TT, Shackle and AAL w/ Rusty Undercarriage?

[N83]

Hey guys, just wondering how many of you have done the TT, shackle and/or AAL with a VERY rusty undercarriage? I'd like to do a little lift on the Eddie but I'm not sure it would be worth the hassle as the undercarriage looks pretty rotted from many midwest winters.

How much difficulty would rust and whatnot add to the whole experience? I've read most of the threads on the topics and have seen how some bolts have seized and required cutting.

 

[N83]

No one that's done any of these with a rusty undercarriage (or those that decided not to) cares to comment?

 

[69Explorer69]

start sanding some of that rust off and making it look good...get some under coating and spray the bottom you should be fine..You might and will have trouble getting some of the bolts off but thats the fun part..good luck and be safe

 

[Doomie17]

an impact wrench. torch and breaker bar and plenty of pb blaster and you will be set.

 

[Jason c]

I just did one with a rusty under carriage. I had picked up an air impact hammer from harbor freight for $14.99. It made the shackle bolts a lot easier to get out vs trying to get a hammer in there. I had one completely seize on me and destroyed the leaf spring shackle bushing getting it out. I had to use a ball joint press, also from harbor freight but you can also borrow them from auto part stores, to press in the new one. The TT twist didn't go any harder with the rust. I used PB blaster on the torsion bolts and had no trouble. I think I lost about 5 lbs of rust and dirt on the body lift and shackle lift that fell on the floor.

 

[N83]

Thanks for all the help, guys! The seizing/destruction of parts is what worries me, because when I start the project I won't have another vehicle to run to the store if I need something.

What should I have on standby? A set of bushings? Any bolts?

I just got done purchasing an AAL kit from summit, and I looking for the cheapest place for the shackles. Hoping to get everything done in a week (if parts arrive on time).

 

[Jason c]

I got my shackles here:
http://www.tellico4x4.com/advanced_...id=c5dfb92bb241aa06f612de54c3233715&x=17&y=13

The bushings are a dealer thing or online like LMC. Even the dealer near me had to order them and took two days to get. Just a heads up. If the bolts aren't coming out, don't force it. Put it back together and get the bushings ordered before going any farther.

 

[69Explorer69]

i got my shackles made using a scale model from here it only cost me a case of beer and i got to learn how to semi weld at the same time.Look around you might be able to find someone to make the scakles cheaper then you can buy them