Fraking stuck Spring bolt! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cjthor · 10-10-2009, 03:35 AM

Im doing a front axle swap on my K20....and of course it came down to the last bolt. My Passenger side front spring bolt it stuck. The nut came of, it spins, but won't come thru. I tried heat, a BFH, a pry bar, Corrosion-X, but nothing. Anyone have an idea? Thanks!

ERASER5 · 10-10-2009, 04:33 AM

As someone else said, "You will have to get a truckers dictionary, unless you own a Ford, then you already know the words."

More heat, then penetrating oil, more heat, then penetrating oil, more heat, then penetrating oil. That's what it took for me when swapping rears in my Durango. I spent about 3 hours on 1 spring bolt.

chalet2506 · 10-10-2009, 08:43 AM

Bolts are cheap, cut it off.

**jerry moss** · 10-10-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chalet2506

bolts are cheap, cut it off.

x2

**Stocker** · 10-10-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chalet2506

Bolts are cheap, cut it off.

If I understand his situation, the nut is off of the bolt, but the bolt is frozen in place -- cutting off either end (or both) won't remove the bolt.
Maybe I am missing something...

I think ERASER5 has the solution... along with turning the bolt (might take a breaker bar and cheater pipe) and heavy hammer work to drive the bolt out.

71swb4x4 · 10-10-2009, 09:46 AM

I agree with Stocker. Turn it while hitting the end with a hammer. Leave a nut threaded a few turns on teh end so you don't mushroom the end of the bolt. Once it starts moving remove the nut of course.

chalet2506 · 10-10-2009, 10:22 AM

The same one was stuck when I swapped springs in my 76. I messed with it for a bit, then asked my brother to help. He cut the springs off a few inches from the end, then torched perpendicular to that throught the eye, bushing and bolt. Didn't take long at all. Might not be the best route if you want to salvage the springs.

cjthor · 10-10-2009, 03:09 PM

Rather not cut the spring. Im swapping axles/springs from one truck to another. Im about to go tackle it again! THANKS for the help guys.

ERASER5 · 10-10-2009, 04:25 PM

I forgot, I could turn my bolt slowly with an impact, but I could not move the bolt sideways out of the bushing. Between the heat and spay routines, I turned the bolt with and impact and alternately used an air hammer. Still took me 3 hours.

Billhilly · 10-10-2009, 04:34 PM

Easiest way may be to press it out. Just need a good quality bottle jack (that works on it's side) and a square ended block. Weld a bit of 1/2" rod to top of jack, hold your tounge the right way, secure all pieces, and jack away. Yes I have an Enenpac pump and ram but the concept is the same. Will require some serious force (mine did) so be careful not to bend what you are pushing against.

Because it is stuck/glued/rusted in the bush, heat will be hard to get to the point where you need it.
Or. Like the 'bolt cutters' say, could you cut both ends off and pry the hanger apart?

donut · 10-10-2009, 09:26 PM

When I did mine, I cut the bolt off, (torch, sawzall, cutoff wheel on a grinder) dropped the spring-eye down, and used a torch to heat the sleeve/stuck bolt. It trashed the bushing, but who knows what condition the bolt was in? (I was replacing the bushings anyway)

bigbadchev72 · 10-11-2009, 02:26 AM

The bolt is rusted to the steel sleeve inside the spring bushing, It is spinning inside the rubber. You will need to use a sawsall or die grinder to cut either end of the bolt off, Then the spring will come out. You will have to buy a new bushing for that spring.

When you re-install, be sure to antisieze your bolts and this will never be a problem again.

**special-K** · 10-11-2009, 06:13 AM

I`ve never had a spring eye bolt,or bushing sleeve,I have wanted to re-use.They are always gauled into one another.I cut the head off,pry the perch enough to get a cutting wheel in,cut both sides,and remove the spring.If I`m re-using the springs I get the bushing out and replace."Get" the bushing out?Yeah,use your imagination.Envision black smoke and flames.

cjthor · 10-11-2009, 02:29 PM

LOL I ended up not taking the spring out and am going to get a set of lift springs....and then do this alll over again. Yay!

10-10-2009, 03:35 AM	#1
cjthor Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Damascus OR Posts: 24	Fraking stuck Spring bolt! Im doing a front axle swap on my K20....and of course it came down to the last bolt. My Passenger side front spring bolt it stuck. The nut came of, it spins, but won't come thru. I tried heat, a BFH, a pry bar, Corrosion-X, but nothing. Anyone have an idea? Thanks! __________________ JP 70 K20 74 CJ5 Last edited by cjthor; 10-10-2009 at 03:36 AM. Reason: added more

10-10-2009, 04:33 AM	#2
ERASER5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,859	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! As someone else said, "You will have to get a truckers dictionary, unless you own a Ford, then you already know the words." More heat, then penetrating oil, more heat, then penetrating oil, more heat, then penetrating oil. That's what it took for me when swapping rears in my Durango. I spent about 3 hours on 1 spring bolt. __________________ '70 GMC C1500 LWB Power disc brakes. WooHoo! Posi 6 Lug Dana 60

10-10-2009, 08:43 AM	#3
chalet2506 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: DFW, Tx Posts: 39	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! Bolts are cheap, cut it off.

