Changing out rear leaf springs on my e body: Tips?

[DocMel]

Any removal/installation tips out there?

[dfrazz]

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=104495.msg1024999#msg1024999

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=65906.msg678043#msg678043

[bigblue73]

Shoot all the nuts with penetrating oil.  Get an impact gun for the bolts on the leaf springs.  It's really straight forward once you get into it.  Allow about 6-8 hours to complete everything.  One thing to consider.....I bought all new stuff from the front spring hangers (AR Engineering) and rear hangers (Hotchkis) because I knew I would break bolts off the front spring hangers. 

Have fun!

[Mpdlawdog]

 

[roadman5312]

Shoot all the nuts with penetrating oil.  Get an impact gun for the bolts on the leaf springs.  It's really straight forward once you get into it.  Allow about 6-8 hours to complete everything.  One thing to consider.....I bought all new stuff from the front spring hangers (AR Engineering) and rear hangers (Hotchkis) because I knew I would break bolts off the front spring hangers. 

Have fun!

                                I also wire brush the threads on the U bolts before taking the nuts off. Fine threads don't like dirt, undercoat, paint etc.   

[dakota]

the fine thread on u bolts will foul up very easily.  After several attempts to loosen the nuts with an impact, I find it faster to cut the U bolts with a cutoff wheel and install new ones.

[jimynick]

OR, just heat the cleaned off nuts yellow hot with a torch and spin them right off with an impact and NOT shear the bolts off. I also used a broken off chisel ground flat in my air panel cutter to hammer the rear shackles/bolts since they get tighter than a bull's arse in fly time, as the old man used to say. Good luck 

[HP2]

If its never been apart, I'll try hitting it with penetrator every day for a week or more.  Try to chase threads where possible.