Rusty F@#king Bolts!!!

[mikeperez22]

Can someone please give me some advice on removing the bolts from my leafspring shackles. I have tried liquid wrench and beating the crap out of them with a hammer. That didn't work. The inside of the frame doesn't leave a whole lot of room to hit the bolts with a hammer. This is on a first gen. Any ideas?

 

[big pappa b]

Air impact or a long breaker bar

 

[stallion85]

I used PB Blaster on all my bolts prior to doing my lift. Spray liberally on the bolt and nut. Let it sit as long as 30 minutes. PB Blaster eats though rust. You can get it at most auto stores /forums/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif

 

[heavy4x4]

Sounds like you've got the nuts off, but you can't get the bolts out. I had the same problem...they were severely rusted to the sleeves. Only solution for me was to torch them out. A sawzall will hardly mar those sleeves, but a cutoff wheel on a grinder might, if you don't have access to a torch.

 

[blazerpunk]

Hot wrench. /forums/images/graemlins/weld.gif

 

[POWERMAD]

I use my lil Milwaukie grinder with a cut off wheel.
slice the bolts off and press the whole mess out.

 

[TruckNutzDude]

The sawzall is useless for this task. Get out the 'ol angle grinder with a cut off wheel (or die grinder, same thing) Cut the bolt on both ends and yank out the shackle/spring. Drill the rubber bushing out and knock out the inner sleeve, then cut the outer sleeve with the sawzall. Knock that out with a hammer/ air chissel. It's a lovely job all in all. ENJOY /forums/images/graemlins/woot.gif

 

[TSGB]

I haven't found something PB Blaster doesn't loosen.


Except legs.

 

[jekbrown]

big 1/2" socket ratchet with a 4' piece o pipe slipped over the handle. Push as hard as you can. The thing will either turn, or snap the head off the bolt... either way, its off. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

before I even got a grinder, thats how I got old crap off. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

j

 

[cuervo]

Plasma cutter!

 

[mudjunkie 82]

/forums/images/graemlins/hack.gif /forums/images/graemlins/weld.gif

 

[diesel4me]

I have gotten some that were rusted to the sleeve out this way--remove the nut from the bolt,cut or grind the head off the bolt,put several washers under the nut,and tighten it,you may need a breaker bar and a cheater pipe,many times the impact wont budge it,cause the rubber in the bushing absorbs all the tourque--after you tighten the bolt,remove the nut and add some more washers and tighten it again--this should pull the bolt right through the sleeve,and once its started you can push it out with a hammer and punch.
Some trucks have the nut facing the frame,so there isnt any room for the bolt to be removed this way,in that case I just took the whole hanger off the frame by removing the rivets,took the whole mess to a shop with a press and removed the bolts,and bolted the hangar back on with grade 8 bolts and nylock nuts.I think the next time I need to change springs thats how I will do it,if the bolts prove to be stubborn,havent had one come out easy in all my experience here in the norhteast. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Blue85]

[ QUOTE ]
big 1/2" socket ratchet with a 4' piece o pipe slipped over the handle. Push as hard as you can. The thing will either turn, or snap the head off the bolt... either way, its off. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

This only works if it lets you pull one of the shackles off. With the shackles in place, getting rid of the nut and the head still leaves the sleeve and bolt stuck inside the bushing. In these cases, you have little choice but to cut the sleeve and bolt inside the shackle.

Plus, sometimes the whole sleeve will turn inside the bushing. You just can't free the bolt from the sleeve.

BTW: The smoke from poly bushings is nasty. Melted polyurethane can also give you nice burns. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[MarcS]

Ahhhh rust. Just went through this myself.
Grinder /forums/images/graemlins/grind.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grind.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grind.gif

 

[sickquad]

I don't want to brag, but I just put my springs in my 85 without a single problem. I PB blaster'd everything a couple of days before, fired up the zap wrench to 100 psi and zap zap. They all came out.

If the bushings are the problem any form heat source will help a lot. Even if it is just a propane torch.

-Chris