Shackle bolts
 

I'm trying to put my add a leaf in with a set of shackles. The upper shackle bolt isn't budging. I've been spraying I'm with pb blaster every two hours and tomorrow were gonna go at it with a breaker bar. I was just wonder if anybody has broken one of those bolts. The upper shackle bolt goes into the frame with a welded on nut on the inside of the frame. Has anybody broke one? It's a pretty big and beefy bolt so I don't think it will break but has anybody broke one? And btw it's a 99 xj

I posted in your other thread. Was curious if you tried loosening with jeep on the ground with all wheels down. Use PB blaster or some freeze off.

I just installed a lift on my Jeep like 5 hours ago and after spraying all the bolts down with pb & wd40 for a whole week none of them broke. I used a breaker bar to break them free them used a 3/4" gun to run them out, while they were out I cleaned the threads with a wire wheel and coated them in anti seize.

no I haven't done it on the ground, I'm just not sure why that would help to break them loose??

Correct me if I am wrong, But it would take some of the weight of the bolt..

why not just leave the main leaf bolted in and build the pack while it's installed. just have to use a couple large C clamps.

He is correct. Picture this, as the suspension goes to full arch as the tires drop, all that weight pulls down on those bolts. When the jeep is on the ground, the weight is more evenly distributed and it does take some weight off. My main bolt on the leaf spring body side was seized once when the jeep was jn the air. Dropped the jeep to the ground and the impact gun tom it right out

i need to install the new rear shackle too, otherwise i would do that

If the bolt is rusted to the inner sleeve, you can try doing this: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/em...7/#post1743813

lol that's hella rusted. Mine isn't that bad, just a little bit of normal bolt rust. After letting it sit with pb blaster overnight were gonna go at it with a breaker bar, should break loose

That's pretty typical of the vehicles out here. The salt is hell on them. Good luck with getting that bolt out.

vehicals out where??

You know... over here. :shifty:



















































Just messing around... the Midwest in particular. We refer to it as the salt belt. I'm in Illinois, but that Jeep in particular come out of Wisconsin.

Yeah I just bough the jeep from seattle wa.. It rains a lot over there. We got the front lift installed and the transfer case dropped all with no rusty bolts. This jeep is not a rusty jeep at all! It's just the normal bolt rust that takes a few days to soak in pb blaster and them broke loose with a pry bar.

Breaker bar not pry bar **

I live in Central PA and my shackles are even rustier than that. As soon as I finish with my flares, I'll be tackling the rear leafs and shackles to remove for my new lift. Already started PB blasting.

I just finished swapping my factory shackles for a new set of mj shackles.
Mine were rusted and took some serious pull to break the upper bolts loose, then both bolts had the inner bushing sleeve seized to them, tried PB, tried impact and heat.. Ended up dissecting the shackle making several cuts through the works peeling it apart layer by layer untill I could chisel the split in the sleeve and then get a pipe wrench on it while I backed the bolt out finally.

Pretty much if it's stuck just get out the cut off wheel.
A rotary file helped to finish up the ends of the cuts so I did not have to zip disk into the body in a few spots


Or you get lucky like the last set I did for a friend, rusted all to hell, looked and felt like the frame nut was gonna bust the whole way through but everything came apart fine

Good luck!

We got them out!!!!

Congrats

Ryan, how does it feel? Victorious? Man, I'm dreading this job kinda, just from all I've seen about those bolts, but know that feeling will be the prize...and of course the newly lifted XJ :)

if your going to do the it soon start spraying them with pb plaster now! Then just get a breaker bar and they come out no problem. A lot of people make it sound way worse on here then it really is!

Well, maybe for you it isn't as rusty out there in WA :thumbsup: