Spring bolts

Rick C · Post by **Rick C** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:24 pm

Planning on replacing the front springs on my 1953 M37 with winch. Any tricks to getting the bolts out? Was thinking worst case I hammer them out but on the front left the winch is in the way. The manual suggests a puller and adapter which I don't have.
Rick

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:12 am

I didn't have a winch in the way and it still took brute force and a BFH to remove them. It helps to get the tension off the pins by jacking up the frame a bit. Severely worn pins cut a grove through the bushing and into the front mounting bracket. Mine are so egg-shaped I will be replacing them this weekend (since I pulled off the front bumper this past weekend-prepping for the winch install). One of mine required cutting off the head then driving the pin inward.
Gary

Rick C · Post by **Rick C** » Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:36 am

Thanks Gary.....thats what I was thinking but was hoping not to hear. Might have to pull the winch if it gets to that point. Hace to do some work on it anyway....

Post by **Cal_Gary** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:59 am

I used a Dremel with cut-off wheel to take off the head. the Dremel is small enough and powerful enough if you keep two hands on it so it doesn't jump out and bite you....

Check those front spring perches closely and replace them if necessary: you don't want the end of the springs riding up and down with every good bump. The front of the spring is supposed to be stationary and just pivots slightly as the spring flexes.
Gary

Master Yota · Post by **Master Yota** » Tue Feb 23, 2010 11:31 am

I must've had it easy - my winch equiped truck has 60000 miles on the odometer. I removed the winch, supported the truck and removed the cotter pins in the end of the spring bolts. The hardest job after that was hitting the end of the punch to drive the spring bolts out. They moved like they were installed yesterday. Piece of cake.

Perhaps I should have gone and purchased a lottery ticket?