Shackle removal/install problem

[freezingbelow]

Spent some time last night and the better part of the day trying to install the shackles that I made. Problem comes in with removing the stock upper bolts. got all the nuts removed as well as the lower bolts.

I can not for the life of me get the upper bolts out. Ive drowned it in PB blaster and pouned on it for all I was worth, tried everything I can think of. It hasnt budged at all. I sadly dont have access to a torch, but even at this point I'm not so sure it would help.

Just wondering if anyone had any ideas.

 

[IZwack]

If you have one, try a ball joint press:

Or you can modify an existing large C-clamp to make it a press - just weld on a steel "cup" (from a small section of tube) on the static end and put that over the head of the bolt.

 

[freezingbelow]

That did cross my mind, Guess its worth a shot

 

[sportblack99]

If u have an air hammer with a punch that would work. Me and my brother did mine and i had him hold a punch in visegrips and i waled away on it. It finally came out after some swearing and lots o' blaster, hammer and letting an air hammer beat on it

 

[freezingbelow]

Sadly dont have an air hammer, or any air tools for that matter.

 

[LONO100]

what is causing it to stick? is it rust? or is it tension from the leaf spring? sometimes you need to spray it down everyday with some blaster for a week and let it really set in. try getting a long pipe to stick on the end of your ratchet or wrench to give you more leverage. or go get a breaker bar for 10 bucks at autozone. good luck!

 

[sportblack99]

Its rust between the bolt and sleeve. Swells the bilt in the sleeve. I also slowly worked the bolt back and forth a bit

 

[LONO100]

how long of a ratchet/wrench are you using? try to give the PB blaster some real time to soak in. you might have to come back in the morning after letting it settle in. try to get yourself a big pipe or a long breaker bar to get that thing going. living in cali, we dont get nearly the rust some of you guys get in the rest of the country and even mine were pretty hard to get off so i can only imagine how hard your are, and it doesnt help to be on your back in the winter cold either! good luck.

 

[scdix50]

I did my springs about two years ago. The bolts seize in the sleeves in the rubber bushings. Your going to have to cut the bolts between the old shackles and the bushings to get the springs down out of the way. I would get a 4.5" grinder and use a cutting disc. These grinder are fairly cheap. get a hand full of discs. Next you will need to cut the bushings flush with the frame on the inside and drive them out toward the outside. You have to find the correct replacement bushings. I used a ball joint press to press the new ones back in place. I have some photos.

 

[freezingbelow]

Just to clarify the nuts are off already and the lower bolts are out and the leaf springs are no longer attached.

I thought about taking my grinder to it but want ti usr that as a last resort

 

[scdix50]

The bolts seize in the sleeves and the sleeves rust and swell in the rubber bushings. Your at the point of no return. I did the same thing. With the bushings cut flush its not too hard to remove the bushings. Used a short piece of pipe with a cap screwed on and a 3lb hammer. I used a ball joint press from Harbor Freight. The bushing will need to be installed from the outside to the inside. Mine had a flange on the outside that had to be drawn flush to the frame. When your all done, the springs will travel like new.

 

[Jeepeater]

i live in canada where we put more salt on the roads then our food...needless to say when i did my shackles i had the exact same problem.
i used a ratchet with a pipe on the end of it, turning it back and forth and spraying it with lube. eventually it came loose enough to keep ratcheting it all the way around (building heat, the faster the better) and hitting it from the other side with a hammer. ones it comes out a bit, soak it again and repeat. i found hammering the bolt back in place once i got it out a bit allowed the rust and dirt to fall out the threaded side, allowing more lube and space for the bolt to spin. i spent 3 hours on one side and i had a popeye arm after lol the other side i used a air gun on and lube and a hammer, half hour.

good luck!

 

[freezingbelow]

Well it got the best of me, gave up for now. Tried the c clamp method and still it didnt budge at all. Sucks but its getting colder and I cant have my vechicle down for any period of time.

 

[scdix50]

Did you get your shackle job completed this weeekend.

 

[freezingbelow]

Nope this weekend was a busy one. havent even looked for/found the replacement bushings yet. it will probably be a after the holidays job.

 

[scdix50]

If you can not find some bushings local to you. You can try www.thesuspensionking.com. (Keystone Spring Service, Inc) My 00 XLT used RB117 part number, for their stock number. The guy I worked with was Jason Valant.

 

[freezingbelow]

If you can not find some bushings local to you. You can try www.thesuspensionking.com. (Keystone Spring Service, Inc) My 00 XLT used RB117 part number, for their stock number. The guy I worked with was Jason Valant.

Is that for the upper mount?

 

[scdix50]

Yes, the ones that go thru the frame rail, which shackles straddles.