so im about half way through my lift in the back (4.5 RC) and im at the point where i need to take off the rear stock shackles. I unbolted the left side and now it's out of it's threads and its just spinning in the gasket. so i took a saws-all to it and took off the the head of the bolt. It still is just not coming out. Can anybody give me advise on how the hell they got there shackles off or what i should do? thanks

 

i had the sam issue with the other side of the spring,where it goes to the frame.i took off the spring eye, cut it all of down to the bushing .....tried cutting into it,damn thts some strong rubber....but after heating an beating an heating for a hour...enough of the metal casing stuck out of the bushing to grab with vise grips an got it.....ur lucky the shackle bolt didnt snap.....like on mine

 

i too am a 88M in the national guard! Hooah!

 

this is a common problem, very easy to solve. The bolt is ceased to the inner bushing sleeve. To fix that you have to cut the shackle off (i use a cutting torch). you have to expose the rubber part of the bushing. after you get that far, take a utility knife and cut the bushing off. you will need a sharp one, the rubber aint exactly soft. After that rotate the bolt until you can see the seam in the inner bushing sleve. grab your torch and get the entire seam RED hot. Now get your vise grips and clamp the sleve and turn the bolt. It will come out