10-10-2009, 09:46 AM	#6
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! I agree with Stocker. Turn it while hitting the end with a hammer. Leave a nut threaded a few turns on teh end so you don't mushroom the end of the bolt. Once it starts moving remove the nut of course. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

10-10-2009, 10:22 AM	#7
chalet2506 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: DFW, Tx Posts: 39	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! The same one was stuck when I swapped springs in my 76. I messed with it for a bit, then asked my brother to help. He cut the springs off a few inches from the end, then torched perpendicular to that throught the eye, bushing and bolt. Didn't take long at all. Might not be the best route if you want to salvage the springs.

10-10-2009, 03:09 PM	#8
cjthor Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Damascus OR Posts: 24	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! Rather not cut the spring. Im swapping axles/springs from one truck to another. Im about to go tackle it again! THANKS for the help guys. __________________ JP 70 K20 74 CJ5

10-10-2009, 04:25 PM	#9
ERASER5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,859	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! I forgot, I could turn my bolt slowly with an impact, but I could not move the bolt sideways out of the bushing. Between the heat and spay routines, I turned the bolt with and impact and alternately used an air hammer. Still took me 3 hours. __________________ '70 GMC C1500 LWB Power disc brakes. WooHoo! Posi 6 Lug Dana 60

10-10-2009, 04:34 PM	#10
Billhilly Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand. Posts: 782	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! Easiest way may be to press it out. Just need a good quality bottle jack (that works on it's side) and a square ended block. Weld a bit of 1/2" rod to top of jack, hold your tounge the right way, secure all pieces, and jack away. Yes I have an Enenpac pump and ram but the concept is the same. Will require some serious force (mine did) so be careful not to bend what you are pushing against. Because it is stuck/glued/rusted in the bush, heat will be hard to get to the point where you need it. Or. Like the 'bolt cutters' say, could you cut both ends off and pry the hanger apart? Attached Images __________________ 1972 K2500 Long Box 400/350 Last edited by Billhilly; 10-10-2009 at 04:38 PM.

10-10-2009, 09:26 PM	#11
donut Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: S.C. Posts: 1,593	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! When I did mine, I cut the bolt off, (torch, sawzall, cutoff wheel on a grinder) dropped the spring-eye down, and used a torch to heat the sleeve/stuck bolt. It trashed the bushing, but who knows what condition the bolt was in? (I was replacing the bushings anyway) __________________ '86 C-30 dually, 454/tbh400 '73 K-20 350/350/205 (sold ) I'm kinda like duct tape- no real purpose, but handy to have around.

10-11-2009, 02:26 AM	#12
bigbadchev72 People know me Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hermiston, oregon Posts: 840	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! The bolt is rusted to the steel sleeve inside the spring bushing, It is spinning inside the rubber. You will need to use a sawsall or die grinder to cut either end of the bolt off, Then the spring will come out. You will have to buy a new bushing for that spring. When you re-install, be sure to antisieze your bolts and this will never be a problem again. __________________ 1972 k/5 blazer CST 4X4 Crate 350, th350/205, dana44with trac-loc/14 bolt with detroit locker, 4 wheel discs 4.56s, 8" suspension lift using 73-87springs, 1" zerorate custom front crossmember, HAD CV drivelines and driveshaft e-brake, full cage, PRP seats, Full autometer gauges, 38x14.5x16 Toyo M/Ts, 16x10 Polished aluminum rockcrusher wheels 1967 longbox 4x4, Strong 400/400/208, 44/12bolt 4.10s, 6" lift, 35" Toyo M/Ts on corvette rally wheels

10-11-2009, 06:13 AM	#13
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! I`ve never had a spring eye bolt,or bushing sleeve,I have wanted to re-use.They are always gauled into one another.I cut the head off,pry the perch enough to get a cutting wheel in,cut both sides,and remove the spring.If I`m re-using the springs I get the bushing out and replace."Get" the bushing out?Yeah,use your imagination.Envision black smoke and flames. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

10-11-2009, 02:29 PM	#14
cjthor Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Damascus OR Posts: 24	Re: Fraking stuck Spring bolt! LOL I ended up not taking the spring out and am going to get a set of lift springs....and then do this alll over again. Yay! __________________ JP 70 K20 74 CJ5



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