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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 222 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2007 Posts: 222 | I’m Stuck,really stuck. I’m trying to remove the rear shackle bolt and nut on the front leaf springs of a 49 Chevy truck. I replaced them about five years ago, but I don’t remember if they unbolt in the conventional manner, that is counter clock wise, or do they unbolt in a clockwise manner. The truck has little or no time on it since rebuilt, so rust should not be an issue. This thing just will not budge, and of course laying on the floor in the garage with very limited room does not give much leverage, or make the job easy . I even put a bottle jack under the braker bar and pumped it up pretty good and it still did not budge. Please can nay one help I’m really stuck. Thanks for your help.
God bless,
Dave
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 | My son has a friend who is perpetually turning bolts the wrong way. I have called him "Wrong Way" so many times that I can't remember his name anymore.
Brute strength steady pressure seldom works, an impact of some sort will work better. If you can put a breaker bar on it and give it snaps instead of grunt force you should have better luck. | | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 222 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2007 Posts: 222 | Yes, but does it come off counter clock wise or clock wise?
Dave
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
They unbolt in the conventional manner, counter-clockwise.
As Vern posted, a breaker bar or an impact wrench will help (WD-40/etc, too).
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 194 | As the shop instructed says "Righty tightly, Lefty loosly." They are a right hand thread.
This might be the time to look at Harbour Freight for their 1/2 inch electric impact tool. I have one and it works pretty well on spring bolts. They are usually on sale for under $30.
Penetrating oil and heat also help.
Good luck | | | | | Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 174 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 174 | I have had luck warming the nut with a blue bottle propane tourch first. then power by armstrong. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,388 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,388 | When I did the ones on my old landrover, I just stuck the trolly jack under the break over bar. The truck was sitting on tires, NOT jackstands. So I just let the jack lift the truck with the breakover bar, and then jumped up and down in the box. I found that either the bolt loosened, or sheared off.
These days, I'm not as energetic, and take things apart with the cutting torch, when I know I'm going to replace them.
I've been told I get a bit "ram-y" though. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 835 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 835 | If you haven't already done so,jack the body of the truck up and block it so that there is no weight on the spring pivot. Then try it.
Are you trying to get the nut off, or trying to get the bolt out?
Also, if you are looking at the bolt from the head end, the nut will turn off clockwise. If you are looking at the bolt from the nut end, it will be counter-clockwise.
Easy to get turned around, so to speak.
Kurt | | |
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