Rear Springs Pivot Bolt Removal

[whiteeagle]

I'm in the process of replacing the sagging rear springs on my 83 SX/4.

I have tried numerous times over the past two days to remove the pivot bolt that goes through the front bushing with no luck budging it all. The locknut came off with no problem and I can rotate/turn the pivot bolt via socket wrenching the hex dead from the opposite end and I can hear that its rotating around rubber. The bolt turns inside the bushing which tells me that the sleeve inside the bushing must be rusted to the pivot bolt? I've tried using a C-Clamp to press it through but again no luck moving it.

I've lubricated it, tapped it, raised and lowered pressure on it and still it wont come out.

So my question is this...is there some trick to getting the pivot bolt out or do I just take a sawzall to it and cut  the pivot bolt on each side of the bushing and be done with it?

Any thoughts or similar experience out there?

Thanks.

[eaglefreek]

I had a similar experience recently on my Festiva when I went to change the rear trailing arm. I had to cut the bolt on either side of the bushing to get it out. For the heck of it, after removing it, I tried to beat it out of the bushing with no luck. PB Blaster and heat didn't help either.  Make sure you put some grease or antiseize on the new bolt.

[whiteeagle]

I guessed as much I just needed to hear that prior to cutting them off. And 10/4 on the pre greasing.

My wife just drove it for the first time today and she found the car to be fun to drive:) Check it out. Its an 83 with only 38000 original mile.

Thanks for your feedback.

[AMCLOVER258]

Wow She's a Beauty!

[Draekon]

The same bolt was seized to the bushing on one of my leaf springs. I had to cut it out with a sawzall, which ended up being a chore in itself.

[whiteeagle]

After several days of saturating it with PB Blaster and still it would not budge! I was determined NOT the cut those bolts off! So I went to Harbor Freight to see if there was some other tool that might do the job.

What I found was a retired Army machinist who knew exactly what tool that would do the job.  A 3/4" Forged Ball Joint Separator. (See attached Image) After applying quite a bit of pressure with the joint separator I heard a loud pop and finally the bolt broke loose and I was able to salvage both eye bolts.

There was about a 1/16th of an inch line of rust growth all along the bolt that fused together with the inside of the bushing cylinder.

I cleaned all the rust off the bolts and greased it up before putting it back together and she now has new rear springs and shocks:) There was almost a 3" increase from prior height. Check it out.

[vangremlin]

Good to know there is another option besides cutting the bolts!

It really improved the looks of your car.  Where did you buy your leaf springs?  Thanks.

[whiteeagle]

I purchased my springs and shackle bushings from (springsnthings.com).
I chose them due to previous forum recommendations.
Perfect fit and good customer service.