I need some help!

[rs74]

I am tearing apart the back of my truck to put the flip kit on. I have got the rear leaf bolts out and I have got the nut off the shackle but can not get either shackle bolt to budge. It will spin in the bushing but I can't get it to drive out. The same with the front leaf bolts. Do I need a torch to heat them up because I do not have one. Also do you have any good advice for getting the bushings out of the leafs and shackle mount.

[johnnyclack]

Use a sawzall & metal blade to cut between spring & mount. Drive out old bolt & replace with new.

[rs74]

Originally Posted by johnnyclack

Use a sawzall & metal blade to cut between spring & mount. Drive out old bolt & replace with new.

Can the correct bolts be bought somewhere or just go to the hardware store and size them up?

[johnnyclack]

I have a friend who owns a salvage yard, I usually check with him first.

I suggest the same if there is a yard close by, otherwise you might want do some more research to find out what grade bolt, shaft size & thread pitch original are.

[88Jimmy4x4]

The bolt has rusted itself to the bushing internal metal sleeve, you gotta cut it out now
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[rs74]

Yep. I just ordered the bolts from Rock Auto. Didn't know 6 bolts and nuts could be so expensive. Going to cut them out and wait for the new ones to show up. Thanks.

[rs74]

I tell ya, cutting these bolts and sleeves out is for the birds. I got the shackle bolts cut out and now I have to do the front leaf bolts. Those might be a little tricky. I have been using a combination of a sawzall which is doing very well and a cut off wheel on a 4" grinder. I have to be careful with the cut off wheel as it is easy to get in to the mount.

[88Jimmy4x4]

been there done that couple times, its very common for this too happen, just be patient and you'll get it

[donut]

Torch will help get the bushings out, trashed but out. Little propane torch will work, but it'll take a whole lot longer.
For future reference, bolts can be sourced from a local industrial supply place. Fastenal seems to have bought up a lot of these places. Grainger also has lots of stuff.

[rs74]

I don't know if it is going to help but I am going to put antisieze on the bolts when they go back in. Hopefully I won't have to take them back for them for any reason. I went ahead and got the bolts from Rock Auto because I wanted to make sure that the shoulders on the bolts were the correct size. Probably wouldn't make any difference but just to make sure I got them by application.

[rs74]

I end up getting all the bolts either out or cut off. If school doesn't close tomorrow I will try to get the old bushings out and new ones in. Otherwise it means dad gets to stay home with the girls. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

[johnnyclack]

Originally Posted by rs74

I don't know if it is going to help but I am going to put antisieze on the bolts when they go back in. Hopefully I won't have to take them back for them for any reason. I went ahead and got the bolts from Rock Auto because I wanted to make sure that the shoulders on the bolts were the correct size. Probably wouldn't make any difference but just to make sure I got them by application.

Antisieze is the only way to reassemble your project.

There are times when I have to cut/remove shock mounting bolts on a transit trains, these bolts are 1- 1/8” dia. Try cutting through these bad boys with a sawzall

Keep after it you’ll get yher done

[rs74]

Thanks. I have had the intentions of anti-seizing everything. Especially all the threads that are exposed before it get the SEM coating on the frame. I usually use it anyways. During this tear down thus far these bolts have been the worst thing about it. Everything else has been pretty easy.

[88Jimmy4x4]

your doing good just keep at it, if you dont have a torch you can drill holes in a circle close to metal sleeve and get the center out then rest of rubber should follow, time consuming but works