Any sage advice?? Swapping front springs this weekend.

[hodag]

I will be swapping out front springs this weekend due to a broken leaf in driver's side pack. Swapping stock (w/ 207K on them) for stock (with 140K on them).

I just did the shackles and bushings, so the front end should come apart OK.

Any advice for the fixed end pins and the u-bolts? I have been lubing the s*** (not to be confused with TYLER's post) out of them for a week. Anything else to be aware of? The 60 is my DD so I need minimal drama and to have it back together by Monday morning.

Thanks, Hodag

 

[hammer1]

get ALL new bolts, and greasables if you can. cut the old ones off with a sawzall.
saves A LOT of time.

 

[bigndn]

get ALL new bolts, and greasables if you can. cut the old ones off with a sawzall.
saves A LOT of time.

Good advice.........otherwise, have a tap/die set on hand to chase any threads you bugger up. Jack the whole truck up and set it on some large jackstands. I used the floor jack to control the axle while the truck was up. Any lift.........if so go a lot higher that you think you'll need. Buy beer and have friends over.

 

[agent orange]

Make sure you leave the nut on the pin if it needs some gentle hammer coaxing, i boogered one up so bad it wouldnt go through the hole in the frame, i had nothing to grind with and it was a major headache. Good luck!

 

[iron_giant]

If the spring pin bushings are shot- ie. spring pack wont move up and down freely because bushing has fused to the pin- try this: First of all, lube everything. Then Unbolt the small 12mm. bolt from the pin, and unbolt the spring pin nut until it sits flush with the end of the pin threads. Heat the hell out of the pin with propane torch or mapp gas until the bushing begins to melt. Heat a little more. With a big hammer, hit the bolt until the pin seperates enough from its perch that you can use pickle fork, chisel and hammer to drive the pin out about a half inch until the threaded side is just about to enter the spring. (you will need to unbolt the pin nut completely). Then cut the pin off on the outside of the vehicle (the side with the 12mm bolt), move the spring back and forth until it drops. After toying around with siezed spring pins several times I found this to be the most direct, time and frustration saving way. Another thing to try is heating the bushings and using a large pipe wrench to get the pin to move freely from the bushings.

Good luck.

 

[erfworm]

Buy new u-bolts, not a must but always a safe and good idea, then after frame and axle is secure, cut the old ones off with a sawzall or angle grinder. If the shackles and pins are fairly new, the u-bolts should be the only bugger to get off, but not if you cut them, hehehe. Old u-bolts get rusty and stretched out of shape, so it is best to install new ones and a lot easier.

When putting the new spring packs in, intall the hanger (rear) end first, its much easier to swivel the shackles into postion than fight the spring hanger.