leaf spring help!?

[rossrox]

Hi im currently taking my axle off and i have taken the leaf spring of the rear mounts and are now taking the front off,i have taken the nut off and now i dont know how to take the pin out. i have looked in the workshop manual and it says "remove the anchorage bolts for the springs after removing theire retaining nuts. These bolts have pin spanner holes in theire heads to permit them to be held against rotation while loosening or tightening up the nuts" there are 2 bolts at either side of the pin head thingy and i have tried to get them off but cant get my spanner in. What should i do?

[hotrodder13]

i had trouble with them 2 nuts only thing i could do is cut them off with a grinder,


tom

[rossrox]

right,i think thats what i may have to do then, cheers!

[kittyfell]

They can be difficult and are often rusted solid. Careful use of the angle grinder is often the answer.

[//no.comment]

you can get a ring spanner on the inside of the bolts and a good socket on the outside, wd40 always helps! if were talking about the securing plate that holds the pin wiht the two holes to prevent rotation, this is a far easier way than trying to mess around with a pin spanner
remove this whole plate:[frame][/frame]
its still massively awkward even more so on the nearside where the exaust pipe has craftily been put in the way!

[chickenjohn]

you can get a ring spanner on the inside of the bolts and a good socket on the outside, wd40 always helps! if were talking about the securing plate that holds the pin wiht the two holes to prevent rotation, this is a far easier way than trying to mess around with a pin spanner
remove this whole plate:[frame][/frame]
its still massively awkward even more so on the nearside where the exaust pipe has craftily been put in the way!

I agree with this- plus gas soak will usually loosen these nuts, or a bit of heat. I think they are 3/8" across the flats.

[mike.perry]

I seem to remember spending two days with a junior hacksaw and a club hammer on the front hanger, which is why I have not changed the other spring

[libbor]

There is a much much easier way of getting the leaf spring out from the front spring hanger. Simply remove the nut from the pin and then arm yourself with a pin punch a bit thinner than the diameter of the thread of the pin. Then simply just hit the pin while holding the spring to stop it falling. the pin will just knock out leaving the bracket shown a few posts ago with the mounting bolts still in situe.

Hopes this helps

Darren

[kittyfell]

Believe me, it doesn't always 'just knock out'. Usually quite the opposite. Be careful you don't distort the mounting brackets.

[kennatt]

if you are only taking the axle off just leave the front spring attached drop the rear and unbolt the axle it then slides backward from under the car leaving the springs on the car at the front.