How To Remove Eye Bolt From Leaf Spring

[Doc]

I'm replacing the leafs on my 2001 Turf 1 Gasser Carryall and I'm trying to remove the leaf springs. The rear shackles weren't too bad to remove, but how do I remove the bolt from the front end of the spring? The nut came off with no problems but the bolt seems stuck inside the center bushing of the leaf spring. Its a little tight in there so I can't hit it with a center punch. Any ideas on this other than cutting? Thanks for any help or ideas!
Doc

[scottyb]

Cut it and get new ones, they are notorious for rust/welding themselves to the rubber which absorbs the shock when you try to drive them out if you could get a drift and hammer on them. Hope you got new grommets, Doc.

[simple man]

If you have a decent " C " clamp, you can place a short socket thats larger that the bolt head over the bolt head and put one side of the clamp on the socket and the other on the bolt end you removed the nut from. Tighten the clamp and it may start the bolt moving. If you can get the bolt to move at all, spray some penetrating oil on both sides and let it sit for a few hours. Then turning it with a wrench and at the same time prying it with a large screwdriver should remove it. If it didn't move at all, Scott's method is the only way!

[ckiguy]

yup sounds like the bolt seized itself to the metal bushing in the rubber mount! you could try to spin it out with a impact, but it might spin the metal sleeve out of the rubber bushing. same situation! i say fire up the torch! a litle heat and a big freaking hammer always seems to move thing along for me! that and my trusty snap off air hammer!

[4vertical]

if you cut( i know you didn't want to) along the spring inside the mounts with a cut off wheel on both sides it will fall out. been down this road more times than i care to count:(

[rose88]

Originally Posted by 4vertical

if you cut( i know you didn't want to) along the spring inside the mounts with a cut off wheel on both sides it will fall out. been down this road more times than i care to count:(

No doubt!! its alot easier to cut both ends and get the spring out and in the

vise to get the bolt out. New bolts are 3/8 x 3 1/4" hard to find at hardware stores most go from 3 to 3 1/2

[sparky]

Is the bushing kit and sleeve for the front of the rear spring the same as at the back? I just replaced the ones on the rear and have not seen a kit identified especially for the front end of the leaf spring.

The rear was a breeze, the front looks much more challenging. EZGO PDS cart.

[golfcartthing]

air hammer