The Lair

"Grinder and paint makes the welder I ain't"

 

I typed this out for a friend and thought I would share here too. This is my method for removing the rear leaf hangers and it works great. I've now done 4 sets of hammer hangers.


1. Jack up truck from pumpkin nice and high. Place jack stands under the frame in front of the leaf packs.

2. Lower jack and let axle droop all the way out. Remove tires.

3. Remove the bolt from the rear leaf hanger. Loosen the shackle bolt in the leafs so you can move it freely.

4. Use an angle grinder to cut off the meat of the hanger. This allows easier access to the bottom two rivets.

5. Grind the heads off all 4 rivets or cut them up with a cutting disc and knock them off with an air chisel.

6. Use an air chisel or hammer/chisel to knock off the remaining hangers.

7. Grind the rivets flush with the frame.

8. Use a ball joint press and a 5/16”x1.5” bolt to press out the 2 rivets on the bottom of the frame. The alternative is to just drill these out starting at ¼” and finish with ½”

DO NOT HAMMER THESE OUT OR YOU WILL BEND THE FRAME

9. Use an air chisel to knock out the two rivets on the side.

a. If they do not come out, start drilling with a ¼” Not much needs to be removed. Try air hammer again. Rinse and repeat.

10. Drill out all holes to ½”

11. Replace shackle and shackle hardware.

12. Bolt on hammer hangers and use a torque wrench.

 

Kind of what we used to say about making speaker enclosures back in my teens. Carpet makes me a master enclosure builder.

 

I'll be able to use this probably this weekend.

 

I'm always looking for a used decent shape vise. The one I have is like that little one you have. It works but is so limited.

 

Yeah it’s ok but I put it through way more abuse than it’s designed for. I only paid like $30 for it though, so I’ll just toss it in the trash. It’s served it’s purpose.

 

Hmmm, mine is a brand name but very old. It works but just isn't big enough.

 

Ah, a problem as old as time.

 

also, sig'd

 

Fucker! I knew as soon as I posted that someone would be a smartass.

 

Mounted my maxtrax, installed my bump spacers and put my hi lift back in the bed. Just chipping away at little things before wheeling this weekend. Still need to give myself an alignment and wire in my license plate lights.

 

Hope that photo is deceiving. Otherwise be careful pulling out of the garage Brother.

 

Hey! I mounted my "MaxTrax" today too!

 

Oh, and I meant to tell you, someone commented on your leafs being W'd I think the other day. Mine are not arched as much as I thought they should be. As a matter of fact they are a little flat I think.

 

It’ll be fine but good looking out! I fit in there with my plano cases on and these are shorter than that.

 

Yeah that’s just Dakar’s for you. Not saying it’s right, but is is normal for them. Same with oem leafs usually.

 

I hear 63's don't do that....





Back into the shadows...

 

I was gonna build a separate cart for the plasma cutter, but it fits so nicely under there looks like I saved myself some effort.

 

Just wired in these bolt lights too so I can remain legal ish