Rear spring perches from hell

[Desert Rat]

Holy crap! Talk about your all time royal PITA. I pulled the rear Corp14 today to cut off the spring perches so I can rotate the axle and re-weld new ones on. I think these things may be the death of me. Nearly triple digits outside and I'm waging war with a grinder, cut off, and sawzall. So far after several hours I only have one whittled down to about 2/3rds gone.

 

[tRustyK5]

You must have the ultra special edition top secret military perches... (other wise known as the cast perches)

Rene

 

[Desert Rat]

I'll say! I figured once I cut through the outer weld areas, they would pop off. NOT. They are solid through and through. I have blisters on blisters and my back hurts. I may have to have a long conversation with Mr. Daniels tonight..........

 

[tRustyK5]

You should have had that conversation with Mr. Daniels before attacking those perches...

rene

 

[afroman006]

Do you have a torch? Most efficient way to get perches off. I just cut as close as I dare and then grind 'er smooth.

 

[surpip]

You must have the ultra special edition top secret military perches... (other wise known as the cast perches)

Rene

i had the cast ones and i cut through the welds and beat them off with a BFH
took me about 20 min for each one

 

[Desert Rat]

I don't have a torch, what did you cut the welds with Surpip?

 

[dleroy43]

I used a 4" grinder and BFH and mine came off

 

[k5-newbie]

Mine were exactly how Desert Rat described his...and they SUCKED!!!! good luck...it will be worth it when it is done.

 

[surpip]

just a regular thin cutting wheel on a 4 1/2" grinder
it takes about 3-4 cuts per side to get the weld all the way around, i just got it as close as i could without cutting the tube ,
also i cut the perch in half across the hole for the spring pin, width wize
came right off with the BFH

 

[GM Man]

I feel your pain as I'm going through this as well with my van 14b, and I just got some metal in my eye from doing this. Yes I was wearing glasses, and safety goggles. I'm going to try doing it Surpip's way and see how that works.

 

[goldwing2000]

i had the cast ones and i cut through the welds and beat them off with a BFH
took me about 20 min for each one

hehehehe... you said 'beat them off'.

On a more somber note, I'm going to have to go through this, as well. The 14bff I just picked up has the cast perches and they've already been moved once because they were installed on a Jeep.

I'm glad I have a torch.

Now to find some 2.5" square tube to make the new ones out of...

Anybody know how much you have to move the axle on a shackle flip?