66 Caddy Fleetwood 75, I've got the axle out and parts on order, but man, if I could get the leafsprings R&R'd I'd be a BUNCH happier. The problem is the forward bolts. They look like a plug...aww heck. They look like this: You can see I've soaked it with PB blaster, and even taken a swipe at it with an air chisel. I've learned the hard way with one of the shackles that I should try to keep as much of this car as possible (Napa: has a partnumber, and a price, but no shackles in the whole US...next stop: wrecking yard) The bolt on the other side is accessed thru a hole in the frame rail, and I can't get a whole lot on it based on that. So, how do I get this thing out, with a minimum of damage?
I ***ume there is a nut on the other side inside the frame. Your bolt looks similar to the ones on the shoebox fords. If you can get a six point socket on the nut in the frame (might have to drive it on with a hammer) you might luck out and get it off. If the bolt turns then you can cut a slot in the head with a cut off wheel and try to hold it that way, otherwise you can weld a nut onto the flat side to hold it from turning. If you do manage to get the nut off that's inside the frame then you can drive the bolt out with a drift pin or similar tool. I don't know if new bolts like that are still available but a good source would be a spring shop.
There's a Nut on the other side (which I was able to remove) But since the whole thing is 'captured', If I can't get the 'headless bolt' out, I can't remove the leaf spring. It looks like it might be a press fit part, but I've got nothing I can un-press it with. (Perhaps I get to buy another tool...boy, that'd be a shame. )
looking at the part on Napa online , it is a lot like shoebox fords as flathead4d suggested the head appears to have knurling on it , so it may be hard to turn even if you cut a slot in it..so you are going to have to get to the nut , take it off and drive it out the real bad news is a pair of them is $68 at Napa if you mess it up
ugh. wonder if a C-clamp with a cheaterbar would be enough to press it out? Seems kina stupid to have a situation where you can't never service the leafprings.
you are going to have to drive it out from the nut side...can't you get a drift on it and swing a big hammer?
What about using something like a ball joint press? Looks like it would work if you have room to get it in there.
Well, yes and no. The car's up in the air, the axle's out of the way, but damn, swinging a big hammer, sideways, while under a 6000 lb car gives me the willies. I'll take a look at a ball-joint press, that may be the ticket as I'd prefer gradual application of pressure, rather than knuckle dragging, closed eye'd wild swings. edit: Based on the tool listed on napaonline.com, I think I can rig something that'll let me use that, while clearing the diameter of the ***embly...kinda nice having a lathe on-hand.
i recently replaced the spring bushings on my shoebox. Just removed the nut and knocked it out with a hammer. May not be so easy if they're rusted solid though. Use extra floor jacks and a hoist for insurance before you start beating on it.
I got caught with a similar job I did ten years ago....as I said to people "I've never hit anything I wasn't trying to destroy that hard".....lying on my side with a heavy sledge in a small garage ....THEN , I pulled the head off the first replacement pin trying to pull it home with the nut , luckily it was cheap .....not. My suggestion would be days of soaking, a bit of heat , a screw press and a few shocks once it's under a bit of strain.... good luck , ***** of a job.
The Jalopy Journal
