Cutting Bolts

[Nick]

Has anyone ever had to cut the bolts that hold the leaf springs to the shackles and spring hanger? I got some bolts that won't budge even with an impact wrench! Any suggestions???

[PAXJRUNNER]

have you tried to heat them up with hot wrench (torch)

Keep soaking them with PB blaster and use a 26" breaker bar
and not the impact gun.

Mine were a PITA as well, but they finally turned with a rusty howling noise that woke up the dead.

If you have to, grind off nut end and pound it through.

[Anthropy]

If you don't have an oxy/acetylene setup, you could try to use a MAPP gas torch setup. MAPP burns a lot hotter than propane and you can get one of the auto-start heads and tank at walmart for $30.

I would try the heat first like PACJRUNNER suggested. If all else fails, you can try a nut splitter and I know those work quite well. Ask around at the auto parts stores if you can not find one.

Tom Dennis

[Fore Wheeler]

yep, do the heat, I had one wednesday night that wouldn't come loose, I had a 18" breaker bar with a pipe on that and it wouldn't budge, I bent my S&K bar before I put heat on and it then broke free just fine.

[XJWheelie]

Since I'm about to do the same thing I was wondering if anyone knew the torque specs for these bolts when I put the new shackles on.

Robert

[Kejtar]

shackle to leafs is 80ft lbs and the shackle to frame and leaf to
frame is 115 ft lbs

[small pederson]

one of my bolts was cold welded onto the metal sleeve that goes through the bushing, making it very hard to pull out of a hole that was a half centimeter smaller. had to cut it.

[Speed_racer]

yeah.... heat.. breaker bar... pb blaster.... and KICK IT!!!!!

It will make HORRIBLE RACKET!! mine was extremely loud.. but she came loose..

Much easier to put it back on ;)

[twcguy]

I've cut them off as well. I used a cutoff wheel on a air powered die grinder. It came apart easy enough after a few choice cuts.

Josh