I mean how thick is the hole that the rivet goes through?

 

Oh you mean how round is the rivet, I'd guess 1/2" thick or round, maybe a little less, that's why you step drill. Also step drilling is a easier way to remove a little material at a time.

You are just drilling off the amount of material like you would if you ground it off. Grind one head off to see the exact thickness, so you know what the last drill size is.

As far a thick, it the frame thickness, plus the hanger thickness and about 1/8"? of rivet tail on the back side, but you are only concerned with the getting the round head outer edge off.

 

shackle bracket ones are just under 7/16". If doing the drill method I usually drill to 3/8" or so. Even then I used to use the grinder method instead as I liked it better. Not I use an impact hammer with a chisel on it, zip off the head & then punch out the body with a drift & 4 lb. sledge. Spent WAAAY too much time on rivets in my lifetime. Did 20-something on the rear of the crew in one night not too long ago


Also - haste is right on the u-bolts. I don't cut them though as I typically use them again for mock up & suspension cycling. I then just install the new ones for final assembly.

 

Now thats gotta be a record!

 

From what I've done in the past it sure was! LOVE the new impact hammer. Made life SOOOOO much easier with the stupid things!

 

A good quality air chisel is a godsent for those rivets, mine cuts through them like butter then just punch the rest through.

 

Houston, I HAVE A PROBLEM!
I had my jack holding up the axle on the passengers side after I took the shackle off and the shock off. I dont have two jacks so I jacked it up enough to put the tire on one side. Then I used a small wind up jack to get the tire up enough to take it back off. I put a cinder block under the shock mount and lowered the axle on it. Everything looked good but then I noticed my frame lifted off the jack stand about an eighth of an inch. How the hell did it do that. Do yall know what might of happened? I'm scared something might shift and the truck fall and that will break some sheeet! All help is appreciated! I dont know what the hell I did.
I'll post pics when they download.

 

Hard to understand exactly what is going on from what you wrote - but I think you were supporting the truck by the axle with the leafs unbolted???? If this is the case there really isn't anything supporting the truck. You need to support the rear of the truck by the FRAME if you're unbolting the leafs, shackles, etc.!

 

I have jack stands under the frame. I had to jack up the left side of the axle to take the bolt out of the shackle because the frame is in the way. Then I needed the floor jack for the other side. So I jacked the axle up enough to get the tire on, took the floor jack out from under the axle then used a small wind up jack to barely get the tire off the ground so I could take it off. After I took it off I lowered the axle onto a cinder block. Now the frame is above the jackstand an eighth of an inch.

The only thing different in this pic is the shackle is off.

 

still not totally getting the issue. Leafs seem to be supporting the weight of the truck on that cinder block. If you're concerned about the gap between the frame & jack stand take the cinder block out & set the axle on the ground.

You are jacking the truck straight up & down though to get that shackle off - right? If so I'd just leave it like it is, and keep an eye on it while you work. Obviously don't make any major, drastic, side to side jerking motions but that's a given for any time you have a truck on jack stands.

 

Ok I'm gonna break loose the drivers side leaf spring.
I was jacking up the axle up and down just a little to get the tension off the leafs.
I'll let you know how it goes.

 

if it's just to get the tension off the leafs then you can be jacking it enough to lift the truck & therefore lift off the jack stands a bit. They are still there in case something slips and the truck drops so carry on - just go slow & watch things as you go.

 

Thanks for getting me through that Chase, I owe you one.
I got the D. side hanger unbolted and jacked up the axle to make it level with the P. side.
As I slowly jacked the D. side of the axle up, the frame on the P. side set down on the jack stand.
Thanks again man!

My next step is to see if one of my buddys has an air chisel to get these damn rivets off.

 

A grinder works just fine. grind the rivet head off and then a good ol center punch and hammer does the trick for me.

 

Yeah I've been grinding the heads off.
What do I need the center punch for? To drive the rivets out?