Can't get my stupid rear shackles off!!

[Dweano]

I am attempted to put on some Belltech shackles...but I cannot get my stock ones off. Problem is the shackle to leaf spring connection. I took the nut off but I can't get the bolt out? I am cranking on it with a long arm cheater bar thing, and it turns but it seems like I not really making any progress...is it in a threaded sleeve or what? Any helpful tips or tricks? Thanks

 

[wrecking-crew]

Bfh then a small piece of metal that you can smack it out with and not get stuck in it.

 

[Sunk]

Yep, get a drift or another bolt that is slightly smaller and your trusty BFH, and go to town.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Yup, you made the mistake of fixing your shackles lol.

My bolt ended up mushrooming and would no longer fit through the bushing. Cut the bolt off flush or close to the leaf spring and press it out with a 2/3 jaw puller.

You may need new sleeves too, that bolt likes to rust to the sleeve. I used a piece of plumbing pipe that was almost the correct size. Seeing as I never noticed a difference in ride when my shackle was actually broken, the pipe should make little difference. And it didn't.

 

[Dweano]

The bolt should just slide out of the thing you boys are saying? I put my 1/2 impact up to it and it didn't even turn! I may have to whip out the grinder and do something I regret. Haha. I dunno how well BFH will work on a loose leaf spring? Dang shackles

 

[Captain Ledd]

The bolt should just slide out of the thing you boys are saying? I put my 1/2 impact up to it and it didn't even turn! I may have to whip out the grinder and do something I regret. Haha. I dunno how well BFH will work on a loose leaf spring? Dang shackles

What's happened is that bolt has rusted to the bushing, and the bushing is just spinning in there with the bolt. The reason that is tight is because the rust has made it swell and contributes to it not wanting to slip out.

2/3 jaw puller my friend, it'll push the bolt and bushing right through.

Few people understand the salt issues us northerners have.

 

[Dweano]

Ahh yes..I am getting what you are saying now. Yes...up here in Kanata is it quite the rust central. I will try to get one of these puller things you are talking about Haha

 

[Sunk]

Rust? What's rust?

 

[Captain Ledd]

Ahh yes..I am getting what you are saying now. Yes...up here in Kanata is it quite the rust central. I will try to get one of these puller things you are talking about Haha

Trust me, I have been there...

 

[TheTopher]

I am attempted to put on some Belltech shackles...but I cannot get my stock ones off. Problem is the shackle to leaf spring connection. I took the nut off but I can't get the bolt out? I am cranking on it with a long arm cheater bar thing, and it turns but it seems like I not really making any progress...is it in a threaded sleeve or what? Any helpful tips or tricks? Thanks

I had the same issue when I went to put new leafs on my truck. The bolt has probably rusted and seized itself to the bushing. I ended up grinding the bolt off and the rest came out when I pressed out the bushing. When I finally got them out you could barely even tell the inner bushing and bolt were two separate pieces.

You may be in for a new bolt and bushing, my friend.

 

[-Nathan-]

I too have battled with this dilemma. I ended up using a torch to burn out the rubber bushings out of the eyes. If a puller doesnt work for you, then try some heat. Oh and just so you know, the leaf spring and shackle bolts are 9/16", for when it comes time to replace them.

 

[adsm08]

Hotwrench it.

Maybe a little metric liquid wrench too. Standard LW will strip the head off.

 

[Mac]

I had to use the SawAll and cut the bolt between the spring and hanger and hten burn the bushing out. No room for anything else.
Dave

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I've tried all sorts of things to get the bolt out in this situation. Sometimes I try to save the bushings, but more often I do not anymore. I've used pullers, impact guns, cheater bars, BFH, air hammers and the like all to mixed success. If it is not rusted really bad, you can usually get it out, but if it's rusted bad.... you're better off replacing it.

Last time I messed with springs was on my F-150. I had to replace the rear spring hangers and I wanted to upgrade my leafs to F-250 custom built packs. So I didn't even bother, if a bolt gave me too much trouble getting out, the grinder with a zip disk whacked it off. Then I used a propane torch to melt the rubber bushing enough to dig it out (you don't want to use a lot of heat around a leaf spring, it'll damage the temper). Got a new bushing set from Summit Racing and was good to go. When I put the new bolts in, I use a liberal coating of either never-seize or wheel bearing grease to keep them from freezing in the sleeve again. Too bad they don't make greaseable sleeves like some of the Jeeps have....

 

[bilzy7]

Ya I had same problem with EVERY SINGLE bolt on my brothers gf's explorer... Every f'in one. I managed to get on out in an hour and a half, then heat worked alot better. I had new bushings so I tried to drill out old rubber, broke 3 of my drill bits haha. They were cheap ones but I was like wtf. Mine came out np. I need new leaf springs lol. I have belltechs in and I sit level with stock rangers. It's funny... Not really though