Leaf Spring Bolt Fused To Sleeve - at wits end (1 Viewer)

[45Kevin]

I'm trying to put heavier springs on my Express van to get more load capacity and some lift.

The first side went really well. Well, fairly well, it took me a couple of hours.

So I figured after the practice on the first side, the other side would go even faster.

Well, I'm five hours into it and can't even get the old spring off. I'm sure that the leave spring bolt is fused to the metal sleeve. The bolt turns with effort, but so does the sleeve. The sleeve must broken loose from the rubber bushing.

I have soaked it in PB Blaster, heated with MAP gas and put a wide mouth clamp that I have and sniped it tight enough to bow the bar on the clamp.

There is no room to get a drill in there to drill out the bolt. The bushing is such hard metal that the metal blade on my saws-all doesn't even dent it.

So I'm out of ideas. I need help.

 

[Mudder]

Sawzall and a blade meant for high strength steel. Went through the same thing removing OEM leaf springs on my 84.

 

[45Kevin]

A couple of these bad boys did the job. If I had bought a couple more it would have saved me at least 1/2 an hour. They start off like gang busters but slow down a bit as the teeth get dull. Not cheap though, $19 for the large and $10 for the small at Home Depot.

 

[Jeremy9A]

You need to cut the head of the bolt off...... Stack some washers and then the nut on the threaded part sticking out, hit it with an impact to force the bolt to pull through. As it starts to pull through and you run out of threads, stack more washers on there. Keep doing that until it's out. I've had to do that a lot and it works somewhat flawlessly.

 

[rustybucket]

Might save lots of time and have a shop use oxycetalne to cut the bolt out.

 

[rustybucket]

I went thought he same hell taking off my last springs. The day I sell my bj60...im saying good by..you did me well but you now will be a parts truck for ever. BTW, a 60 back cab needs to be cut off and alumium bed or box mounted on it so rust is no longer a issue.