Sep 14, 2015, 05:35 PM
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Replacing leaf springs tips & tricks?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
It may possibly be stuck in the metal sleve inside the rubber bushing. If you have it loose and turns with a wrench, it would seem that the threads are not making it past that sleve. With a larger cut-off wheel you may be able to cut the bolt next the the leaf spring on both sides, get it out of the way, and then get the rest of the bolt out. I would start with that before I would start butchering the spring mount.
Herp Derp Jerp
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 17
From: Parham, ON
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
Yeeep that's what happened with mine 
Leaf turned with the breaker bar.
If you haven't cut the leaf off yet, get it as close to the eye as possible. This will just leave the bushing with the end of the leaf wrapped around it. Cut it all off, you'll need to basically start cutting up the bushing that's seized. Like I said don't inhale the rubber smoke. You'll need a 5" grinding wheel for this
Leaf turned with the breaker bar.If you haven't cut the leaf off yet, get it as close to the eye as possible. This will just leave the bushing with the end of the leaf wrapped around it. Cut it all off, you'll need to basically start cutting up the bushing that's seized. Like I said don't inhale the rubber smoke. You'll need a 5" grinding wheel for this
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Yeeep that's what happened with mine Leaf turned with the breaker bar. If you haven't cut the leaf off yet, get it as close to the eye as possible. This will just leave the bushing with the end of the leaf wrapped around it. Cut it all off, you'll need to basically start cutting up the bushing that's seized. Like I said don't inhale the rubber smoke. You'll need a 5" grinding wheel for this
Leaf turned with the breaker bar. If you haven't cut the leaf off yet, get it as close to the eye as possible. This will just leave the bushing with the end of the leaf wrapped around it. Cut it all off, you'll need to basically start cutting up the bushing that's seized. Like I said don't inhale the rubber smoke. You'll need a 5" grinding wheel for this
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 4
From: Williamsport, Pa
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Any chance you can post a pic? If what you're saying is that you now have a leaf eye out and you're left with a cut off bolt going into the spring mount then you may be okay. Some people will just weld something on the end of the bolt so they can turn it with a pair of vise grips. Or you could try using a hammer and punch and start by making a small divit in the edge of the bolt and hammer it around until you can get some pliers on it.
Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: N 43° 6' 31.5356" W 88° 30' 10.6452"
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
And if you use a grinding wheel to cut through the eye and the rubber bushing, you'll be tempted to start prying the rubber bushing apart to get it off. DON'T use a tool that you value to do this as that melted rubber really is hard to get off. 
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 4
From: Williamsport, Pa
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
You did say the bolt moved with a wrench easily, so it should be safe to assume that what's left of the bolt is not rusted to the nut inside the frame. You should be albe to unthread it. The only trouble would be if you broke the nut off inside the mount, which would mean the bolt would drop back into the frame/mount. So, which is it?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
You did say the bolt moved with a wrench easily, so it should be safe to assume that what's left of the bolt is not rusted to the nut inside the frame. You should be albe to unthread it. The only trouble would be if you broke the nut off inside the mount, which would mean the bolt would drop back into the frame/mount. So, which is it?