Can anyone give some advice for removing the front I bolts from the leaf springs? I beat them, I soaked them in PB, i cursed at them, and they still refuse to come out. On the driver side, I managed to remove the nut, and with an impact gun I got it loose so the shaft is spinning in the hole(i guess no threads, just a smooth hole). I cant get it to come out though. I put a huge C clamp on it and tried to push it out but it is snug and wont budge. The only thing I can think of thats holding it in there is the bushing[&:] The passenger side shows no hope, nothing budges...

 

For the one that has the nut removed and is now spinning... get a small drift and a 3-pound sledge hammer. Work from the inboard side of the car. Put the drift right on the end of the bolt and tap it out with the hammer. It might take one good smack to free it up at first, but after that it should tap right out.

For the one that's still frozen... patience. Keep soaking in PB every 10 minutes, spray and then tap the nut with a wrench to try to work the PB in there. You can also try turning up the outlet pressure from your compressor. You shouldn't set it any higher than is recommended for your impact wrench, but I have committed that sin once or twice before. I normally keep the outlet pressure at 90 psi but setting it to 120 helped when I was taking the front strut rod nuts off the rustang.

Just keep at it, eventually you will beat that SOB.

 

That is probably the most impossible job on the vehicle if they have welded themselves in.

Buy, rent or steal a Sawz All and cut the bolts. then either burn the bushings out or take the springs to a spring shop to have them removed from the spring.

The problem is that the rubber prevents you from getting full power from your efforts.

 

remove the rear, unbolt the shackles drop the sprins down now grab it and move it sidewys back and forth the metal has rusted to thje bushing i did mine like this they came out easily with a small hammer and punch after

 

I had to cut mine off with a sawzall.

 

Thanks guys. I forgot about the metal bushings inside the front eyes of the springs, I bet the bolt rusted to that and thats why it wont come out.

I think the next time I go at it, Im gonna use my cutting wheel and just cut on either side of the leaf, and then hopefully the head and end of the shaft shall fall off easy. Then Ill probably throw them as far as I can down into the woods and curse them forever.

 

how do you get the bushings out of your leaf springs anyway what the easiest

 

True enough, sometimes ya just gotta do what ya gotta do. I mentioned in an earlier thread that one of the ball joints for the rustang was just stubborn as hell. I ended up taking the spindle out, and cutting thru the stud with an angle grinder set up with a cutting disc. Made it easier to set up the spindle in a jig so I could just pound it out with a sledge hammer. I still keep that thing floating around in the garage, good for a laugh whenever I see it... one of about 1000 stupid jobs that turned out to be much tougher than it should have been.

What's worked for me is to get the biggest possible drill bit that will fit between the spring eye and the metal bushing. Drill through the bushing being careful not to damage the spring eye (or the metal sleeve if you need to reuse it). You might need to drill through it half a dozen or more times but eventually this will work. For the cougar the new leafs had rubber bushings installed but I wanted poly, so I needed to remove the rubbber ones before installing the poly ones. I had no intention of reusing the rubber bushings... obviously the drilling destroys them.


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They have to be pressed in, so I dont know if they come out. Im getting a new rear suspension kit, so Im just gonna throw everything away back there and not worry about it..

 

If them bolts have welded themselves into the bushing, you will need a cut off saw to get them out. I did mine a few months ago and that was the ONLY way to get them off. A saws all will be a waste of time..