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4 inch shackle flip help?

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backwoodsblazerk5

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I pulled the gas tank off today and actually got one of the brackets for the shackles off, I used a cutting wheel and an air hammer.
Is there any easier or quicker ways to get this done?
Also, I cant remember if I need to drill out the holes for the new bracket? what size if I do?
I will post pics of the one ton swap when its sitting level on all fours
 
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Just did this. Bolt holes are one size bigger. Forget the size. I grinded them down and air hammer the other half of the rivet.
 
Honestly it took me about 5 minutes a rivet with grinding but I also don't have the bed of my truck on. You can try drilling the rivets out just lube that thing up more than a dry hooker.
 
I just used the AirHammer / Grind wheel method. Once the head of the rivet was off, I used a hammer and punch to punch it out.

The holes will need to be drilled a hair larger.


For such a simple project, it sure can be a pain in the ass.
 
Kinda the same method but I think a little easier, especially if you have help.

I put a cut off wheel on the grinder. Cut two vertical lines through the head of the rivet. My brother came behind me with my Harbor Freight air hammer and chiseled the heads off. (the cuts are so you can chisel parts of the head off, easier than taking on the whole thing) Switched to a point and punched them through. If the point doesn't do it, a big mallet with some weight behind it always does. Very easy, very little muscle, very quick. Some rivets you can't do this with, but the shackle rivets you can.
 
Used a Snap-On air hammer and bit on mine, once I had the rear frame supported and springs removed from rear bracket it took less than ten minutes to get both old brackets off holes drilled and new brackets put on. Had to drop gas tank all the way out to get to the ones on the bottom of the frame also so it was out of the way. Took longer getting everything ready and out of the way than to change the brackets. Well worth it though.
 
Did it Saturday. Only tool I used to remove the brackets was an air hammer with a sharp chisel. Used a punch to remove the last the rivets. Took a total of 20 min.
 
I strip pickups fairly regularly. A torch and an air hammer with a punch bit is the easiest and the quickest. Torch off the head of the rivet, and knock the remains out with the air hammer. Anything over ten minutes to take off all four spring brackets on the rear of a truck seems excessive to me.

Martin
 
What 82355 said. Cutting torch with a scarffing tip, an air chisel and your good to go, 15 minutes a side. Done 7 or 8 of em this way.
 
thanks for all the help guys, got it knocked out and have the 14b sitting under the truck. Ran all the new brake lines today and just need to bleed them.
 
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