Can't get rear leaf springs out

[agnes the dog]

I'm trying to remove my rear leaf springs to do an axle flip. I can't get the rear shackles loose. I can get the nuts off without any problem, but the shacles won't budge. Anyone have any suggestions? Are they threaded? If so, how do you get them out? Thanks, jj

[franken]

Truck is resisting being lowered?
I'd imagine the bolts are rusted to the bushing sleeves so you can't remove the bolts.
Got pics?

[Stepside Jim]

Yes, there is a threaded situation going on. The pin is threaded into the leaf spring. Where you are having difficulty is getting the shackle free from the pin. In the picture below you will see between the threads of the nut you have removed and the large threads that go into the leaf spring is a tapered section, your shackle is wedged onto this taper.


Knock the shackle free from the taper and you're good to go.

[1958]

Try putting some heat on it.

[mr48chev]

You also need to support the spring so that you have the least amount of tension and or pressure on it. I've fought that one more than once with the weight of the rear axle hanging on the spring. Even just the weight of the spring adds extra friction to overcome.

Some rust penetrate like PB blaster or heat would help a lot in breaking the shackles loose from the bolts.

[agnes the dog]

Thanks!!! That's the info that I need! The pic really helped me see what I'm up against.

[1958Warrior]

I had a hell of a time getting mine out due to them not being greased since it left the factory.

I found all the replacement parts bought separately was cheaper than getting new shackle kits:
just so you know autozone carries the pins cheap $6pr

http://www.autozone.com/parts/suspen...65_10195_1685/

and rare auto parts sells the threaded bushings $10 (if I remember right it was for a pair)

http://shop.rareparts.com/smtp/shopd...040|SUSPENSION, SPRINGS & COMPONENTS

and NAPA had the front bushings for the rear $10 think it was for the pair also

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...450_0131133059

[mr48chev]

If you need to change the bushings when you get it apart it would probably be simpler to take the springs to someone with a hydraulic press to do/have it done as they are a real pain to do on the work bench.

[1958Warrior]

mr48chev as you say :

"While I'm at it I may as well----"

[_Ogre]

isn't there a tapered lock pin to remove on the front pin too?
your not going to reuse any of the shackle hardware, you can heat, cut or beat into submission the shackle

the replacements are cheesy, at least the ones i bought from brothers were
no nuts on the pins like stepside posted, just a 1/4'' bolt in between the plates
i see that rusing out in a few years and the shackle blowing apart

[agnes the dog]

Here's a pic of what I have. This is after I got the nuts off.

[IMG]

[1958Warrior]

The pins/bolt has a taper to it where the shackle is , should be able to take a pry bar and pop it lose ,take a few good wacks at it as it was pressed on by the nuts.

[1958Warrior]

And yes lock pins secure the front pin in the eye of the leaf spring mount,they're tapered also.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,13713

When I did mine I had the bed off .

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by agnes the dog

Here's a pic of what I have. This is after I got the nuts off.

yup, they are just stuck on there now. smack the plate and see if it will pop off
non of that will be reused and unfortunately that end is often the easy end

the front pin ''slides'' out, first pull the tapered pin out that looks in the front pin
i made a slide hammer to screw in where the grease zerk was
try to center the spring on the pin as there is usually a wear spot that prevents the pin from extracting

[1958Warrior]

All the pins and bushings are replaceable, I reused the shackles, much cheaper than new shackle kits, even was able to reuse the lock pins.

[IMG][/IMG]

I had to cut the pins and drive out the pins and bushings on the rear hangers, due to being seized. Hope you don't have to go that route.

[OrrieG]

Mine came out easy, the po had just repaired using undersize bolts and garden hose to take up the slack. I discovered it in 85 when I put the new axles on. Sure road and tracked a lot better afterwards.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

garden hose

got to love that one orrieg

[bensimmons_05]

If you are replacing the spring bolts and bushings you can make use of a slide hammer. I had to also get the blind hole puller attachment with 1/2 -20 threads(same as spring bolt outer threads) and I welded two lug nuts together and hammered away. The bushings came out fairlly easy... and NOTHING came apart easy on the frame I had!

[octanejunkie]

Originally Posted by 1958Warrior

When I did mine I had the bed off .

The front eye of the rear spring is SO much easier to do with the bed off.