Loosen the bolts by hand with a breaker bar before you take them to any power tools

 

Agreed. With mine, I needed a breaker bar. I sprayed all of my bolts for about a month before hand (maybe missed a couple of days) but they were a pain. I didn't have air tools strong enough to back the bolts out, so I just got a large breaker bar and cheater pipe and turned super saiyan and did it by hand.

To answer the question about cutting it out I had to do it for the driver front eye because it was not backing out of the bushing sleeve. So I had to cut. If you break the weld nuts in the front I have heard of guys who go in through their floor to put a nut inside the frame for it.

Also, I tapped all of the bolt holes as well just because they were really rusty. The tap was hard to come by and the only place I could find one at was NAPA. Not even hardware warehouses had it. but like everyone said it isn't hard or complicated to figure out how to do the project. If yours was anything like mine I hope you work out regularly.

 

I replaced the shocks, all the bump stops, front hubs, and new parking brake cables for the zj brake conversion last weekend. One project at a time.

 

I got a cheap short craftsman breaker bar. Ill have to barrow a bigger one from work. Well I havent been working out regularly recently so I guess well see how I do.

 

I take the handle off my floor jack and use it as a cheater bar.

 

The only torch I got is a propane torch. Think that will be enough heat?

 

I can use my jack handle but im afraid ill brake that cheapo braker bar.

 

Thanks!

 

Get yourself a 2 ft. long piece of pipe.I used my legs to break the bolts loose.I'd rather my foot slip off & be protected by boots than my hands slip off & hope gloves save me.

 

If you have a torch you should be able to get MAP gas for it. Check your local ACE or menards. They will have it. Also, You may want to use your jack handle and have a cheater pipe on standby. For me, the jack handle was too long for me to use in some spots, but a pipe was small enough.

And the working out part was kind of a joke. But I do stay in shape and all my friends couldn't do it, even when they tried together. And I was the only one who could move the bolt . I had to lay down on the ground and practically bench press the pipe. If you have to do that BE POSITIVE THE XJ IS NOT GOING TO TIP OVER ON YOU OR FALL OFF THE STANDS.

 

Wish I would have thought of that. A lot of blood and sweat went into my Xj when I did this.

 

Home depot sells mapp gas as well. Propane will take forever to deal with those bushings.

 

Yup I stopped there today and picked up 2 bottles.

 

Ok after 5 hours and a few bumps and bruses I was able to get my new leaf springs in. The upper shackle bolts came out pretty easily just needed to run the bolts in and out a few times. The front bolts for the leaf springs gave me trouble. Both sides had to have the leaf spring eyes and bushings cut off to get the bolt out. The driver side welded nut snapped off and I had to make a small hole to get it out. Over all it was good experience/work out. Idk how people use air tools to get the bolts out. I couldn't get my 1/2" air gun on any of the bolts to try and get them out. So the majority of the work was done with a 2ft breaker bar and once they were lose enough I just used my ratchet. As of right now Im about 3" higher then my saggy stock springs. Lets see what they settle to.
On another note I would just like to say thank you to all the people that chimed in to help me out with need info! All of your help made the job much easier instead of just jumping into the job blind. Thanks!

 

Glad out worked out for you! As for the impact,I use a impact wobble socket.