One of the leafs in the stock front spring broke and I was planning on replacing both front srpings and putting new bushings. Well, I couldn't get the damn bolts off (the front at the shackle and the back one at the frame). The nuts came off no problem, but I spent a good hour trying to push the bolts through with no luck. Any ideas? Thanks
Removing front springs
- Thread starter 87cruiser
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blue wrench and have some new bushings handy
Skinny cutoff wheel in a side grinder - keep it next to the spring.
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Tinker said:
I was thinking on reusing the bolts but I'll cut them if it will make it go faster. Where is the best place to get new front shackles and bolts and the frame bracket bolt? If I were to reuse the bolts, would burning the old bushings with a torch help? Thanks for the replies
Try the plumbers torch first. I wish I had had one when I did mine. I had all new bolts so I cut mine, but they aere still a butt to get off.
Burn the bushings out and it shouldnt be too bad. good luck!
Burn the bushings out and it shouldnt be too bad. good luck!
sawz-all
took me all of about ten minutes to do 7 of the 8 bolts for my new springs. this was after the 3-1/2 hours to do the first one.
took me all of about ten minutes to do 7 of the 8 bolts for my new springs. this was after the 3-1/2 hours to do the first one.
Use a puller
I just did all of mine a couple of weeks ago. I tried a torch, got scared, gas lines and such. On mine, I was able to drive the shackels out pretty easy by hitting the shackle in the center with a long punch and hammer. On the back solid mount however it was tough. I ended up using a two jawwed puller, actually two pullers. One was small, had little jaws, the other was very large, with 6-8 inch long jaws I guess. I used the center section of the little puller, and put the long jaws on it. As the large puller, the bolt on it was too big to pass through the spring hanger and eye.
With this method it takes alot of turning the wrench/socket but it drives the bolts right out. Be sure to hook the jaws on the far side of the hanger, not the spring. If you hook on the spring it just pushes the spring over. It helped to put a nut on the end and hit it with a hammer to get it started and break the rust loose. Also lots of knocker loose helped during the process.
I just did all of mine a couple of weeks ago. I tried a torch, got scared, gas lines and such. On mine, I was able to drive the shackels out pretty easy by hitting the shackle in the center with a long punch and hammer. On the back solid mount however it was tough. I ended up using a two jawwed puller, actually two pullers. One was small, had little jaws, the other was very large, with 6-8 inch long jaws I guess. I used the center section of the little puller, and put the long jaws on it. As the large puller, the bolt on it was too big to pass through the spring hanger and eye.
With this method it takes alot of turning the wrench/socket but it drives the bolts right out. Be sure to hook the jaws on the far side of the hanger, not the spring. If you hook on the spring it just pushes the spring over. It helped to put a nut on the end and hit it with a hammer to get it started and break the rust loose. Also lots of knocker loose helped during the process.
I had luck with just friggen wailing on the pins with a BFH until they gave up. Word of advice though, make sure you leave the nut loose on the bolt when you do this, if you take it all the way off you can mess the end of the bolt up enough that it will hang up in the hole when you think youre almost done. Get someone else to grab one side with some vicegrips and twist while you wail on it, its gotta give sometime.
I also drilled some small holes all around the bushing where it was really hard to get out, and then spiralled the pin around in the bushing to try and break some of the bond it had going.
I also drilled some small holes all around the bushing where it was really hard to get out, and then spiralled the pin around in the bushing to try and break some of the bond it had going.
How much gunk is left in the spring eyes after using the "smoke hatchet". I like the plan since I will be doing mine this weekend too. Im doing new shackles and bolts, so I may just sawzall 'em.
Hodag
Hodag
i find the sawzall approach to be the easiest (assuming they won't budge). you can use a torch, but it can take longer and smell more. spraying everything with PB Blaster (or the like) for a few days can help, as well. even if you don't go 'greaseable', new bolts are always a good idea.
I did mine last night, and The torch was a life saver, you just have to trust that this is the right thing to do. Heat them up from both sides and any angle you can until they are just glowing then they will catch on fire. Yeah it smells preaty bad but they come right out. didn't leave but very little rubber in the spring. cutting with anything I would avoid unless you are very confident you can do it with out hitting the bracket on the frame.
The way I just removed the bushings for the shackles is to cut a wedge shape out of the bushings with appropriate handsaw. Just pull or pop that chunk out, then pull out the bushing. While working on around the truck I let the bushings in the springs burn out, they flame pretty well on their own. I found one only needs to remove/burn one of the two, using a 4 head tire iron and a small sledge the other comes out with one whack.
I just hammered the hell out of the bolts, don't even bother saving them. One pin needed some torching and a bolt piggybacked on it to hammer through the bushing. But, $200 for a greasable setup I won't have to think about the old parts under there and the next suspension strip down and ride will be easier.
I just hammered the hell out of the bolts, don't even bother saving them. One pin needed some torching and a bolt piggybacked on it to hammer through the bushing. But, $200 for a greasable setup I won't have to think about the old parts under there and the next suspension strip down and ride will be easier.
i put liquid wrench on mine every time i thought about it for a few days prior. no smoke, no cutting, pins came out east.
i'll concede that i might have just been really lucky
i'll concede that i might have just been really lucky
