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Date Created: 05/22/2009
I'm planning to replace the rear leaf springs this weekend. Not a lift, just a
replacement. The work started a few weeks ago with pressing the new bushings in
the new springs. I have some photos of that process and I'll try to get more of
the rest of the job to put together a whole write up on the task. The Jeep has
tilted since I got it last year, so I'm looking to correct that and I'm hoping
to benefit from stiffer handling that I read about with new suspension parts.
Luckily Monday is a day off in case this doesn't work out.
I'm stopping for the day, with the driver's side mostly disassembled. I was
able to get all the nuts lose with just a wrench and a hammer. The rear shackle
came apart without too much trouble (I'm replacing the entire shackle with new).
The old ones look good still, I'll clean up the steel and get some new bushings
for them. I didn't have the wrenches required for the front bolt, which are
7/8ths for the nut and 13/16ths for the bolt, but the nut came lose (after going
to get the bigger wrenches). The U-Bolts came apart without issue too.
The problem I'm having is that the front bolt will not come out. After a good
bit of turning it with a breaker bar and a section of pipe I got it spin, but it
seems that the bolt is frozen to the steel sleeve, and now both are turning
inside the rubber bushing. I was trying to save this bolt, because I don't have
another one. I have a new bushing in the new springs, but I was supposed to
reuse this bolt. At this point I've heated it and banged on the far end
(carefully with the nut screwed on backward to try and protect the threads). I
also tried a puller, applying the force to the threaded end, but it just started
bending the spring mount. I'll search the forum to see if there are any notes
on these bolts, but if anyone reads this and has an idea, I'm ready to listen! |
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Keywords: wrangler rear leaf springs
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 | georgem
05/23/2009 5:10 PM
I found the forum note for stuck
leaf spring bolts. The general
consensus is cut them off and
replace them. This I will do
tomorrow. I'm going to cut the
u-bolts tomorrow too (on the other
side). I did get a good bit of
exercise today turning nuts all
the way off rusty u-bolts. One
was smoking, it got so hot from
the torque! I tried to get a
picture, I'll post it later if it
came out and you can see the
smoke. |
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