Forward leaf spring nut trapped
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Forward leaf spring nut trapped
Hi guys,
I'm new here. Great stuff here. Has helped me tremendously.
But I have encountered what I perceive to be a huge problem. As it seems happens often, my tach welded nut on forward part of leaf spring broke loose. I used the trick of cutting off the spring, then cutting the eye on each side, etc, til I got to the bushing. No prob. Still could not get bushing free so I angle cut bushing/bolt on both ends. Got bolt head out, nut dropped in frame rail/ spring mount box. Fine. Angle ground frame rail box and pulled it open to pull out nut and replace. PROBLEM: I cannot get that **** nut outta there!!!! The bolt protruded through the back of nut and its too long to fit through the narrow area inside. I would consider cutting through floor but it's still gonna be too narrow to extract the nut. The nut is loose, but no way its gonna drop through that hole without utterly mangling the spring box. HELP! I'm totally stuck.
I'm new here. Great stuff here. Has helped me tremendously.
But I have encountered what I perceive to be a huge problem. As it seems happens often, my tach welded nut on forward part of leaf spring broke loose. I used the trick of cutting off the spring, then cutting the eye on each side, etc, til I got to the bushing. No prob. Still could not get bushing free so I angle cut bushing/bolt on both ends. Got bolt head out, nut dropped in frame rail/ spring mount box. Fine. Angle ground frame rail box and pulled it open to pull out nut and replace. PROBLEM: I cannot get that **** nut outta there!!!! The bolt protruded through the back of nut and its too long to fit through the narrow area inside. I would consider cutting through floor but it's still gonna be too narrow to extract the nut. The nut is loose, but no way its gonna drop through that hole without utterly mangling the spring box. HELP! I'm totally stuck.
#2
::CF Administrator::
Just dealt with this myself.
So the bolt is long enough to go through the nut, and into another hole behind the "pocket" on the frame rail. I used a pry bar to hold the nut inside the pocket, where it should have been, then ground it flush as close as possible to the leaf spring hangar. Still wasn't enough. Ended up using the pry bar to push the nut against the opposite side of the pocket, then prying it into the frame rail, which bent the metal just enough to fish it out. Took a bit of doing, but got it out.
So the bolt is long enough to go through the nut, and into another hole behind the "pocket" on the frame rail. I used a pry bar to hold the nut inside the pocket, where it should have been, then ground it flush as close as possible to the leaf spring hangar. Still wasn't enough. Ended up using the pry bar to push the nut against the opposite side of the pocket, then prying it into the frame rail, which bent the metal just enough to fish it out. Took a bit of doing, but got it out.
#3
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Got that dang thing out. I had to stick a dremmel in there and slowly grind down an edge of the nut on each opposite side in order to allow the nut to rotate out of the frame rail pocket. What a pain! But its out. Now the question is do I need to get the pocket rewelded?
#4
CF Veteran
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lost in the wilds of Virginia
Posts: 7,964
Received 952 Likes
on
767 Posts
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Nice work. Sometimes hard work and persistence is the only thing that gets the job done.
Yeah, I'd get that thing re-welded, if it were me.
Yeah, I'd get that thing re-welded, if it were me.
#5
Senior Member
I had to go through the floor on my '88 donor Jeep as my nut broke off the weld nut too. Not sure if it was easier than what you did. I didn't care on the donor vehicle but it took some extra cutting to find the exact spot where you could get in the pocket.
#6
CF Veteran
I'm post on what the problem is. You want the nut back where it is supposed to be? Or just don't want it bouncing around? Can u weld it to something?
Trending Topics
#8
::CF Administrator::
The weld nut was frozen. Had to cut it to get it out. The piece inside the pocket was too big to come out of the hole cut. He fished it out. He can now put new hardware in there.
#9
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thanks for the replies. I dont have welding stuff nor know enough how to properly do it, but now that is back on wheels I can drive it to a shop to get welded. I'll have him tack the new nut then close it up.
#13
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Ocean County, NJ
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
THIS RIGHT HERE. SO MUCH OF THIS I wish my customers would have experienced before flying off the handle at extended install times. A lift may have an install time of 6 hours but in reality, when you're working on a high-mileage vehicle in the rust belt, there is no install time. It's done when it's done.
#14
CF Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: ☼ Blackhole Sun
Posts: 8,567
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
16 Posts
Year: My Jeep is a GMC
THIS RIGHT HERE. SO MUCH OF THIS I wish my customers would have experienced before flying off the handle at extended install times. A lift may have an install time of 6 hours but in reality, when you're working on a high-mileage vehicle in the rust belt, there is no install time. It's done when it's done.
No this is so very wrong you are running a "stealership", peeps think you should fix their ride for free.
lmao