Rear End installation strategy??

[Mustang5L5]

What is the best method you guys have found to reinstall a rear end??

Attach the control arms to the body first and then attach the lowers and then uppers to the rear??

Or attach the 4 control arms to the rear end first and then attach them to the body?

Lowers first?

Uppers first??

I'm sure a few of you have done a few rear end installs, so what method's have been the most efficient.

 

[Saleen8786]

ive done this like 4 or 5 times with spring installs and it worked well and quick in the hot sun. Put the car on jackstands and the rear on a rolling floor jack,have someone pivot and hold the rear steady while you slide it under the car with uppers attached to the rear,begin to jack slowly while the other person positions the rear and lines up the uppers to bolt in,onnce that uppers are bolted its cake from there with the attaching the lowers and finishing the job up. Goodluck and watch your fingers

 

[rd]

I typically remove the rear brakes, leaving the lines and ebrake cables attached, and hang them from the fenders so I do not have to mess with brake fluid. To do this, you have to put the axles and all back in with the rear in the car. Works for me.

I usually try to get both ends of both upper arms bolted first, then do the lowers. I leave the front of the arm on the car, and jack the rear up with the spring and pry the bolt holes into alignment.

I have done it several times this way, always alone. Rolling it in on a jack helps a lot.

I usually use four stands, two for the car and two for the axle.

Couple good suggestions in the last post, about having the uppers on the rear first.

 

[trbkrb]

For sure locate the uppers first. I did it my first time attaching the lowers first, thinking it would be easy to roll the rear and attach the uppers, not a chance! I fought with that one for a while to get the bolts through the upper housing end. One would fit, but the other was off. @#$% and no room to really work with it. Next time I'll try the uppers first, then the lowers.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Great to know. Hopefully i can get my rear end finished and POR'ed up in the next month or so while snow is on the ground. I still need to buy control arms first

 

[Nova]

. i attach the uppers and lowers to the body. i usually slip a floor jack under the center section. slide it in from the rear. then do the uppers to the housing. then slip the springs in and do the lowers. then the shocks.