Posted by Keith in Washington on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 at 4:55PM :
In Reply to: springs and shackles posted by Randy NJ on Wednesday, August 03, 2005 at 3:43PM :
I assume that you are takling about the pins that hold the spings in place. The front ones are accessible and can usually be driven out with a soft metal drift. The rear ones are more difficult and are often a pain in the back end.
I have had the rear pin almost fall out and others that I wonder if I would ever get out. Be sure that there is no weight on the springs. I usually have the axle ubolts off with a small gap showing between the spring and axle. The pins have a NPT hole in the end where the grease zerts go. I usually take a small rod (that you will need to cut the threads on) or threaded water pipe that I modify to attach to my slide hammer. Screw the pipe into the the grease zert hole and give a couple of light taps with the slide hammer. If you are lucky they will pop right out. If not apply heat to the spring supports near the frame where the pin bottoms out. They can often rust at this location. Use at least a MAPP torch propane will not be enough. You do not need to get them real hot. Just apply enough heat so that they expand slightly.
The pin may only come part way out. this can be caused by the pin being worn by the bushing and it has a lip on it. You may have to work it in and out a few times.
When you put new pins in be sure to put anti sieze on the very end of the pin where they go into the spring support so that they will not rust and will come out easier the next time.
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