Sorry.... I have unscrewed the nuts without any problems. The bolt itself is locked tight. I know that the shackles are threaded but I cannot for love nor money unscrew the bolts. There is no give in them at all. None. I reckon I am just going to angle grind them off and drill out the bolt.
When i've done this before i had to do the following:
Cut the bolts off between the spring and hangers as they will be seized in to the bush. Then with the springs off knock the bushes out of chassis (and spring if you are re-using them).
Simple hey, well no actually cos the only way i have ever been able to get the bushes out is drill all round the rubber section, then beat the middle out. Now you are left with the outer sleeve, which you can slit though then beat that bit out.
Your now ready to fit the new bushes and a cold beer or three.
But i guess you may have meant that when you said drill the bolt out.
Someone else may have a better way / easier way.
Cut the bolts off between the spring and hangers as they will be seized in to the bush. Then with the springs off knock the bushes out of chassis (and spring if you are re-using them).
Simple hey, well no actually cos the only way i have ever been able to get the bushes out is drill all round the rubber section, then beat the middle out. Now you are left with the outer sleeve, which you can slit though then beat that bit out.
Your now ready to fit the new bushes and a cold beer or three.
But i guess you may have meant that when you said drill the bolt out.
Someone else may have a better way / easier way.
I got mine off with an electric impact driver which I hired - I figured it was worth it because all 4 springs needed replacing - you'll need a strong socket to use with it, ordinary ones will break. It struggled with a couple of bolts (but I didn't) - I reckon an air driven impact wrench would have coped more easilly.
Once the bolts are out you can heat the inner of the bush with a blowtorch which burns the rubber so they fall out, the outer bush can then be hacksawed and chiseled out.
BTW Don't attempt to put new bushes in with a hammer - they go halfway in and that's it, they bulge out and theyr'e stuck - go back to blowtorch, hammer & chisel. (I only did it once
)
Andy
Once the bolts are out you can heat the inner of the bush with a blowtorch which burns the rubber so they fall out, the outer bush can then be hacksawed and chiseled out.
BTW Don't attempt to put new bushes in with a hammer - they go halfway in and that's it, they bulge out and theyr'e stuck - go back to blowtorch, hammer & chisel. (I only did it once
)Andy
yer can put them in with a hammer, ave done it.
not the best way thou, yer best bet is a press but as yer can't really get yer chassis in a press you'll need to make up a tool from flat bar and threaded rod
you put the threaded rod throught the bush and the spring/chassis with either a BIG washer on either end or some flat bar with a suitable hole in it. now you can use two nuts, one either end to pull the bush into place. if you happen to have a bit of pipe of suitable dia you can use that the pull them out, if they int seized too much.
as fer leccy impact drivers, you can buy a 12 volt one fer less than 40 notes in some places.
but even an impact driver wont over come bolts seized into the bush. it will just rip the rubber from the metal and spin around all day doing nowt.
If yer bolts wont come out within the first 5 mins of trying the chances are they int gonna so hack em orf and either drill or burn yer bushes out.
not the best way thou, yer best bet is a press but as yer can't really get yer chassis in a press you'll need to make up a tool from flat bar and threaded rod
you put the threaded rod throught the bush and the spring/chassis with either a BIG washer on either end or some flat bar with a suitable hole in it. now you can use two nuts, one either end to pull the bush into place. if you happen to have a bit of pipe of suitable dia you can use that the pull them out, if they int seized too much.
as fer leccy impact drivers, you can buy a 12 volt one fer less than 40 notes in some places.
but even an impact driver wont over come bolts seized into the bush. it will just rip the rubber from the metal and spin around all day doing nowt.
If yer bolts wont come out within the first 5 mins of trying the chances are they int gonna so hack em orf and either drill or burn yer bushes out.
