Recent content by prowler

I have the service manual as well. This method is used to trace a vibration that may be caused by an out of balance drive shaft. So far all is good with no vibe's felt. Since this DS came out of a running vehicle, I'm going to assume at this point it was true enough and did not need extra...

Well,.....after all the work done completing 7.25 to new 8.25, took maiden voyage last weekend. Went to gas station and a nice big loop never getting over 35 mph. Next trip will get up to 45-50 and feel for any vibrations. So far everything's been smooth as glass!

That paranoid?? My question was, had anyone else had or seen any factory drive shafts without balance weights welded on.

Just about all the welds I've seen are on either side of what ever piece of metal they used to balance. There's not ONE visible mark on this shaft that looks like anything was ever tacked/welded anything in place.

Thanks for the reply and suggestions. Factory SM does tell how to balance as you've suggested. BUT,......is it probable that there was never ANY balance weights on the shaft simply because the shaft was true enough?? Again,. there is NO visible area where ANY weights were ever applied.

I am in the process of wrapping up my 77 LeBaron 7.25 conversion to 8.25. The last item I needed was a drive shaft for this specific application. I did indeed find one. It was a bit of a mess requiring several hours worth of cleaning, painting and prep for new u-joints. While doing so, I noticed...

YES !!!! that is it. That rod contacts the back of each side of the shackle. Rubber bushings insert through the "tube" above the rod as well. The pic is upside down in regards to how it's actually bolted to the upper rail. Thanks for pic !!

I'm just completing my swap as well. Swap was for a 77 LeBaron. Mine acquired 8.25 had the 2.45 ratio and I wanted the 2.76's that mine came with so I had to replace everything inside the case. Now sure grip w/2.76's, all new everything. If your 7.25 had the 3" axle tubes your shock plates will...

Sorry for no pics. I'm not really up to speed being able to post pics. Entire assembly back under car. All parking brake cables interchanged between the 7.25 and 8.25. My next needed item will be the drive shaft. Other than that part wise,.... it's just about a wrap !!

Yes I was! They do put "tension" on both sides of the upper shackles when the car is on the ground. It would appear that the factory tool is necessary if you're working on one side opposed to dropping the entire diff. But here's a real bonus regarding replacing the front oval bushings. No...

Yes,....the problem is, is that these are oval shape. I'm trying to come up with some kind of a donut of sorts, that will ride on the edge of the bushing. That along with my puller kit may work. I was surprised that I couldn't budge them with a punch and hammer. I wasn't trying to "pound" on...

These factory brackets are for the leaf springs. They have the leaf's top shackle bolt go through them. Without them, there would be nothing to attach the top of the shackle to. Under normal load, the small bar rides across the top portion of the shackles on both sides. It looks to me like the...

Well,......I ended up jacking the diff high enough to see that the tension bars were not touching the shackles on both sides. So,..removed front retainer bolts bolts AND the entire two bolt rear tensioner brackets from the upper rails. The whole diff assembly dropped down after that. Not sure...

These are a bracket of sorts that has two bolts bolting them to the the bottom of the frame rails, both sides. The top of the rear shackle bolts go through them. There is a tension bar that when the car is on the ground, a tension bar goes across the two rear top shackle sides and provides...

So I am disconnecting everything attached to my LeBaron 7.25 diff, getting ready for my 8.25 replacement. The rear leak springs have something I've never seen before described as a "spring tensioner". It looks like a torsion bar of sorts. The factory service man states must have a special tool...