Rear axle drop stop

[Melchior]

I am happy to provide this information, maybe it saves someone's time in future: the zinc plated metal rope for the drop stop of the rear axle is of dimension 5mm 7x19.

[tyang]

I should add the length of these cables are very important, as the description states, they limit the drop of the rear axle when the rear axle becomes unsprung. The rear shackles can go over center if the axle is dropped too far:

Here's a picture of it "over center."

Here it is in the correct position.

The limiting cable has to allow enough travel of the axle, but not too much to allow the leaf spring to pop into the "over center" position. Getting the spring back to correct placement after it happens is pretty involved!

Tom

[330GT]

...
The limiting cable has to allow enough travel of the axle, but not too much to allow the leaf spring to pop into the "over center" position. Getting the spring back to correct placement after it happens is pretty involved!

Tom

I fought this issue several years ago and found a simple solution using a pipe wrench. Simply use the wrench to grab the shackle plate and rotate the shackle back into the proper place. Then add the wires to prevent the differential from dropping too far. You may have to fix the pipe wrench in position or support the differential to prevent the spring from going over center while you do the wires.

[John Vardanian]

Good trick to know, Kerry... about the pipe wrench.

john

[250gtgt]

Good trick to know, Kerry... about the pipe wrench.

john

Very powerful guys among us CHAPEAUX
I never was able to do this so easy...

C.

[tyang]

Kerry had the luxury of working on a SII 330 that has less leafs in the spring because his car has the additional coil springs to support the vehicle. Earlier cars like SI 250GTEs and early 250s have many more leafs for the rear spring putting a lot of tension on the shackle. I don't think it could be done with the earlier cars with a pipe wrench!

Tom

[330GT]

Kerry had the luxury of working on a SII 330 that has less leafs in the spring because his car has the additional coil springs to support the vehicle. Earlier cars like SI 250GTEs and early 250s have many more leafs for the rear spring putting a lot of tension on the shackle. I don't think it could be done with the earlier cars with a pipe wrench!

Tom

The car I did this on was a series 2 PF coupe. It wasn't too hard to flip the shackle back in the right orientation. For all of the ways I tried first, see http://www.parrotbyte.com/kbc/ferrari/P ... ension.htm.
Note, you will probably leave marks on the edge of the shackle from the pipe wrench teeth.

[enio45]

Nice spring tool C......

i made one as well for the ellena!!

[Melchior]

I received the replacement rope with 5mm and it is too thick. Seems that the original zinc plated metal rope for the drop stop of the rear axle is of dimension 4,5 mm 7x19 and not 5mm as described initially.