need quick help with shackle lift

[01STrunner]

im in the middle of my shackle lift. I got one shacle undone and switched out. But on the drivers side shackle the bolt holding it to the frame is completely stuck. The leaf spring isn't even attached and a mallet won't even break it loose. Any ideas???

 

[OffTrac]

I know others have had this problem. I think a torch is in order? Somebody will probably speak up.

Sorry, mine were really simple.

 

[Fastest Caskets]

I dont like the torch in this situation because it burns out the bushing (although sometimes it is unavoidable). I use a long 1/2 drive breaker bar and turn the bolt back and foth with as much force as possible. If you cant make the bolt turn inside the rubber, it will never pound out with a hammer.
put a big pipe on your ratchet for leverages, whatever it takes. the name of the game at this point is getting that sucker to turn, then you can remove it. Good luck, I hope this helps!

 

[MidnightRebel07]

You can use a ball joint tool with an impact gun and that might get it out but it sounds like what I had to go through when I swapped out my leafsprings. The shackle bolt is seized inside to the inner bushing sleeve and won't budge. I ended up cutting them off with a 4 1/2" grinder with a cutoff wheel. You may have to replace the bushing like I did. Check out my thread about being rearended.

 

[01STrunner]

Thanks for the thoughts. A combo of a ratchet and an air hammer got it out. I think it was just a lot of crap got built up in between the bushing and the bolt over the years seizing it up. It took me a couple hours extra and wasn't able to get the TT done today. Oh well something for tomorrow and pictures to come.

 

[Karpiel73]

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Glad to hear man. Put some brake caliper grease inside the bushing sleeves and on the shackle bolts so you don't have to worry about this in the future.

 

[01STrunner]

Thats about what my dad did when he got home from work finding me still under the truck haha.


I put some all purpose grease in there but nothing fancy.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

As long as something is in there to help it from seizing.

 

[05dakotatrac]

sadly heat is the best way to bust rust. put a propane torch on it and give it hell with a breaker bar at this point your into it knee deep so go for gold and give her hell

 

[01STrunner]

I used a combo of brute force and finesse to get em out lol. Air hammer and a socket slowly rotating it back and forth. I got the torsion twist done yesterday but I misplaced my camera cable so I can't post any of the pics yet. I love the way it rides now - a lot firmer than before and the extra height is great.

I'll just use this thread to post my pics when I get them up. And I'd like to shout out to Lono and his how to thread on the TT/shackle lift. Its a great resource.
Here's the link for anyone interested : http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343646

 

[01STrunner]

Heres a picture of it before the lift:

I was experimenting with the front bumper and was too lazy to put it back on for the picture.


Like Lono I put the jack stands on the frame right in front of the wheel wells and used the bottle jack to push the leaf springs down so i could put the bolts in.

With the shackles only: the stupid bolt killed what daylight I had left so the torsion keys had to wait for the next day.

After the TT so its all done! And now the cladding is off to be painted minus the front bumper. I wanted to see what it looked like.

 

[01STrunner]

This weekend I hope to at least start my body lift. Then its just a waiting game for BFG to fill their backorder of KM2s.

 

[OffTrac]

I like where this is going. :biggthump

 

[interscope8]

You look like you got a lot more lift than me... Hmmm This is intriguing lol.

Looks good!

 

[01STrunner]

I'm just over 40" from ground to wheel well in the back and a little under 40 in the front. Also I'm running very worn 31s.