shackles & brackets, my turn today

[pjtoledo]

Passenger side, not much fun. I found its easier if you wait until the bracket completely fails allowing the spring to go up against the bed. That creates plenty of room to get a 4 1/2" grinder on the rivets. A hot-wrench would have worked better, but I don't have one.
Wear goggles, GOOD goggles. Don't bother with a $20 air hammer/chisel, all they make is noise.
The NAPA brackets have enough clearance to get an open-end wrench on the top nut sandwiched between the frame and the bracket.
Do-able in the driveway by an 'ol dude, I'm past 60.

Since the drivers side hasn't failed yet, I'm thinking of having a shop torch just the top 2 rivets then drive it home and grind off the bottom ones.

"here's to rust in your eyes!"


Perry

 

[veefer800canuck]

I carved an X in the head of each rivit, and used an air chisel to get them the rest of the way off.

Used grade 8 bolts with nylock nuts to refasten the replacement hangers.

 

[redneck_rainey]

Good old acetylene torch always makes quick work of them rivets

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