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axel removal question

wazzabie

wazzabie

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Can I remove the axle and springs together as one unit. I do not want to remove the ubolts. I'm swapping axles between trucks but am keeping the springs and axles together. How difficult would it be to put the axle back in with the springs still attached?
 
You can do it no problem. Driveline, brake lines, E brake and axle breather.
 
have fun with the leaf spring bushing bolts! :doah: :whistle:
 
The bolts and sleeves are almost always rusted together in my experience, you generally have to cut them out and replace the bolts/bushings.

If the springs are aftermarket they'll be newer and your chances are better.
 
getting them out is the fun part, unless your rig is like mine, or local junkyard rigs, CA only, then it's a breeze







:D
 
Like said before getting the spring bolts out is gonna be the only pain when doing the swap. The bolts seize to the sleeve inside the bushing and you will then have to cut it out and replace it with new.

When I swapped my stock springs out about a year ago I was turning the ratchet over and over and yapping to my friend at the same time, I then subconsciously thought to myself, this bolt can't be that long... All I was doing was turning the bolt with a bushing welded to it with 23 years of rust!:doah: So out came the torch with new bolts to replace them!


The swap, other than that speed bump will be pretty dang simple! :waytogo:

Also, you can get grease-able bolts and bushings to replace them with which will be better than any stock rubber bushing and make a swap like this little easier next time around if need be.
 
I generally will make sure I have a full, new set of bolts/sleeves/bushings, and plan to cut every one out... if I plan to have it back up and running in short order.. you'll be seriously lucky if any come out..

the nut'll come off, but the bolt will never come out of the sleeve.. and to really hack it correctly, you need to cut the bolt/sleeve on both sides of the spring... it can be a bit time consuming depending on your tools/impliments of destruction...
 
ryoken said:
I generally will make sure I have a full, new set of bolts/sleeves/bushings, and plan to cut every one out... you'll be seriously lucky if any come out..

the nut'll come off, but the bolt will never come out of the sleeve.. and to really hack it correctly, you need to cut the bolt/sleeve on both sides of the spring... it can be a bit time consuming depending on your tools/impliments of destruction...
Click to expand...

Did this before too! Although the neighbor wasn't too happy about hearing a grinder with a cutoff wheel running at 11 o'clock... Red and blue lights were at the end of the driveway about 10 minutes after she yelled out the back door at us!
 
I used to cut them out etc. Then a neighbor of mine brought over a can of Kroil! The stuff is amazing. He was a metal shop supervisor in the Seabees and they used this stuff. You have to order it online and its worth every penny! I have never had an issue getting bolts off since I started using it. It also works very fast! Check it out...
http://www.kanolabs.com/google/
 
If I have to I can take a grinder and grind down the head of the bolt and then use a pin to remove it. Is it safe to remove the bolts with the axle still attached to the springs with the ubolts? I'm trying to save my self from having to reuse or purchase new ubolts.
 
I get u-bolts for $8 a piece at the parts store in town. That is only $32 an axle.

Martin
 
K5-CJ5 said:
I used to cut them out etc. Then a neighbor of mine brought over a can of Kroil! The stuff is amazing. He was a metal shop supervisor in the Seabees and they used this stuff. You have to order it online and its worth every penny! I have never had an issue getting bolts off since I started using it. It also works very fast! Check it out...
http://www.kanolabs.com/google/
Click to expand...


from the guy in Cali, palease.... :rolleyes: not quite like that here in the NE...

but you did just remind me I'm out of it, reupped with the 2 for one deal, thanks!
 
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wazzabie said:
If I have to I can take a grinder and grind down the head of the bolt and then use a pin to remove it. Is it safe to remove the bolts with the axle still attached to the springs with the ubolts? I'm trying to save my self from having to reuse or purchase new ubolts.
Click to expand...


as Martin says, buy u-bolts... :rolleyes: they're $50 tops.... stupid trying to save that money imo.. makes it so much easier to deal with.. a cutoff wheel/torch, and they're off in 2 seconds... you'll have enough issues with the bushings..

and grinding the head wont do anything for you, it's the bolt going thru the bushing sleeve that doesn't move... sometimes you can take a big quality prybar and spread the shackle/hangar apart with a head ground off to drop that side out, but it's not the right way to do it and tweaks the sh*t out of the bracket.. plus you have to cut the nut/bolt end off too and pry the sh*t out of that side too......

the right way as mentioned is with a cutoff wheel thru the bushing/sleeve/bolt edge on the inside of the shackle on either side of the spring..
 
ryoken said:
as Martin says, buy u-bolts... :rolleyes: they're $50 tops.... stupid trying to save that money imo.. makes it so much easier to deal with.. a cutoff wheel/torch, and they're off in 2 seconds... you'll have enough issues with the bushings..
Click to expand...

x2 on this... Or would this be x3?
 
Having done that both ways at the junkyard and at home,I'd say cutting the U-bolts and buying new ones is a better way to go---its very unlikely the shackle bolts will come out of the bushing sleeves,so if you leave the springs attached you'll probably have to cut all 4 bolts off between the hangers and spring bushings with a sawsall or grinder with a thin cutoff wheel,and be prepared for the axle to drop suddenly,and you'll likely pinch the saw blade or cutoff disc in between them and break a few...best to only jack up the truck just enough so the axles are barely touching jack stands so it wont drop too far......................................................................................................Once the springs come free from the truck you might be able to pound out the remains of the bolts or use a ball joint press to push them out,or just burn out the rubber and remove the shells and replace the bushings...but thats a lot more work and expense than buying 4 new u-bolts...the bushings are not that easy to install at home,I've done a few by using threaded rod and thick washers with an impact to draw them in,but its not a fun job...
 
ryoken said:
from the guy in Cali, palease.... :rolleyes: not quite like that here in the NE...

but you did just remind me I'm out of it, reupped with the 2 for one deal, thanks!
Click to expand...


LOL!!! Well it works great here:waytogo: But the Kroil is great stuff, gald you got the 2 for one deal!
 
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