HOW N THE HELL!!!

[x*BIGASSALEX*j]

So Im getting ready for my extra inch an half increase. i decided today to get started after I finished installing the shocks. Now it was dark and its 9:00 maybe im tired and my brain is not at its full capacity but, how N the hell do I take the shackles off

I dont see the nut that holds it on this side, and if there is one would it just slip off as I turn, or would I have to place another socket in there to hold..
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/xsiwannab/0_IMAGE_131.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/xsiwannab/0_IMAGE_133.jpg
^^^^And tthe hole Im suppose to stick my rachet in? ^^^^^^^

This is the bottom view, i dont see another way of inscrewing the bolt...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/xsiwannab/0_IMAGE_132.jpg


Now is it easier then what it seems like or is it really a B!&tch to take off...

What did you do?

[sjkimmel99]

There was just the head of the bolt showing on the outside upper part of the shackle. Unscrew the bolt from there - there's some kind of nut welded or crimped on the body side. Your pictures are looking in the frame from the back with the bumper removed, yes? Not sure if you'd see a nut there or not as I didn't remove the bumper, just unscrewed the bolt.

Does your bolt just spin and not unscrew? If so the welded or crimped nut may have broken loose, not sure what you do then. Maybe cut a slot from below or sawzall the bolt if you can pry the shackle away from the body enough.

[smcdonaldaz]

x2, there isn't a nut you have to get a wrench on. Pray that press nut hasn't come loose, that would bite! Almost as bad as losing the nut tab on the back lower control arn nut :)

[x*BIGASSALEX*j]

So your saying the bolt on the left side might be welded... Oh well might just have to grind off. I do have new bold for all around... I just thought it was going to be easier....

Dam Geep! :gee:

[smcdonaldaz]

No, the nut is a permanent part of the frame. All you need to do is rachet it out. If it's not coming out when you rachet, the nut has come loose from the frame(maybe due to rust?) and then you have problems. I just swapped lift shackles for a bastard pack and mine came out fine.

[bigazxj]

spray your weapon of choice in the hole with the bolt sticking out and let it sit

i like kroil hard to find and spendy but worth it.

http://www.kanolabs.com/

[stewie]

soak that thing with a GOOD penetrating oil. WD40 WILL NOT WORK for this. i would recommend something like PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench. both of those products can be found at a good parts store. they both soak into the rust and release the chemical bond with the rust.

after a good soaking try to brake the bolt free. i havent tried to do my shackles yet so i dont know if there is a nut welded to the inside of the frame rail, but i would venture to believe there is.

[chopperdog]

the nut is not actually in the frame rail, it is in a small pocket between the schackle and the frame, you can see it in your pic. If it has broken loose you can cut an acess hole in the bottom of that pocket to get a wrench on the nut. PITA but doable. then just weld a piece back over the hole for strength. I thought that had happened to me, mine however was just dirty and siezed inside the sleeve bushing in the leaf spring eye. I aaplied heat to the bolt head, then let it cool several times to break it free. I had also liberally sprayed it down with PB Blaster for three days prior. If finally backed out. If it is siezed and will not break loose, you can slip a sawzall in between the shackle and the frame to cut the bolt, then you can remove the schackle and there should be enough of the bolt left to remove with some vice grips. The you have to get the bolt out of the bushing. you can beat on it with a puch and a BFH. Most likely it is not a broken weld nut but a siezed bushing. Good luck

[x*BIGASSALEX*j]

well it is siezed but not due to rust.... Its a California car that now lives in AZ... It seems to be just dirt it does have 265k miles..... Ill just clean it spray some liquid wrench which I have and then give it a crack.... I dont care about those bolts since the new shackles came with new hardware...

[o2bgpn]

I hate to state the painfully obvious, but if you use a breaker bar that bolt will come out a lot easier. And yes, PB Blaster is your friend.

[stewie]

if the bolt starts to make a squaking type sound (the best i can explain it is a loud squeeking when the bolt turns) and/or only moves when LOTS of force is applied even after breaking it loose- stop. try to walk the bolt out. by that i mean tighten the bolt back down some then back it out a little bit more than before, repeat until the bolt is out. the squeeking/squalking is from rust and other debris clogging up the threads and restricting movement. tightening the bolt back up a little helps to allow the debris that was loosened to fall off/out of the threads. it will take quite a bit longer to get the bolt out, but it helps to avoid broken bolts.

it took me 3 broken bolts to realize the validity of walking that bolt out.

[blotto66]

I found that lots of cursing also helps :)

[Jump This]

I found that lots of cursing also helps :)
That and a six pack!

[Wounded XJ]

That and a six pack!

12

[EnderUSAF]

You can also try hitting the end of it visible to you with a big hammer to try and break loose the rust. I'd do that and soak the hell out of it with some pb blaster. Then use a breaker bar to get it out.

[blotto66]

I had to open my big mouth, I was in the process of installing new leafs tonight and the nut on the inside of the front mount went POP, now i cant get the bolt in or out. This sucks.

not trying to hijack this thread, but how did you get your bolt out?

ps the cursing did not help

[TLowery04]

as the addage goes...

when in doubt, cut it out

[x*BIGASSALEX*j]

dude, I'm actually in cali right now, I have not even tried and this weekend was the scheduled swap. I won't be back till sunday night so that means I won't try until this coming week.if you figure out a way, go ahead and post that with some pics... this can become a friendly write up.... good luck, I think I might need it too.

[AZXJ]

I had to open my big mouth, I was in the process of installing new leafs tonight and the nut on the inside of the front mount went POP, now i cant get the bolt in or out. This sucks.

not trying to hijack this thread, but how did you get your bolt out?

ps the cursing did not help


Cut an opening in the bottom of the mount. wedge a screw driver up in there to hold the nut. Use the impact to back the bolt out.. once you are done, New bolt/nut and leaf pack is installed weld the hole back up.

Dave

[stewie]

I had to open my big mouth, I was in the process of installing new leafs tonight and the nut on the inside of the front mount went POP, now i cant get the bolt in or out. This sucks.

not trying to hijack this thread, but how did you get your bolt out?

ps the cursing did not help

the way that AZXJ said work well im told. however when i had the front bolt of the leaf spring break on mine i didnt have access to a welder. i had 1/8 inch of bolt stuck in the leaf spring. i was not able get access to a welder so i had to be a little creative. i cut the spring free with a sawzall and then went to tackle the bolt. initally i tried to drill it out and use an ez out and that didnt work. i took a deremel bit on the "snake" attatchment and cut "ground" the remainder of the bolt like a pie pulling out slice by slice. look at the bolt fragment like looking down on a pie. i cut until i just barely touched the threads and then used a punch to force the remainder of the "slice" out without marring the threads. it worked for me and i was able to get a new bolt that went in without any futher complications (on that bolt)

hth
stewie

[stewie]

stupid comp taking for ever and double posting.

[x*BIGASSALEX*j]

we might have a small project stewie.... what ya say? Beer and tools?

Who else is in? This weekend, a lil wrench party?

[Jump This]

Go ahead and make a project out of it why don't ya?
Cut off bolt..
build plate to weld to bottom of spring hanger.
Weld on tabs..
install spring..

nets 1.5" of lift too!

I'll look for a picture..

[stewie]

if your not worried about the bushing, you could always use the aplication of HEAT..... whats that smell????

[Jump This]

if your not worried about the bushing, you could always use the aplication of HEAT..... whats that smell????


Isn't that kinda' near the gas tank?