Removing rivets... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

boraxman · 03-09-2005, 09:58 AM

Ive been working on removing the upper rear shock mounts on my truck. I ground the heads off the rivets, beat the mounts off w/ a BFH, but for the life of me I cant remove whats left of the rivets...any tips?

NPilot1975 · 03-09-2005, 10:54 AM

Drill out the center and then use a punch. You may need to drill it out almost the size of the rivet, if it is stubborn.

boraxman · 03-09-2005, 11:06 AM

I thought about that, but 2 are hard to get to(above exhaust pipe).

Wasnt suppose to be this hard

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-09-2005, 11:14 AM

I center punch the rivets, drill the rivet with a 5/16" drill just to the frame. I then use an air chisel to cut the head off, (cuts very easily). I use a blunt punch in the air chisel to drive out the rest of the rivet.

Jim

**COBALT** · 03-09-2005, 11:23 AM

Since I don't have air tools I use an angle grinder to grind the head off flush with the frame. You end up with a nice silvery dime-sized area where you can see the outline of what's left of the rivet. A few knocks with a flat ended punch and it comes right out.

Warning: if you suspect there is shear force applied to the rivet due to weight of the vehicle, suspension (springs or leafs) or some other force that has it locked in place banging on it could result in the two members that are being held in place to shift and the holes won't line up any more. Just something to think about.

junkyardjohn · 03-09-2005, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimKshortstep4x4

I center punch the rivets, drill the rivet with a 5/16" drill just to the frame. I then use an air chisel to cut the head off, (cuts very easily). I use a blunt punch in the air chisel to drive out the rest of the rivet.

Jim

EXACT SAME METHOD THAT I USE. WORKS LIKE A CHARM.

JOHN

Fred T · 03-09-2005, 12:13 PM

You will probably have to take off the exhaust pipes. Then use a punch and drive out the rivets. Heat will help. When the rivets were installed they were squeezed, which forced the shank to fill and expand around the hole. It takes some work to get them out.

Easiest way to get them out is if you're really good with a cutting torch and can blow the center out of the rivet without damaging the hole.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-09-2005, 02:27 PM

Fred,

You must be good with a torch!

Jim

Tx Firefighter · 03-09-2005, 03:07 PM

When I did the upper shock mounts on my truck, I ground the head off them used a hammer to hit the shock mount sideways. That knocked it right off the remaining rivet stubs.

mocwon · 03-09-2005, 03:56 PM

I use a sharp chisel and a high quality air hammer to cut the rivet off flush with the frame then switch to a blunt point chisel to drive the rivet out. Very quick and loud...

03-09-2005, 09:58 AM	#1
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	Removing rivets... Ive been working on removing the upper rear shock mounts on my truck. I ground the heads off the rivets, beat the mounts off w/ a BFH, but for the life of me I cant remove whats left of the rivets...any tips? __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351

03-09-2005, 10:54 AM	#2
NPilot1975 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Plymouth, MA Posts: 891	Drill out the center and then use a punch. You may need to drill it out almost the size of the rivet, if it is stubborn. __________________ 1972 Blazer body...need to get a thread started for the rest of the story

03-09-2005, 11:06 AM	#3
boraxman Keepin an eye out Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: So.Cal Posts: 3,920	I thought about that, but 2 are hard to get to(above exhaust pipe). Wasnt suppose to be this hard __________________ 1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351

03-09-2005, 11:23 AM	#5
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Since I don't have air tools I use an angle grinder to grind the head off flush with the frame. You end up with a nice silvery dime-sized area where you can see the outline of what's left of the rivet. A few knocks with a flat ended punch and it comes right out. Warning: if you suspect there is shear force applied to the rivet due to weight of the vehicle, suspension (springs or leafs) or some other force that has it locked in place banging on it could result in the two members that are being held in place to shift and the holes won't line up any more. Just something to think about. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

03-09-2005, 12:13 PM	#7
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	You will probably have to take off the exhaust pipes. Then use a punch and drive out the rivets. Heat will help. When the rivets were installed they were squeezed, which forced the shank to fill and expand around the hole. It takes some work to get them out. Easiest way to get them out is if you're really good with a cutting torch and can blow the center out of the rivet without damaging the hole. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

03-09-2005, 11:14 AM	#4
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	I center punch the rivets, drill the rivet with a 5/16" drill just to the frame. I then use an air chisel to cut the head off, (cuts very easily). I use a blunt punch in the air chisel to drive out the rest of the rivet. Jim

03-09-2005, 02:27 PM	#8
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Fred, You must be good with a torch! Jim

03-09-2005, 03:07 PM	#9
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	When I did the upper shock mounts on my truck, I ground the head off them used a hammer to hit the shock mount sideways. That knocked it right off the remaining rivet stubs. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

03-09-2005, 03:56 PM	#10
mocwon Keep On Truckin' Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Buda, Texas Posts: 1,354	I use a sharp chisel and a high quality air hammer to cut the rivet off flush with the frame then switch to a blunt point chisel to drive the rivet out. Very quick and loud... __________________ Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire.....



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