my rear end swap thread saga

[notsonic]

hey so, i know turbov6camaro has a full write up but the site is down.

im not going to give a write up so much as some pointers on what NOT to do, and maybe some tips or suggestions.

tools youll need that you might not have are:
large sockets. 19-22mm, and/or 3/4ths and up a few.

the order you start taking **** apart is very important. gotta stress that one.

if you have free time, pop the cover and pull the axles and brakes, itll save weight and be easier to move. of course i didnt do that.

id say the first thing you want to do is pull the drive shaft. (after jacking the car up and taking the wheels off of course.) mine was stuck, so i had to pry it a little bit.

the ebrake lines in the middle of the car (if youre swapping from drums to discs) just pull the hose out of the flange, that way you can rotate the flange easier and push all the flared things in with a screwdriver or something. theyll go back on easy enough so nothings permanently damaged.

the torque arm you might have to jack the axle up and down to get the holes lined up to get the bolts in and out.

id suggest removing the whole lower panhard bar. it gets in the way a lot. of course i didnt do that either.

the sway bar, just remove the mounts that are on the frame of the car, saves time and its really easy.

i cut the rubber hose that joins the metal one at that little bracket on the body, it was just too much to try to get wrenches on it with the axle in the way. if you need the hose, id suggest checking for a replacement before you go and cut it. my new rear has it on there so i didnt mind. (though i hate cutting things if it can be avoided.)


number one tip of all though, is follow the proper order of part removal listed in the haynes manual. and support your axle on jack stands. i had mine on jacks since one of my friends borrowed my other 2 stands. i had the control arms and driveshaft left to remove (bad idea.) i pried the driveshaft off, and the whole rear just came off the jacks and fell on my chest. luckily i caught it with my arm, but you could lose your face. dont ****in cut corners. that thing is heavier than it looks.

new rear goes in tomorrow. this is definitely not a 1 hour job your first go around.:rant:

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

some pics:

old rear (can you tell i decided to work on my car instead of mowing the lawn?)


new rear (3 channel abs, 19mm sway, 3.73s, zexel lsd)


empty


another angle



once i find a helper ill be able to start putting the new one in.

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

the cars back on the ground. :banana:

i have new rotors and pads to put on yet though.

im letting the rtv set so i havent filled the diff with fluid yet.

also i couldnt get the metal brake line off the rubber one, so i cut it, tried to flare it, and couldnt. callin a shop and AAA tomorrow to arrange to have it towed over some time.

also i didnt put my relocation brackets on because of the brake line brackets. drum rears dont have those, so i didnt realize you have to cut em.

im just happy to have it back on the ground if only temporary.

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

so its up in the air again.

found the center support bearing bolt that i lost, got that in.

filled the diff with oil, no leaks.:tup:

got the new rotors and pads on. new abutments, all lubed up.

but of course i was tightening the caliper guide pin/bolts, and i broke one, with my bare hands no less. i dont know my own strengf. whats the torque spec for them anyway? (its a 99 rear)

i ordered new ones at the local vato zone, theyll be in thursday. so after my exam on thursday, ill get that finished, put the relocation brackets back in after bending or cutting the brake line brackets, and ill have it towed once im done. hopefully ill be driving it friday or saturday.

[Archer]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

so why did you have to cut whatever it was you cut? some bracket? I ask because I have an 01 Donor and EVERYTHING is swapping over to my 97 body. 97 has drums, 01 has disks brakes. Or was this only on the LS1 rear?

sorry to put a question on ur question post... but its something i didnt know
Archer

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

i cut it because im an ***.

well i cut two things.

the first thing i cut was the rubber line on the old rear end that connects to the steel line that comes from the front of the car. i did this to save time. i regret it but im sure i can replace it.

the second thing i cut, because im an idiot, was the end off that steel brake line because i couldnt get the rubber line off it. in my infinite inexperience i thought brake lines were compression fittings, not flared.

had i been able to unscrew the fitting, it wouldve been entirely bolt on.

im not TOO mad since i was going to take it to have the brakes flushed/bled anyway, just annoyed that i didnt try to get the thing unscrewed a little more before i resorted to cutting it. its just that it wasnt supported by anything and all i was doing was twisting the line. meh.

[Archer]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

ah, one of those "its almost done, damn its in the way lets cut it, DAMN IT" type of things.. lol Yeah I understand that. I customized and rebuilt sportbikes for a while. I know all about cutting corners and when I got to the point, i was like damn... I really should of done that.. haha.. thanks man.. you had my heart pumping overtime for a min..

Archer

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

finally got replacement guide pins.

they were listed as front and rear, i dunno what the fronts look like, and im fairly positive theyre different, but it was the same as the one i broke, so im happy thats over with.

now im trying to get the lca relocation brackets on. what a pain in the ***. i dont remember having near this much trouble lining everything up on my old axle.

annoying neighbors and endless mosquitos, i quit after only half an hour or so.

ill get it done tomorrow. hopefully get an appointment tues for the brakes, get it towed monday night.

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

got the brackets on! :banana:

i loosened up both sides and after that everything went together fine.

wheels are back on and its on the ground.:tup:

im going to call around tomorrow morning to set up an appointment for the brake line.

i rolled it a few inches and the ebrake works. :tup:

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

i just rolled down to the shop. its only like 6 blocks or so. between goin into neutral and the ebrake it was no trouble. i had a guide infront of course.

my ebrake probably hates me. :(


i noticed a squeak from the right wheel. any ideas?

i suppose it could be the diff or axle bearrings or something, but im hoping its just the brakes not sitting right.


also initial impressions of the gears and lsd:

the gears make the car feel toquier or something, but like theres more of a load. ill obviously rest further judgement for when i can drive it properly.

i made a left from a stop and could definitely feel the difference with the lsd. much much nicer.

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

well i got it back from the shop.

pedal is really loose, gotta complain, especially for $70.

and i told em to check out a squeak from the rear.

looking at it, the wheel is wobbling as it rotates. bent axle, bad bearring, who knows.

mother****er.

[Bonemaro]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

That sucks...

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

indeed.

after reading around it sounds like a bent axle. easy to replace since i have good spares, but its like i just put that diff fluid in.

i need to read up on how to replace the bearings.

[Blizzard242]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

Wow sounds like you're having a hell of a time. I'll be following this because I'm going to hopefully do this soon. If I can find a damn rear end. Good luck with finishing it up.

[notsonic]

Re: my rear end swap thread saga

ok so i been going all around this morning.

i picked up a repair bearing and two normal ones.

the seals.

new gear oil.

and i rented a bunch of tools. slide hammer, bearing puller, and seal/bearing putters.

i cant find my 8mm wrench...............

i think im going to get a new wrench, get the the axles out of my old rear, and then take everything over to the shop to have installed. (obviously ill return the tools as to not insult the shop. "here you need these tools to do it!" :p.)

id do it myself but its raining on and off, and ive never done bearing installs and i just want this **** done.

im pretty sure the loose brake pedal is from the wobbling axle pushing on the pads.