Leaf Bushing removal... Best way ???

Looking for tips on a good way to remove the bolts and bushings to replace my rear shackles and install poly bushings. I know it can be a real pain sometimes, so I just want to see what folks have to recommend. I don't have a torch, so heating it up isn't an option for me.

I want to try and get it done within a few hours on friday morning.

 

I would recommend just buying some new bolts and cutting them out with either a grinder or sawsall. I had a hell of a time with the bolts on my leaf springs, ended up cutting them out with a thin cutting wheel on my grinder. I did have to get the replacement bolts from the dealership though and they were $30. But that was for the bolts on the forward mounts for the leafs.
Otherwise you can try to just use a bunch of penetrating oil, but that didn't work on mine and it is a CO truck with no rust!

Good luck!

 

A small propane torch is all you need to heat them up. Costs about $12-14 in a hardware store. I use that to heat it up just a small amount and drive them out. They usually come out pretty easy. Just do it outside or in a well ventilated space, and have an extinguisher handy as the bushings do burn.

 

Ok, I might do that.

I do have replacement bolts, they are the greasable shackles and I got urethane bushings so I don't care about conserving anything other than the leaf eye.

 

i picked up some pipe and a BFH and beat them out the first time, the second time i used a map gas torch (15 bucks at lowes) and it was much easier