Swingarm removal

[Gixerman60]

Its f***ing hard. Don't believe some of the posts or Haynes. You need quite a few specialist tools, be able to lift rear of van and make it very secure - axle stands, van jack plus a trolley jack to compress spring/free stubborn bolts /for extra security. You should be prepared to replace more components inc brake pipes which are notorious for seizing solid, be prepared to cut through the bolts and sleeves securing swingarm to mountings because after 30 years or so they will be rusted together and no amount of WD 40 is going to free them. Laying on your back under the van using an angle grinder is a special torture. Before the sparks you get sprayed with hot rubber dust, as you have to cut through the rubber bush to get to the metal. . I resorted to a hacksaw blade in a gloved hand. Slow but oddly meditative. Lots of time to inspect the underside of your van. Bolts holding hub to swing arm are tricky as the casting does not allow an impact (black) socket to fit on the lower two. A normal socket fits after careful cleaning but care needed. Even getting the drums off the rear brakes can be a huge trial, they rust to the hub. lump hammer and cold chisel job. Did I mention the Allen bolts securing the drive shafts? They round very easily, be prepared to have to cut at least one, with afore mentioned angle grinder. I suggest then pulling out the hub and shaft as one as the ones inside the swingarm you have to do blind on the van, easy on a bench. Oh, but to do that you have to dismantle brakes, and remove the back plate. Read instruction very carefully. It is bound to be rusted solid to the hub, and the bottom pivot is fixed to the plate, but locates on a dowel pin on the hub. I suggest chipping off all the rust around the part of the hub you can see and only then levering off the plate with a screwdriver between plate and hub, not the pivot.

[syncroandy]

 Welcome to the club !

PS. I cheated a bit and used a sabre saw, but top marks for going for the handheld hacksaw blade.