Rear subframe removal

[Craggy73]

Just staring to strip down the back end and remove the subframe. The 4 bolts connecting the drive shaft to the diff seem pretty tricky to loosen. Is it best to do these before lowering the subframe? Any tips for loosening them?

[Grrrmachine]

17 or 19mm ring spanner and a hammer worked for me.

[daimlerman]

I start off with the rear of the car on ramps,prop/diff bolts,then diff/driveshaft bolts.
I jack one rear wheel JUST clear of the ramps to turn the shafts to access all bolts,lowering the car again before attacking the next bolt.
Then I lift the car at the rear of each cill,and support it on axle stands placed at the rear jacking points on each cill,taking care to use packing plywood to protect the cill seam.

[Craggy73]

Tried that on one but mustn't have hit it hard enough. Recon a blow torch will persuade them?

[daimlerman]

Bigger hammer!

[Grrrmachine]

Do you know about the spanner-linking method, to extend the leverage of a standard spanner?

[harry_p]

I made a double length 17mm spanner by chopping and welding a couple of cheap spares specifically for prop to diff bolts!

[Motorhole]

I found it okay just raising one side of the car as high as poss. Can get more leverage on a spanner also by putting the end into a large 12-sided socket and using an extension bar No hammerage or straining required.

[Craggy73]

Difficult to get leverage. Sorted it now. Checked my part stash and I've got a new set of bolts, so used the faithful grinder to weaken the old nuts. Just got to get the hubs off the trailing arms now...