This sounds like such delightful fun :shiver:. I think I will take the weekend off
and drink a few beers, LOL, instead.
Awesome thread, awesome warnings of what to beware of, and great ideas on how to tackle it. Already snapped a u-bolt trying to free up one nut after using plenty of pen lube.
I don't see enough space to get a high power impact in there, or even a small one.
Cutting the already busted spring would also insure there is no weight or force left on the sleeve and bolt, adding to the problem.
The main spring on mine is already busted at the back side of the axle. So it sounds like all I need to do is get the u-bolts loose/off and open up the clamp things holding the leafs together and I have no more weight on the bushings??
QUOTE=ehall;246226944]There's a weld nut inside the frame pocket there. Usually there is corrosion build up behind the weld nut and also inside the bushing inner sleeve. Usually the bolt seizes to the inner sleeve. Couple of options
1) Use a reciprocating saw and cut the bolt on both sides of the leaf bushing and let the leaf fall out with the chunk of bolt still in the bushing. If needed, use a Dremel to cut a slot in the remaining part of the bolt and use a screwdriver to back it out. I prefer this method IF the bolt is known to be turning in the weld nut. You need to have new bolt for this too. I did this on my junk and another XJ just recently, pretty simple operation.
2) Use a cutoff wheel on an angle grinder, and cut the leaf at the bushing to get it out of the way. Then cut into the leaf eye and start hacking away at the bushing rubber, working to expose the roll seam of the inner sleeve. If you get all the way there, use a chisel or screwdriver to separate the inner sleeve, and the bolt should break loose and then turn out. Usually it breaks free before you get all the way there. This approach takes a lot more time and is smelly and dirty, but it saves the bolt.
3) Sometimes the weld nut breaks loose. If that happens, you will need to cut a small hole in the bottom of the pocket, cut the bolt, and pull the nut out, then use a wrench on a new nut in the pocket. This happened on my POS.[/QUOTE]