leaf spring centering pins

[sledneck07]

any of you guys know how to get the spring centering pins out without breaking the leaf? i live in wisconsin so the get rusty and crusty and dont wanna come out last time i tried i ended up splitting my leaf in 2. i was thinkin of grinding the pin smooth then drilling it out. sound good or any other ideas? thanks

 

[slammer67]

splitting the leaf in 2? wow, never heard of that

Your method of grinding and drilling would definitely work.

I've had stuck ones and I ground down the bolt and the pin part that goes in the leafs, then pried the leafs apart to get them off the bolt and used a hammer to pound out the bolt, I've never had them so rusty that I couldn't get the pin out at all.

If the rust is that bad, I'd definitely spend some time cleaning and sanding those leafs then painting them before you put them back together to make them last longer.

 

[bcost882]

grind em out and get new ones, its not worth fighting with the old ones

 

[Spowerback]

splitting the leaf in 2? wow, never heard of that

Your method of grinding and drilling would definitely work.

I've had stuck ones and I ground down the bolt and the pin part that goes in the leafs, then pried the leafs apart to get them off the bolt and used a hammer to pound out the bolt, I've never had them so rusty that I couldn't get the pin out at all.

If the rust is that bad, I'd definitely spend some time cleaning and sanding those leafs then painting them before you put them back together to make them last longer.

x2 +1

 

[ozziemo27]

I don't know if u already got them cut but when ur doing this, you should clamp the leafs together with one or 2 C-clamps because they are under some pressure, just to be safe.

 

[slammer67]

I don't know if u already got them cut but when ur doing this, you should clamp the leafs together with one or 2 C-clamps because they are under some pressure, just to be safe.

x2 definitely use clamps

 

[bcost882]

whatever, yes they are underload but it wont make that much of a difference, just grind it and have fun with it

 

[97fordrunner]

Where you at in WI? I just cut my old B2 springs apart and i didn't think that it was gonna come out but when I loosened up the clamps the bolt pulled right out.

 

[slammer67]

whatever, yes they are underload but it wont make that much of a difference, just grind it and have fun with it

yeah, but I've seen those nuts and bolt heads fly off pretty hard when the bolt gets cut and the spring relaxes. I'd hate to get hit by one.
but if his springs are that rusted to the bolt, it probably wont do much

 

[sledneck07]

well i got em done the day after i did the post just didnt have time to do a reply. thanks for the info. yes i did clamp em ive seen them blow apart also. but i was able to heat the nuts with a torch then take the impact after em which got the nuts off. then i took a punch and a bfh and drove em out while they were supported on a couple blocks of wood. and im from pittsville, wi