or cut them off with either nut splitters or an angle grinder?

Any wisdom gratefully recieved.

John

[bmcecosse]

They should just unscrew - dose them in penetrating oil a day or two before. Have a blow torch handy just in case.

[beero]

Rears on mine were a piece of cake, sat for 20 odd years, nuts came undone no probs. Front of the rear spring are a little more challenging!

[mike.perry]

As above, a bit tight but not too bad. Best to use new shackles and pins and smear some Rubberlube on the pins and bushes

[les]

It's always worth trying to undo nuts rather than go straight in with an angle grinder, especially if you have decent spanners.
If the parts are not damaged, you have the option of using them again.

[chrisryder]

if the last person to work on it was nice enough to put some copper grease on the threads before fitting, you could have an easy job!

might be worth trying to undo the nuts (half a turn or so) with the car still on the ground so the suspension is loaded and the pin will be less likely to turn.

with the car then jacked up make sure you've got it on axle stands on the BODY, not the axle, as once you remove the rear shackle plates the rear suspension will, of course, be loose!