VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Rear Shackle Pin Replacement

I have a 1936 Standard Coach. The top pin in the rear shackle is frozen and I am unable to get grease into it. So I plan on replacing it. For those that have done this, do you have any pointers or lessons learned that would assist in this endeavor?

I would think if you can free it up enough to remove it it should then work ok without replacement.

Heat the pin up with a propane torch and then put your grease gun on it and you will get grease in to it. The old grease has gotten hard with age the heat will soften it.

I have a 1936, Standard, Town Sedan. On my car to replace the top pin on the rear spring on the rear of the car. The idea is to take the weight off the Spring and support the Spring. To have enough leaver action to be able to move spring up and down out of the way as you work. I use wood blocks and jack stands to put the car on. I also chock all three tires. (The tires not on the Spring being worked on.) Raise the car just enough to have some Spring movement. Place a hydraulic jack under the spring a couple of inches from the end of spring. Raise just enough to remove pressure. block with wood, too. Remove the grease fitting on both of the pins. Remove grease corks. Remove the nut and bolt that holds the keepers. Tap the keepers to get them to come off. The pin is screwed in. Turn to remove. If it does not come out....press it out by tapping and turning. To remove the part (shim) pressed into the frame. Once the pin has been removed. Use an all thread rod and nuts. Chose a nut and a spacer (washer) that will move through the frame while holding shim. Look to see what will pass as it is moved out. (Mine, I use a nut on the all thread rod.) Place through shim. I place a short pipe and two spacers (washers) and a nut on the other end. I put an air ratchet and deep well socket on the nut. Sometimes a cheater bar and pipe to get it started. As the nut on the air ratchet ends tightens on the all thread rod the other end and shim is pulled into the pipe. Thus pulling it out of the frame. No hitting with a hammer to bugger up things. Use the all thread rod and reverse to press the new part into place. Grease new pin and screw in place. etc. etc. Good luck.

Even if its rusted together you might be able to save it, assuming it is a threaded shackle like a master.

I drove them out using a cheap socket (to drive the outer shell) and a hammer. I think on a particularly stuck one I may have used a deep socket on the other side and a c clamp for a makeshift press. Be careful that the socket is slightly undersize so you don't get it stuck in the frame or spring eye.

I broke the threads free in the vise with the help of the penetrating oil I had beeen spraying on it for days and an acyteline torch. The threads will be easy to clean out after its apart. The grease will mostly boil out. If the grease fitting is missing, that just makes it easier to clean out. (normally you cant get to the grease cavity because the grease fitting is pressed in)

The threads shouldnt be super loose. If they are, you probably need a new assembly.

A couple of the sealing washers were missing and I made them out of thick cowhide. I believe the originals were cork.

Thanks to everyone for the excellent information. I figure this will be real and a little fun but not real fun. Now I have some educated ideas on how to go about doing this and hopefully with out injury. Thanks again for all responses.