Leaf Spring Inner bearing sleeve removal

[triophan]

I've heated.
I've beat with a pipe
I've notched and beat with a B.F.-ing flathead
I've PB blasted
I've pushed
I've pulled.

I have (little by little) been replacing all the bearings. Picked up some rear shackles today and figured I'd replace the rear leaf bearings while they were out.

bolts, shackles, old worn out bushings all came out with minimal effort...

Any ideas?

[lilpoindexter]

I put a socket on the bottom, the same size as the leaf spring, between the leaf and the ground. I put another socket on the rubber part of the bushing on top..I used a short handle mallet (BFH) and pounded the **** out of it...At first it didnt seem like it was moving, but once it started moving it was gravy. I thought i was going to burn it out, but my propane torch didn't seem like it was doing anything to the rubber except making it stink.

[triophan]

yeah, i ran a socket in there. then had to put as much UMPH to get the dang socket back out... I'm wore out.. and i've only done the driver side. (Which at measurement, after completion, is 1/4" lower...)
I thought I got 2" shackles.

[BigRed76]

What i did was drilled out the rubber part until the center steel sleeve came out. I then used a flathead screwdriver and hammer to basically destroy the outer metal piece to get it out of the leaf spring/shackle.

[muthstryker]

I made a tool with about 15$s worth of parts from my work and I zipped them out in less then 10 seconds on each one I used an air impact gun to zip them out, I did my friends truck 2 of his got stuck so I just hammered a flat head into the open section on the leafs and had him pry it open why I held the trigger on the impact gun.

Here you go,



Heres the list of stuff

2"x5" Nipple
2" Coupling
2" to 1/2" Reducer
1/2" All thread
Nuts and Washers.

Cut up the handle on my old shucks floor jack and used it as a long spacer ( the red tubing)

Basically it works like a ball joint press and its really really simple to figure it out, I dont have any good pictures of it working, tried to get a video and that didnt turn out well.

Heres a picture of it together..

[muthstryker]

Ok, I drew something up in paint the best I could for you.



Any of this stuff can be bought at your local hardward store, if not electrical supply store.

[triophan]

^ THAT IS WHY I'M HERE!

The most informative, well thought, tried-and-true, figured this out because I have experience, WITH A DIAGRAM, answer to any question I've ever posted here.

Thanks bud.