Holy hell…43 year old bushings

[Last Flight Out]

You also have the option of using new shackles. I went with the OME, greasable ones. I bought poly bushings and only lube with silicone grease on them. Regular grease for all other fittings (driveshafts, etc.). The OME shackles come in various lengths, but you probably want closest to stock length.

If you go with new shackles (my recommendation), just put a cutoff wheel on your grinder like I did and cut the pins. Done in seconds. Then just press out the old cut pins/bushings after much hole drilling.

@Blue77FJ40 - yes, for the pins, if I can get the old pin to budge a up bit....maybe 3-5mm or so, I can use a thin cut off wheel there. All I have is a 4.5" die grinder (vs ideal 6" one)...but knowing that on the other side, I will still have the length of threads showing (already removed all bolts ahead of time), can the spring then wiggle out with just the teardrop flange cut off? Or will I need to hack off that threaded side as well?

 

[roadstr6]

@Blue77FJ40 - yes, for the pins, if I can get the old pin to budge a up bit....maybe 3-5mm or so, I can use a thin cut off wheel there. All I have is a 4.5" die grinder (vs ideal 6" one)...but knowing that on the other side, I will still have the length of threads showing (already removed all bolts ahead of time), can the spring then wiggle out with just the teardrop flange cut off? Or will I need to hack off that threaded side as well?

I think you'll have to cut both sides, effectively turning the pins into three separate pieces in order to drop the spring out from the frame side mounts. A sawzall works fine for this as well. I don't believe a die grinder is going to be as effective as an angle grinder or a sawzall. A 6" wheel will probably fit on a 4.5" angle grinder if you take the guard off. Wear gloves and don't lose a finger. Best of luck. You'll get it.

 

[sogncab]

No - I mentioned above that everything is going in trash. I have an entire new lift kit.

Cut whatever is in the way that isn't being replaced. Which is pretty much everything but the mounts.
I remember what I did. I cut the pin off both sides, inside if the frame mount. You're just done at that point.

You're fighting the spring pack, the shackle, and two mounting points. Get all that out of the way and you'll have a much easier time. There's a lot there absorbing your effort, but not yielding a return.

 

[Blue77FJ40]

I used a thin cutoff blade on my 4.5" grinder. With new blade, no problem reaching through and cutting the pins. Of course, vehicle weight was on jack stands supporting frame. I'd pull the ubolts to avoid dealing with the axle weight.

 

[Last Flight Out]

I used a thin cutoff blade on my 4.5" grinder. With new blade, no problem reaching through and cutting the pins. Of course, vehicle weight was on jack stands supporting frame. I'd pull the ubolts to avoid dealing with the axle weight.

Yep, all part of the plan. Thanks!

 

[peesalot]

Peopel always grease the pins & bushings, I use anti-sieze mixed with heavy grease( old drum brake stuff) around the outside of bushings, works.

 

[Blue77FJ40]

Also, now would be a great time to install the best u-bolt flip kit on the market, from 4-Plus Products.

 

[Last Flight Out]

Well the massive pneumatic hammer didn’t budge this 43 year old hardware an inch. Just shocked. Ended up with the drilling pilot holes and then sprayed penetrating oil in the holes and letting it sit for a few minutes and then using the BFG to get it moving.

So springs are hanging. Now it looks like a cutting wheel is next for the pins.

 

[Pitter Patter]

Mother of god…progress in 15 mins with some drilled holes, filled with kryoil

Just need to get these tops, pushed out and hanging down and then I’ll start on the pins upfront, which is giving me a bit of heartburn to think how difficult those are going to be.

View attachment 3604997

View attachment 3604998

I feel your pain. If you’re still working on this then I think the springs are fighting you. The red circled part is at an angle because of the spring attachment and that’s adding pressure to that upper bushing. If you cut the yellow circled area the the spring will drop and you should be able to use a drift and BIG Fing hammer to knock out the upper shackle/bushing.

 

[Pitter Patter]

Oops, late to the game. Congrats!!!! Don’t for one second feel bad about this struggle. I was riding shotgun on the struggle bus too

 

[Last Flight Out]

Also, now would be a great time to install the best u-bolt flip kit on the market, from 4-Plus Products.

I may do that @Blue77FJ40 - another quick question for you… When using the cut off wheel, I’m clearly going to be cutting through the bushing flange part as I get into the metal, is that correct? I took a look at the area. It looks like I just go straight up and into that gap where the bushing is protruding on each side.

 

[Last Flight Out]

I feel your pain. If you’re still working on this then I think the springs are fighting you. The red circled part is at an angle because of the spring attachment and that’s adding pressure to that upper bushing. If you cut the yellow circled area the the spring will drop and you should be able to use a drift and BIG Fing hammer to knock out the upper shackle/bushing.View attachment 3605342

So funny… I finally got a clue after looking at the way this was situated, and I basically cut the shackle in half and it completely dropped in my lap… Had to walk away and get an ice pack for the you know what’s.

 

[Last Flight Out]

well…wisdom teeth out. I don’t know what the right combination of tools for all this was but I think the cutting discs were the big heroes of the day. I went through three of them and was a little spooked to try the 6 inch because of the RPM range doesn’t match my grinder. But I still have the two in front to do this weekend.

That OPEN pin mount on the frame has never looked so good in my life…never again.

 

[Pitter Patter]

Free! Free at last from the shackles that bind you!!!

I’ll probably/hopefully be dead in 43 years and the next owner will be posting this same thread on mud because I’m the A-Hole who put OEM back on. Good luck generation double C. Knowing this in death makes me feel like a super villain.

 

[Blue77FJ40]

I may do that @Blue77FJ40 - another quick question for you… When using the cut off wheel, I’m clearly going to be cutting through the bushing flange part as I get into the metal, is that correct? I took a look at the area. It looks like I just go straight up and into that gap where the bushing is protruding on each side.

View attachment 3605345

Yes. Avoid the spring sides and the spring hanger inside edges. Take your time. Face protector on. Uvex shields are cheap and work very well.

 

[fjc-man]

Alot less high speed drama with the sawsall and just about as fast.

 

[iliketrucks]

I remember doing this on my CJ5, what an awful time. Good work!

 

[DSRTRDR]

Also, now would be a great time to install the best u-bolt flip kit on the market, from 4-Plus Products.

/this\

 

[Last Flight Out]

What an experience. Never learned so much about this classic rig in my life. Really good experience, invited some friends, had a few beers, a lot of laughs, a competition who could remove the rear pin/fixed mounting the quickest (I won with the die grinder). Not done yet, but just tightening up the front including the u-bolts. Tomorrows task.

 

[-MaTTi-]

Are you trying to save the tired springs for a reason?

Look good springs to me. Someone enthusiast may want to restore them.