Need help with a broken bolt

[disciplerocks]

Was doing my Explorer leaf swap today and of course the front bolt broke and there is no way to get it out the back. I dont care about the bolt breaking. I had already bought grade 8 replacements. My problem is i cant get it out because of the frame. Any ideas?

 

[railman]

hopefully you have a sawzall or hacksaw.....cut between the backside of the spring and the springhanger to get the other end of the bolt cut off so you can lower the spring down...

if ya need to, pm me your number and i can help talk ya through it....

l8r, John

 

[disciplerocks]

I tried that with a sawzall, but it doesn't want to get to it with the rubber grommet in the way. i am recharging the battery now and going to give it another shot.

 

[Todd]

No blade will cut through that hardened bolt.

Use an angle grinder with a thin cut off wheel to do the same thing. That’s what I do every time.

 

[mini274]

Torch nuff said

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'm in the same process, have the bolts cut and spring lowered. Now what, lots of penetrating oil and heat? I'd prefer to save the bushing if possible.
Richard

 

[disciplerocks]

Its not a matter of cutting or torching. I cant pull the bolt out the back side because the frame is in the way. And there is no way to cut or torch it because of the way the bracket is designed.

 

[mini274]

I broke a bolt on my 150 while doin a shackle swap last month took one of them little propane torches and heated up the bushing part of the leafspring and out it came with a little force and a hammer...

 

[mini274]

their saying cut the backside off and the leaf will fall out in other words cut the nut off and then pull the spring out if you need help man im always available...

 

[disciplerocks]

their saying cut the backside off and the leaf will fall out in other words cut the nut off and then pull the spring out if you need help man im always available...

I understand, but there is not any room to. Has anyone even seen this damn bracket on a B2?

 

[mini274]

I understand, but there is not any room to. Has anyone even seen this damn bracket on a B2?

yea the bracket lets the nut hit the frame so no pulling it out that way... then you got a roll on the bottom and to the side so theirs no gettin any thing to get in their a cut it i understand you now i forgot about the half inch roll part...

is their any way you can get the bolt nocked out far enough to get it cut then knock it or pry it back into the leaf... that might be a no too

 

[disciplerocks]

I dont really know what to do now. I am gonna try the sawzall again tomorrow.

 

[Todd]

Grinder with 6” diameter thin cut off wheel.

Go from the under side of the spring and hanger. Cut on each side of the leaf spring bushing BETWEEN the bushing and spring hanger. The nut will fall of into the cavity between the hanger and frame, and the spring will fall out.

If the spring you cut out needs to be reused then the old bolt must be pressed out if you plan on using the original bushing. If you don’t have a press then they usually need to be burnt out, but not always.

I have used this procedure on my B2, and tons of other leaf sprung vehicles, the fastest way to get then damn things out.

 

[Nhaz]

Torching the nut and bolt off of the backside of the hanger is what I ended up doing for my ranger.

Although I did take the bed off and got it from the top of the hanger. I am not sure if thats doable from the bottom.

 

[disciplerocks]

Grinder with 6” diameter thin cut off wheel.

Go from the under side of the spring and hanger. Cut on each side of the leaf spring bushing BETWEEN the bushing and spring hanger. The nut will fall of into the cavity between the hanger and frame, and the spring will fall out.

This sounds like what I need. I don't have a grinder though. I'll try it again with the sawzall and if that doesn't work I'll have to find someone with one.