The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 55 rear suspension pivot pin stuck

Alright, I'm at a loss - I'm nearly done rebuilding the suspension on my 55 GMC 100 2nd Series, but one of the frame side pivot pins is really stuck in there. Normally vice-grips and some PB Blaster, swears and prayers and it'll eventually come out, but this last one refuses to move. I've tried one of the reverse threaded screw extractors as well, and all that succeeded in doing was cracking the part where the grease fitting screws in. I have the replacement bushings, so I'd be tempted to try to press or knock the whole thing out as an assembly, but I can't seem to get anything on there to do it with. I tried drilling it out as well so that I could collapse it, but it was totally unimpressed with that idea.

Does anyone have any ideas? These are the threaded pivot pins for the frame side of the rear shackle, not the special pin with captive bolt for the front.

Thanks in advance!

Try heat. With the pivot pin still stuck in there the usual trick f drawing the whole bushing out with threaded rod and sockets won't work. Getting the parts red hot and letting them cool may loosen it.

I spent a few minutes with the yellow propane torch (can't remember what it's called at the moment), but that didn't loosen anything up. Broke two 6" clamps on it, so you're right it DOES not push. My next step is to cut off all I can get to with a die grinder and cutoff wheel and then drill it with cobalt bits.

Would that gas be Mapp gas?

MAPP gas won't get nearly hot enough. Rent or borrow an oxyacetylene rig with a rosebud tip and get the whole thing red hot, then go after it with a big punch and a BFH. Repeat as required!
Jerry

And by BFH, that means the biggest one you can find. At least a 3 lb head. A puny hammer will just mushroom it. Hitting it with a BFH makes the rust molecules quit holding hands and cover their ears.
As well as getting it red hot, try dousing it with a hose after the first time heating it.