I should have titled this "Leaf Spring bolt clearance problem", can't change it now.

I am replacing all of the bushings on my leaf springs. One of them was totally trashed.



The problem that I am having is that the bolts in the front of the leaf spring won’t clear my rockbars. I have tried wiggling it in every conceivable direction and it still won’t clear. I have removed all of the other bolts holding the spring to allow more movement and still no luck.



I think that I need to start grinding on the rockbars to get a little more clearance. Would I be better off trying to drill a recess for the bolt?

Am I missing a better way to solve this problem?

 

A recess is the solution...probably the only real one

If you can get them out, you may be able to cut them short a little and still have full thread engagement in the frame, but also have them clear.


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Probably drilling a hole in the rocker to give room for the bolt to back out would suffice.

 

OK, I worked it out. I got the bolt to a sharp angle after tipping the

spring and then took a grinder to the rockbar and made a notch to slide the bolt out. It wasn't coming out of there without the notch.

 

If you can cut 1/8" off that bolt and still get full thread engagement, it should be good

 

I cut off almost 1/4 inch. This left about 1/8 inch alignment guide. The bolt slipped right in and threads up nicely.

 

Congrats, Glad you got it done!

 

Cool, I knew the stock bolts were plenty long.......