Bolts for leaf spring bracket won't come out! Help please

[Jchiverton88]

So my hanger bracket for my passenger side leaf spring snapped. I grinded off the bolts and removed the old bracket but not a can't get the remainder of the old bolts out of the frame.
Any suggestions?!
Thanks a ton!

 

[Ranger850]

Hammer them suckers out

 

[Bird76Mojo]

A pneumatic hammer with a pointed tip works the best, but if you don't have access to one then a punch and hammer is the next best alternative. You may have to remove the bed bolts and lift the bed up to get better access to them if hammering them out by hand. You can insert some 4x4 lumber between the bed and the frame to hold it up out of your way.. Or just remove the bed entirely.

GB

 

[91stranger]

Yup. the rust is holding the remainder of the rivet in place. These are a PITA to access with the bed on. AN air chisel as bird76mojo said will be your easiest answer. If you have a decent sized air compressor you can get those air chisels for around$10-15 ar harbor freight. They will pay for themselves the first time you have a stuck ball joint or in this case a stuck rivet. I have a small 4hp 11 gallon air compressor and it runs my air chisel like a beast.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The rivets are expanded into the hole in the frame. Make sure you have ground the rivet flush with the frame, then like others have said, a hammer and punch. When you go to install the new brackets, IMO, drilling the holes out to 1/2" is best practice. Use a cheap step-drill from Harbor Freight. Find 1/2" bolts with the shortest non-threaded shank to use. The non-threaded shank is to fill the hole, where a threaded bolt would be looser. Grade 5 is fine. Drill one hole then use bolt. Drill second hole opposite first and bolt it. Then drill the other 2 holes and bolt. I use nylock nuts and however many flat washer to make sure the nut doesn't run down to the non-threaded portion of the bolt. I've also used regular lock washers with no problem.

 

[Jchiverton88]

Thanks for all the help full suggestions! Got the old bolts out now I'm stuff on getting this old leaf spring bushing out to replace it before installing the new bracket....it was rusted on so I grinded both bolts off and tried and tried to air hammer it through. No luck . Anythoughts?

 

[scrapper]

I used a drill with smaller drill bits. They have to be at least small enough to fit between the bushing and the spring. Drill a few holes as close together as you can around the bushing soon the bit will walk itself around the bushing and eat the rubber up. It took a couple of drill bits because they break easy. Good luck and a lot of people burn the rubber out.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I had the same problem and took mine to a spring shop. $100 later and obvious signs of burning it out. Should be able to use a propane torch and heat it until the rubber starts smoking and then push it out