Help removing front leaf spring bolt
#1
Help removing front leaf spring bolt
I cannot for the life of me get the passenger side front leaf spring bolt out the car. The driver side came loose when I broke the nut loose and I was able to drive it out with a combination of my air hammer and then a with hammer and center punch.
When I got to the passenger side I got the nut off but the bolt would not turn and I cannot drive it out with a hammer and I cannot break it loose with a socket either. The SOB just will not budge. I tried cutting the bolt, but due to angles I cannot get my sawzall in there right to do it and I busted up three blades trying.
Should I get a torch and burn out the rubber bushing? It will stink and smell like crazy, but what other options do I got???
Lynn
When I got to the passenger side I got the nut off but the bolt would not turn and I cannot drive it out with a hammer and I cannot break it loose with a socket either. The SOB just will not budge. I tried cutting the bolt, but due to angles I cannot get my sawzall in there right to do it and I busted up three blades trying.
Should I get a torch and burn out the rubber bushing? It will stink and smell like crazy, but what other options do I got???
Lynn
#4
#5
It is a real pain in the butt, I finally said eff it and out of frustration I started cleaning up all the rear frame rails and floor pans since I had so much room to work with. They came out pretty darn good to, I'll post pics later in the week when I update my thread.
I'll have my buddy come up with his torch after winter and get it off then.
Lynn
#6
In my opinion, these are the two most difficult bolts to remove in a restoration, particularly on an original car. The problem is that the bolt rusts and bonds to the steel sleeve inside the bushing. There is no guarantee that a torch will remove this as it depends on the degree of corrosion. I've always used my sawsall with a short blade to cut the spring out inside the mount, then knock the nut and bolt head out from the inside. Good luck, it is a real bitch!
#7
I had the same problem. Drivers side took about an hour to swap, passenger took about 2 days lol. I ended up cutting the spring (with a cutting wheel-wish I had a torch) close enough so that I could spin the eye then cut the eye so I could slide it off the bolt. After that I cut the bolt, bushing and everything. And you are right the rubber will stink up a whole garage with the doors open and a fan on.
Probably not the best way to do it but it worked.
Good Luck!
Probably not the best way to do it but it worked.
Good Luck!
#9
I cut the bolt by slipping a hacksaw blade between the spring eye and frame bracket on both sides of the spring. I cut the bolt on both sides and the spring came right out. I wasn't worried about getting the rest of the bolt out of the spring eye because I was replacing the springs anyway. I just wore gloves and used a bare hacksaw blade (no handle). It took forever working in such tight quarters and making such short strokes with the saw, but it worked.
#10
I had the same problem. Drivers side took about an hour to swap, passenger took about 2 days lol. I ended up cutting the spring (with a cutting wheel-wish I had a torch) close enough so that I could spin the eye then cut the eye so I could slide it off the bolt. After that I cut the bolt, bushing and everything. And you are right the rubber will stink up a whole garage with the doors open and a fan on.
Probably not the best way to do it but it worked.
Probably not the best way to do it but it worked.