Freakin stuck leaf spring bolts

[Turbo4Runner]

So I began my suspension swap yesterday and i'm having a hell of a time getting the front leaf spring bolts out.

The driver side I got the nut off but the bolt will not slide out.

On the passenger side I can't even get the nut off because its so close to the gas tank and rusted on. Not real sure what to do about either of these things..

The passenger side shackle is not being a lot of fun either but at least its somewhere I can reach it and :saw: it if I have to.

Oh and even if my stuff would have showed up in time for H.O.W. we would have only gotten to do the rear at best because I didn't get any front shocks (4 rears) and the BJ spacers were for a 2wd!

They overnighted the correct parts though..

Fun fun..

[RedRunnertc]

Now you see why I suggested having bolts on hand ...

I assume you have the axle supported on a jack right? Do one side at a time, complete (take the old spring off and put the new one on before going to the other side). Adjust the height of the jack to minimze the pressure on the bolts. Get some PB inside there and hammer away if you can. If you can't, you may have to grind the head off and use a punch. Once you get it broke loose, it will probably come without too much of a fight.

If none of that works, you can also melt the bushing out with a propane torch ...

[Volcom]

I just cut my spring hanger in half with a sawzal but I had new spring hangers and was relocating them anyways for the longer springs. :saw:

[Turbo4Runner]

Yeah, I knew something would end up being a problem.

I do have the axle supported.

I'll give those a shot.. Thanks for the tips!
Ben

[Turbo4Runner]

Well, I got the rear shackle unbolted, but I haven't made any progress with the front bolts.

The driver side still won't slide out even after holding the torch on the bushing for 10+ min. It rotates a little more (about half a turn) but then binds up.

The passenger side, I don't think grinding will work because the gas tank is in the way so it has to come back out the way it went in. And there's not enough room to get a breaker bar in there to unscrew the nut.

Anyone got a plasma torch or something that can come by and cut this crap off? I'll buy you beer/gas, pay you, whatever! This stuff is pissing me off!

I'm around I25 and Alameda.

[vwfastg60]

Hey man a propane tortch and some PB will get em out. You can put the nut back on and try beating on it a bit just dont mushroom the bolt.

[Turbo4Runner]

I did that for hours with no luck.. At this point i'm trying to find a mobile welder guy to come by and cut it off. Meanwhile I'm getting the front finished up.

[thefatkid]

I cut stuck ones off with 6" cutoff wheel. My grinder is a 4" so I have to watch the fingers without a guard. It works really well for getting to the bolts and not cutting the hangar or the spring. Home Depot or Lowes carries the grinders and wheels ($60 and $10). I stay away from most of the harbor freight stuff because they usally don't last that long (the central chop saw is still going after tons of abuse though).

[Turbo4Runner]

Well, I finally got it off. I hired a guy to come out and torch it off...

The lame part is I just realized they sent me the wrong leaf springs and they are to long and can not be mounted on the stock hangers. So, it doesn't look like I will get to take my truck to New Mexico tomorrow and will have to drive my car.. Hopefully it doesn't snow much.

I'm pretty bummed... This was after I already had the vendor send 2 packages over night because they sent me the wrong shocks and ball joint spacers.

lame..

[Asha'man]

Who was the vendor? Kinda thinking I might want to avoid them after seeing your bullshit.

[Lysmachia]

Tru dat. Did the vendor at least resend the correct stuff overnight at no cost to you?

[Turbo4Runner]

It was TRDParts4u on Yota Tech. He did mess up pretty bad but he went to a lot of effort to correct things as quickly as possible. Everything I caught before the holidays they sent over night at no cost to me, including the shocks. One thing I didn't catch until late and he actually drove to the UPS store on his own time/dime to get the parts shipped..

If I were a smarter person I would have checked all the parts when they arrived rather then when I was about to install them in which case the correct ones would have gotten here in time for my trip. So the entire ordeal didn't cost me a cent, it just seemingly stopped me from driving my truck to New Mexico, however, seeing as how I still haven't had a chance to get with someone to help me properly align it even if I had all the parts I still would have not ended up driving it to NM as I'm not about to put 1600 miles on my tires with the alignment all out of whack..

Honestly, while it sucked I would give them another chance. He fully admited he made a mistake and even told me how he made the mistake and he did everything he could to fix it asap.

Shit happens sometimes, the important part was I felt like he really was doing his best to take care of the mistake.

I'm still waiting for my TRD hat though.. :D

[Asha'man]

Hmm, that's where I was probably gonna get my OME leaves and maybe shocks, unless Slee can get them for the same or less. At least it sounded like he was doing his best to do right by you, and I've heard lots of good about him on YT....Guess I'll still probably chance it.

[Turbo4Runner]

Yeah, I really do think this type of mistake is uncommon for them.

[Asha'man]

Okay, so this might be a dumb question, but I still haven't received a satisfactory answer from anyone. When you ordered the springs, what were they and how much? I'm looking at the OME CS009R rear leaves, and was quoted $152 for (AFAIK) a pair. Most of the other sites out there, though, seem to be $110-$140 and they appear to be sold singly. What was the story on yours?

[Turbo4Runner]

That's the model I have. If you can get them for $150 a pair, grab'm because I think thats about what I paid each.