Leaf spring bolts wont budge

[Surrey]

So Im in the middle of lifting the rear of my Bronco II, but I cannot get the bolts on either end of the leaf springs to move. I can get the nuts off of the rear side, but the bolts themselves, both front and back, are not going anywhere. I assume they are seized into the bushings...?


Any suggestions on how I might be able to get these suckers off? I've tried standing on my breaker bar and its just not budging... I've sprayed it down 4 times in the last two hours with some penetrating oil, still not budging...

 

[adsm08]

If you are pulling the leaf bolts I assume you are replacing the leafs.

You are correct that the bolts are seized to the bushings. Just burn the bushings out.

 

[Surrey]

If you are pulling the leaf bolts I assume you are replacing the leafs.

You are correct that the bolts are seized to the bushings. Just burn the bushings out.

Yes, I have a pair of explorer leafs that I am replacing them with.

I dont have an oxy/acetylene torch, will a crappy little propane one do the trick? Any tips on what to do, or things I could potentially screw up along the way?

 

[adsm08]

Yes, a propane torch will work. You goal isn't to heat the sleeve up to break the rust free, it's to burn the rubber away and release the sleeve from the rubber.

Just be careful on the driver's side as there are some fuel and brake lines sorta near where you will be working and both fluids are flammable.

 

[SenorNoob]

I'll recommend grinding both sides of the bolts off if you can get to them. That way you can use the torch outside the truck...

 

[Surrey]

New problem! Bolts spin but dont come out.

Okay, torched 'em good.

The bolts all spin, but they will not move out at all. I have tried getting a pry bar and a screw driver behind there, both by hand while spinning the bolts and with a hammer. Also tried my air hammer which did nothing (Although its not a very good one)

Any ideas!? I don't have spare bolts for the leafs, so I'd prefer to not cut the bolts. Any other options?

 

[forzda]

In ended up using a sawsall to cut teh bolts between the bracket and leaf ,it took a while but it worked

 

[Surrey]

In ended up using a sawsall to cut teh bolts between the bracket and leaf ,it took a while but it worked

I dont have spare bolts... While this method would certainly work, its not on the top of my to-do list...

Any other ideas? God I dont wanna cut these bastards, its been enough hassle to get to this point, I just want it done!!!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Grade 8 bolts aren't that expensive. IIRC 9/16" shank fits.

 

[kunar]

Any time I do work like this to a truck that hasn't been a part in 20 years, I just plan on cutting the bolts, burning out the bushings and then replacing both with new. Its just the way it is. When I put stuff back together, I liberally use antiseize to make things easier on myself the next time.

 

[Surrey]

Sooooooo I guess Im cutting them. Damn it.

 

[AllanD]

I've never gotten leaf out of a vehicle more than a couple years old without a whole lot of smoke, sparks &hot bits of melted metal..


In short torching the eye of the main leaf apart to cot both the bolt and the inner sleeve apart... I recently had one of the eye-bolts out of my leaves.. but that's largely because of the $20 worth of nickel never seeze that I slathered with careless abandon over all the suspension fasteners.
I figured that it would save me that much or more in torch gasses alone next time I needed to disassemble anything.

AD