Leaf springs wont come off

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Jul 9, 2003 | 01:39 PM

78bigbronco

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,812

Likes: 15

From: Central Ohio

Leaf springs wont come off

Ok, I am trying to get my 78 bronco back on the road by swapping spring packs off my 78 f-250. I started on one side and got the whole thing off except for the front bolt. I got the nut off but the bolt wont budge. They dont thread into the hanger or anything do they? Should just slide out right? I tried soaking in PB blaster several times, hitting it with my impact gun going in and out repeadatly, and slamming it with a sledge hammer to no end. What gives?!? Any tricks I can try?

Jul 9, 2003 | 02:13 PM

dfisher1

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 1,613

Likes: 2

From: Gainesville, FL

Leaf springs wont come off

Tristan,
The threaded section is a smaller diameter than the threaded section. This section is badly corroded and is probably getting caught at the mount.
Can you get the bolt to back out at all?
If so, you can pry against the back of the bolt head with a (screwdriver/crowbar) as you spin it with an impact gun. This may back it out.
You can always use a torch. I had to torch off some swing arm bolts on a Town Car once. There was no way to get them out.
Consider it,
KingFisher

Jul 9, 2003 | 03:01 PM

78bigbronco

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,812

Likes: 15

From: Central Ohio

Leaf springs wont come off

Well I cant turn it barely at all. After hitting in f/r/f/r etc with a impact gun for about 10 minutes I got it to rock back and forth my maybe 1/8 inch but I coudnt get any more. And it isnt backed out at all either. I dont have easy access to a torch other than propane. I was thinking if its just stuck than a sledge hammer out to do it. Do I just need to find someone with bigger arms than myself LOL? What if I heated it up with a propane torch then tried to slam it with a sledge hammer?

Jul 9, 2003 | 04:03 PM

dfisher1

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2001

Posts: 1,613

Likes: 2

From: Gainesville, FL

Leaf springs wont come off

T,
Until you get that bolt to turn, your going no where fast.
1. Find a cheater pipe. Pull like hell. Propane won't cut it. MAP gas might.
KingFisher

Jul 9, 2003 | 06:21 PM

tellico racing

Posting Guru

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 1,300

Likes: 0

From: Southwestern Michigan

Leaf springs wont come off

Removing the bolts from the bushings/hangers is nearly impossible. I always cut the U bolt, cut the head and nut off the spring eye bolt, pry the spring out of the hanger, burn the bushing out with a torch, then press new bushings in the spring eyes.

The parts are available at any spring shop and are not too expensive. You will obviously need a torch though, Maybe you can rent one.

The bushings and bolts are different sizes on the front and back of the spring so dont press the new bushings in the wrong holes. ( I learned that the hard way)

Jul 9, 2003 | 11:37 PM

Torque1st

Posting Legend

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 30,255

Likes: 37

Leaf springs wont come off

A lot of these heavy suspension work jobs are hard to tackle with homeowner type tools. It takes HD tools and the most important thing, "Experience" to tackle them. We hope you can complete the job, you may have to take (limp) it to a shop.

Jul 10, 2003 | 11:26 AM

78bigbronco

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 1,812

Likes: 15

From: Central Ohio

Leaf springs wont come off

Well, I tried using a cheater pipe (thats how I got off the axle U bolts) but because you gotta come in from underneath and use an extension to clear the frame, there wasnt enough room to maneuver the cheater pipe.

Maybe I will use my plan b, wich is to go ahead and buy lifted spring packs from superlift or skyjacker and have someone weld on a perch underneath the axle so the ride hieght is about the same, until i am ready and can afford the rest of the lift.