beasticles
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Northern VA
I installed my RE 3.5 lift on my XJ a few months ago. Recently, I noticed the front bolt on the rear leaf (driver's side) appear to be walking itself out (backing out on its own). That explains the loud popping I hear when the rear axle rolls over uneven terrain at anything other than a straight forward angle.
I actually thought at first that the weldnut on the inside of the frame had detached and somehow the bolt worked its way out of the nut - nope. The bolt that goes through the leaf spring bushing and into the frame sheared in half.
So I can pull out the half of the bolt (the part with the hex head on it) no problem. I purchase a replacement bolt from the dealer (don't want to mess with a bolt from home depot since this bolt in particular is like grade 10 or 11 or something).
How do I extract the other half of the bolt that is still screwed into the weldnut in the frame?
The problem is that I can't likely drop the leaf spring out of the way since half of the bolt is firmly planted into the center of the bushing. That being the case, is my only option to cut the bolt close to where it enters the frame (between frame and bushing), drop the leaf spring down out of the way, and then either drill it out, or, cut a whole in the frame underneath the weld nut and try to knock the tack-welds off the nut so it is loose and hopefully just falls out of the frame? What a PIA. Am I on the right track here - any other easier options?
I wish I could figure a way to drop the leaf spring out so that I could get a bolt extractor or pipe wrench on the threads of the sheared bolt and back it out that way - but I don't think that is in the cards since the half of the bolt sticking out of the frame is blocking the bushing from moving.
Appreciate any feedback. Damn XJ :flamemad:
I actually thought at first that the weldnut on the inside of the frame had detached and somehow the bolt worked its way out of the nut - nope. The bolt that goes through the leaf spring bushing and into the frame sheared in half.
So I can pull out the half of the bolt (the part with the hex head on it) no problem. I purchase a replacement bolt from the dealer (don't want to mess with a bolt from home depot since this bolt in particular is like grade 10 or 11 or something).
How do I extract the other half of the bolt that is still screwed into the weldnut in the frame?
The problem is that I can't likely drop the leaf spring out of the way since half of the bolt is firmly planted into the center of the bushing. That being the case, is my only option to cut the bolt close to where it enters the frame (between frame and bushing), drop the leaf spring down out of the way, and then either drill it out, or, cut a whole in the frame underneath the weld nut and try to knock the tack-welds off the nut so it is loose and hopefully just falls out of the frame? What a PIA. Am I on the right track here - any other easier options?
I wish I could figure a way to drop the leaf spring out so that I could get a bolt extractor or pipe wrench on the threads of the sheared bolt and back it out that way - but I don't think that is in the cards since the half of the bolt sticking out of the frame is blocking the bushing from moving.
Appreciate any feedback. Damn XJ :flamemad: