Rear suspension project

[Dave Fehrle]

I have started my rear suspension project with the intent to replace bushings on the control links and yoke, shocks, coils and spherical joint. I have the car on jack stands and the transaxle supported and have removed the shocks(see pic). The spherical joint won’t release from the differential so it gets to come out with it attached. 

Today I removed a wheel and brake drum to takeoff the brake line. I was able to loosen the line from the brake plate but not able to remove as the other end needs removing, how do you do that? I have a pic of the upper brake line but not sure how to loosen then remove(see pic)?

Also where do you remove the emergency  brake line? All the way at the lever or at the junction half way back to the wheels?

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Hi Dave,

     When I rebuilt the brake system on my car, I loosened and removed the metal brake line with a quality line wrench and backed up the rubber hose not to strip.  Then remove the horseshoe clip (tap it out/pull it out) that affixes the rubber hose to the frame bracket.  Then, remove the rubber brake hose from the cylinder with a good line wrench and be careful of the small copper washer between the hose and wheel cylinder (vital).  As far as the emergency cable, it is easier to remove from the junction back to the wheels.  Hope this helps.

Dennis DiBari 

[Jason Edge]

Not sure I follow the 1st part of questioning but the park brake has a clamp that attached to the back of the backing plate. I believe it is 1/2" hex head bolt. Once you remove that bolt you can slide it forward and disconnect from the operating lever it attached to inside. There is also a parking brake cable at on the control links (rear end control arms).  These steel parking brake cables feed forward to an section just behind the transmission.There is a nut on a J bolt that can be loosen to allow the cables to be removed from the groove is the intent is the remove the complete left and right parking brake cables and attaching clamps.  If just trying to disconnect from the backing plate and brakes, remove that backing plate bolt, slide the end nub forward to release from the operating lever. 

[Dave Fehrle]

Got to spend a few hours continuing the rear suspension work with the info provided by Dennis and Jason! Removed the hard brake line flex line along with the “U” slider that releases the flex line. Easy Peasy! 
then started on the emergency line, removed both bolts that hold the line to the brake backing plate along with the top half of the bracket. Then removed the “U” slider on the emergency line at the  bracket. Then loosened the nut on the J bolt which allows the line to release. Once it’s released then you can pull it back so you can slide the hose towards the front. That allows the ability to slide the end hub towards back of car and release from the brakes. 
I built wood wheels (see pic) so I can roll the transaxle off the lift once links and coils are removed, hopefully saving my back!

done with the driver side, other side tomorrow. 

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Hi Dave,

     Excellent work with the rear end so far.  Big job to say the least.  The idea of the wooden wheels is really unique and looks to be a great idea (necessity is mother of invention).  That will take a lot of weight off the removal.  Keep us posted and don't rush it.

Dennis DiBari