HELP: Rusted bolts on leaf springs

[MikeDobbs]

I'm replacing the axle on my boat trailer (18' bowrider, single axle, no brakes), and I'm really struggling to remove the forward bolts that attach the springs to the hangers.

All the hardware was extremely rusted on this trailer, so I planned to just cut all the bolts off. Worked fine in the rear, but in the front, even after removing the head from the bolts I just can't get them to budge. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on how I can get these out?

Thanks in advance.

 

[airshot]

Probably under pressure from the spring itself, gonna have to drive them out with a punch and hammer. Beware of the spring popping out when the bolt comes out !!

 

[tpenfield]

You should be cutting on the inside, not on the outside.

 

[Grub54891]

Heat wrench goes a long way to getting them out. Just don’t overheat and take the temper out of things.

 

[stresspoint]

they are splined in as they are tightened , smash the threaded part with a BFH to push past the splines ,(normally just put the nut on a few threads and smack the thing a few times ) once the bolt is free of the spline , take the weight an push the rest of the way

 

[04fxdwgi25]

Heat wrench, air hammer, BFH........ Basically brute force and lots of Krol penetrating oil

 

[MikeDobbs]

Thanks for the replies everyone. In the end, 6 saw-zall blades ended up being the trick. I tried heat, air hammer, penetrating oil, and BFH , but nothing worked. Ended up cutting each end of the bolt from inside the brackets with the sawzall. 6 hours to remove old axle- 45 minutes to install new one

 

[tpenfield]

. . . Ended up cutting each end of the bolt from inside the brackets with the sawzall. 6 hours to remove old axle- 45 minutes to install new one

Yes, I just did an axle & spring swap a couple of weeks ago. Inside the brackets is the key to victory

 

[bruceb58]

When I replace spring bolts, I replace with ones you can lube.

Amazon.com

 

[Lou C]

Sounds like the bolts may have been seized in the bushing
I never had one that bad and I've replaced the leaf springs on my old trailer 4 times I think over 20+ years. I always grease up the threads when installing (and the springs) and spray all of it a couple times a year with Corrosion X.
So far I have replaced nearly every fastener on this old trailer, some of them put up a good fight but in the end all yielded to either an impact gun, or a long 1/2" drive ratchet and (carefully applied) leverage.
I busted a couple but never have had to cut even one.

 

[brodmann]

I used to fight and bust knuckles on rusted bolts all the time. I now have 3' lengths of 1/2", 3/4" and 1" galvanized pipe that can slide over all of my different sized breaker bars. I'm in my 60's now, so I've decided to work smarter! I know that with serious rust and corrosion, sometimes a wrench won't actually fit any more, so that's always a challenge. Glad you kicked it's butt!!

 

[Lou C]

Just be careful with those pipe cheaters because if the socket strips the bolt or it breaks it you can go flying & wrench your back!
I’m in my 60’s as well lol. Been working on my own stuff about 50 years!

 

[ScottinAZ]

Sounds like the bolts may have been seized in the bushing
I never had one that bad and I've replaced the leaf springs on my old trailer 4 times I think over 20+ years. I always grease up the threads when installing (and the springs) and spray all of it a couple times a year with Corrosion X.
So far I have replaced nearly every fastener on this old trailer, some of them put up a good fight but in the end all yielded to either an impact gun, or a long 1/2" drive ratchet and (carefully applied) leverage.
I busted a couple but never have had to cut even one.

thats what it sounded like to me as well.... not uncommon on older cars for the same thing to happen. The nut comes off, but the shank of the bolt is a permanent part of the bushing due to rust. You can try greasing the bolt, but its not always effective, and you end up cutting the bolts out and having to replace the spring bushings..... This of course is exacerbated on boat trailers as we intentionally sink them in water when launching and recovering..... water doesnt care how it gets in there, it will do its damage regardless, and those who trailer in salt water have it even worse.....