C20 Removing Springs from Rear Trailing Arms

[aotte1]

Reconditioning the rear trailing arms on 66’ C20. First, both the U bolts holding the rear trailing arms to the axle, and bolt holding the coil spring to the trailung arm were rust frozen in the trailing arm.
The ubolts were cut to release them from the rear axle. Then used a press to push the remaining bolt through the trailing arm. About 5 to 7 tons of pressure, pushed the bolt through.

Still had the springs attached the trailing arms. The issue for removing the springs, is to remove the square 3/4” nut that holds them together. Located inside the spring, and down some. Also the 3/4” square nut has several indentions and cut outs, ( and it is not xactly 3/4”) that make using a wrench or socket difficult or impractable. Susgestion for removing the square nut, is to cut it using a air hammer with chisel tool ( sharpen the chisel tool to cut faster). It removes the nut pretty fast. Now the spring falls off the trailing arm (TR)
Lastly Used a press to push the remaining spring bolt out of TR.

Note: also used the air hammer with chisel tool to remove the front bushings in the TR.

Will post some more photos soon. The first two show springs and trailing arms attached, along with front suspension taken apart.