This might seem stupid but....

CJ-usa

CJ-usa

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Joined
Oct 19, 2005
Location
Graham
I have a 86 k5. I'm trying to take off the front leaf spring bolts and they won't budge. I've done several leaf spring changeouts so I'm not 'new' at this. The bolt is stuck to the rubber grommet inside the end of the spring. I've tried wd-40, tried to turn it but the rubber just flexes with it and turns it back whenever I let off it. And lastly I just gave it a good ole' fashioned ass-whoopin. It won, has anyone else had this happen, if so what do I need to do, besides pouring gasoline on it and watch it burn.:smokin:
 
yep, I have burned a bunch of them. I have also used an impact, air hammer.
Once when I had no torch, I heated a long nail on the kitchen stove and run it in beside the sleeve. I did that several times and then was able to pound it out. oh, make sure to use the brush grinder on the nail between heat ups or your house will smell like a tire recapping center.
 
I'll second Chips reccomendation on the "burp" gun! Mine were frozen like yours and only took a few "brrrrppppp's" from the impact hammer to drive them out.

Another ghetto version is to use a thin cutoff wheel or Sawzall to cut the bolts INSIDE the hangers (carefully cut just the bolts! Not into the hanger!)... This will let you remove them. Drilling the bushings will relieve some of the tension/allow for additional lube to get into for you to BFH them out... or at that point take them to someone with a torch...
 
Back when I didn't have many tools I used a screwdriver and a big hammer. You can also drill holes in the bushing.

But if you have an air chisle or hammer that would work the best and you don't have to smell that awful rubber burning.
 
And I use a blunt tapered punch. Like this

View attachment 85635

You will notice the tip of the bolt (usually) has a slight depression in the centre. If you are careful and keep the bit centred.
And
Keep the nut on until you get it started moving, you can usually save the bolt with a little file work.
 
spraypaintman said:
Back when I didn't have many tools I used a screwdriver and a big hammer. You can also drill holes in the bushing.
But if you have an air chisle or hammer that would work the best and you don't have to smell that awful rubber burning.
Click to expand...

x2

I tried ghetto burn (gasoline and lighter), but that didnt go too well. I ended up drilling the rubber out. Drill parallel to bolt/sleeve.
 
all ya have to do is get a propane torch a cheap one for soldering and heat the bolt head get it hot and it will melt the gromet lose enough that you can pull it out. it dont take much, if your burning it your to hot. you could probably do it with a bic lighter
 
Who hasnt suffered this fate?

#1 My favorite method is AIR HAMMER

IF YOU HAVE NO AIR SOURCE

Burning works well, except the smell and be careful

IF YOU HAVE NO TORCH

A few other tricks.
As previosuly mentioned drill/cut/dig the rubber bushing out.
And another method that works is to use a large "C" Clamp and get a bite on the bolt end and the spring eye to "press" it out.
Usually lots of grease, the clamp, many bangs with a BFH and several choice cuss words will do the trick.

Oh yeah replace with polybushings, they wont give for crap and ride rough as a cobb but they dont seize the bolt:beer:
 
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