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

 

ive heard horror stories like that. cut off wheel or torches...

 

That is how I got mine out....torch. I did what you did and just about in that order. Finally ended up going to the big gun!

 

Wasn't that like movie Saw # 22 or something???
I'm not sure what# Saw movie just came out. LOL!!

Lynn

 

Did you use a cutting torch or just a big flame torch to do it?

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

 

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!

 

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!

 

It was a cutting torch. Cut the metal and melt the rubber. They are right, stunk up the garage!

 

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.

 

I know pros who do tough ones this way. With a good cutoff wheel it takes about 15 minutes. I'd never use a torch for any part of this job, I've heard too many stories about soundproofing and interiors being set on fire.