Bridger5228

UPDATE: It's done!!!Ok, so the shackle bolt is seized in the bushing sleeve. I have tried everything and it's not coming out! Finally just took the dang leaf spring outta the truck to make it easier to work on.... Weird thing is the other side literally slid out! Now I have nothing to drive to work 2moro! I was thinkin' take it to my buddies house and drill it out with his drill press???? I want to do it without hurting the bushing b/c all the bushings are in great shape so I don't wanna buy new ones. Ideas?

874runnersr5

are you installing new shackles? or what? whats the reason the leafs were removed?

Bridger5228

Yes, sir. The other side took 15 minutes and I spent like 2 hours so far on this side.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Soak it good with some good penetrating oil (PB Blaster or Kroil for example) and let that work a while. Likely the bolt is rusted into the sleeve.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Yet to have a rear leaf spring hanger bolt come out nicely in one piece.

Bridger5228

Ya it's definitely rusted to the sleeve, which is weird cuz the truck has no rust issues at all, and I'm telling you the other side just slid apart! Hammer blows are just absorbed by the bushing obviously, which makes this terribly difficult!

limon32

Take it to a machine shop and have them press it out or drill it out, either way they have a better shot at removing it without damaging anything than most DIY folks (including me!).

My 2 cents.

peow130

Looks like you could almost use a pickle-fork on the other side of the leaf..

874runnersr5

Thats interesting how the shackle bolt seized, when i did mine was the spring hanger that was seized, a few other people had the same problem.. best bet is to get new bushings. Not to expensive either, and alot faster then trying to remove it.

peow130

i'm with 874runner..
just get new bushings..

Bridger5228

I would really like to get this darn bolt out! The pickle fork idea isn't half bad. Paying someone to remove the bolt would cost just as much as new bushings. I want to do it myself without spending the money on bushings since theyre in great shape.

Bridger5228

If I have to buy new bushings it's no big deal. Just don't wanna lol.

Philbert

iTrader: (2)

Maybe I'm crazy, but maybe try a hammer and punch (or old bolt) against a larger socket to make up for the bushing? We had a hell of a time with my Datsun and had to take it to the machine shop to get bored out/pressed.

Good luck.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

You might also try finding a socket that is bigger than the bolt dia. and place that under the bushing/sleeve sitting on a solid surface. This way when you use a hammer and punch on the bolt, the rubber bushing is not absorbing the force.

Bridger5228

Thanks you guys! I just went out to the garage, after some p-oil soaking and beat the living crap out of the cut off bolt using the shackle piece/bolt from the other side as a crude punch with a block of 2x6 behind the spring eye. I also tried the pickle fork thing which I think helped break it loose to begin with. I probably hit the bolt 200 times and it's still only half way out! The bushing looks fine still(man, those things are tough!)I'm gonna finish up 2moro while the neighbors aren't trying to sleep! Here's a pic of the other side! Ha ha I'm so freakin' happy that I got it!

yotaman85

good luck.

Bridger5228

After beating on that bolt like crazy for almost 2 hours........It's all done! Seems like I got like 2 inches out of those 5 3/4 shackles I made....

Bridger5228

More pics:





I know, I need to get rid of that nasty spare tire. BJ spacers going in soon!

874runnersr5

looks nice!

what kind of shackles did you go with?

Bridger5228

Built em' myself!