Need help (in-progress AAL install + suspension)

any tricks or ideas to get this damn bolt out/off?

i cannot get the driver side "center pin" out ... the bolt has partially started to turn but the entire center pin just keeps spining... on the passenger side, i had a similar issue but eventually the nut came off....

I have been moving up and down the truck from the spot right under the hitch-reciever while the axles are supported on jack stands to change the tension on the leafs... but nothing works. I have been using WD-40 and i ton have any type of cutter.


6. Clamp the leaf pack securely, and then loosen and remove the factory centering pin. Slowly release the clamp to loosen the tension in the leaf pack.

from this write-up on AAL install
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/31118-how-install-add-leaf-w-pics.html

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr187/xtreme_450/Tacoma lift pics/S5000006.jpg

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr187/xtreme_450/Tacoma lift pics/S5000007.jpg

 

Cut off the center pin...clamp the spring vertically first with a c-clamp. Torch or cut off wheel is best.

 

Yea....C clamp the leafs together and cut the centering pin.

Just make sure you have a replacement pin. DO NOT use just an ordinary bolt. BUY a centering pin bolt w/nut.

 

damnt... guess i gotta somehow get a hacksaw then... def no torch or cutting wheel.

 

I've cut them off with a sawzall also.

 

so a regular bolt + nut same size (diam/len) wont work?

I think the AAL pack has a center pin on it, itself... i gotta take a pic of it.

 

New center pins and new u-bolts are mandatory.May as well start pricing angle gauges for the vibes you will soon be experiencing.

 

the pack comes with U bolts and the pack itself contains the "max spring compressor" or the piece on the very bottom plus 2 more regular springs attached to that... the center pin is built into the pack itself and seperately i have U-bolts.

this is from ICON... its pretty self-contained. i cant get that bolt off and even on the side that i was successful on, when i lift the truck away from the axle (with springs C-clamped) i cant get the pack to separate from the axle...

 

i have my jack-stands at the lowest setting... and then im using an extra 3-4'' block of wood with my jack under the hitch reciever area to lift the body/frame up and away from the axle...

not sure if i should try to jack it up higher or not with an extra piece of wood in there.

 

I would use your jack under the rear end and your truck frame on your jack stands. Then you can manipulate the rear end up and down with the jack.

 

Huh?

Rest the rear of the frame of the truck solidly on two jackstands, just forward of the forward leaf spring perch mount.

Use your jack to raise and lower the rear axle at the differential.

It sounds like you jacked up the axle and are lifting the truck from there.

If that's what you're doing - in addition to making your life a hell of a lot harder - it also sounds unstable and unsafe.

 

Once you've done that, you can lower the axle away from the spring.

Once you've done that- you can grab the bottom of the leaf spring pin with a vice grip, to prevent it from turning while you loosen the top nut.

 

I had the truck sitting on the stands, right on the side of the axle behind the brake drum like this:
http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr187/xtreme_450/Tacoma lift pics/S5000003.jpg

after that, i was using my jack just forward of the hitch receiver poitn which is connected to the frame at the center-rear of the truck to lift up and away from the stationay axle on jack-stands...

you're saying place stands towards the front... on the frame, right after the forward-spring perch mount (which i just assume is the ending poitn to where the springs meet the frame). and then use the pumpkin with the jack to lower/raise the axle as i wish....

im trying that now at least... makes me nervous since the jack lowers pretty quickly and i have to be very careful with the axle... no risk for the drive shaft dropping that low?

 

he suggested that setup in the write-up which was why i went with it:

5. Remove the bolt holding the bracket that holds brake lines to the axle on the driver's side to ensure you don't put too much strain on the lines if you happen to jack up a tad too high. Jack up under the receiver hitch until there is about 3" of clearance between the leaf pack and the spring perch. This will give clearance to install the AAL into the pac

 

Yeah - OK, I see that in that writeup now.

I'm guessing his axle jackstands were lower than yours or his floor jack under the trailer hitch lifted higher.

It's possible it's just stuck with some rust and giving it a whack with a Big-Effin'-Hammer (with a block of wood in between to cushion the blow) will persuade it to separate.

Are you in San Jose? If you're close I could dash over and take a quick look.

-SteveH

 

im in sunnyvale...

actually i switched up the jack positions like you suggested (in front of forward spring perchs) just now... and so now im lowering the axle at the rear-diff(pumpkin). The springs seperated finally and i can now see the bottom of the centering pin!! I should be able to hold that and remove the center-pin without cutting now...

is it ok for the axle to be dropped so low tho? or should i be wary of how far i allow it to go? its still on the jack but its pretty close to full down...

 

Yeah - it'll be OK. You'd have achieved that angle no matter whether you jacked up the back or lowered the axle down.

Once you've got it separated, you can jack the axle back up a bit to relieve the pressure on the driveshaft and brake lines.

 

The other thing you can do to relieve the driveshaft angle if you're concerned about it is to raise the OTHER side of the axle on a third jackstand - then you can have the diff itself a bit higher (along with the driveshaft) while still having the axle hub you're working on down low.

 

Wow... thanks a ton!!! Seriously been sitting around and trying to get than damn nut off for 2 hours... had no idea why i couldnt get the damn springs to seperate.

thanks for the tip on the 3rd jack at the other side of the axle... think ill do that. damn this has been a long day lol...

 

No prob.

I'll PM you my contact info in case you have any more questions after I log off TW.

-SteveH