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View Full Version : Removing Stubborn Bolts/Bushings



ILikeMud
04-10-2007, 01:15 PM
I need to get the bolts and bushings out of my leafs.
Now cutting the bolts out will work but then I'm still left with a piece of the bolt and the bushing still stuck in the leaf.

I've got the nuts off the bolts, I've tried burning the bushings out (only have a MPS gas torch), beating them out with a 3lbs and 10lbs sludge, nothing!!

Any tips to get these fackers out?

OverkillZJ
04-10-2007, 02:01 PM
More heat usually helps, but I've got big oxy/acyt tanks

JeepinHank
04-10-2007, 02:12 PM
Sounds like its rusted to the inner bushing sleeve. If that is the case, the bushing is toast. Just cut off both sides of the bolt, spread the leaf spring brackets a bit, and drop the spring out. Afterwards, replace the bushing and bolts. Make sure to use plenty of grease / anti-seize so you won't have this problem next time.

Skyline
04-10-2007, 04:15 PM
Press it out with a ball joint press?

ILikeMud
04-10-2007, 05:15 PM
If only I had a press to use.

nickzj08
04-10-2007, 05:19 PM
Cut the top of the bolt off, heat the shit out of it and then take a mallet and a punch to it. It should budge. Did the same thing on my friends yj last week.

J B
04-10-2007, 05:43 PM
Press it out with a ball joint press?

I picked up a $30 ball joint press at harbor freight....that was $30 well spent. It's one of those tools that will do all sorts of stuff in a pinch.

My66coupe
04-10-2007, 05:57 PM
torch

ILikeMud
04-10-2007, 07:04 PM
I might bring it to a shop and have em torched out for cheap.

My brother is giving me the hoses, gauges and what not for an oxy/acy torch but I don't have them nor the bottles yet.

redzj
04-10-2007, 07:56 PM
On my toyota I had the same problem, this was before I had all of the tools I have now. I used a small dril bit and drilled through between the bushing sleeve and the spring eye. The spring is much harder and it won't hurt it. Then just beat tthe bushing out with a hammer and punch. It worked pretty easily.