Question about taking off the rear axle...

[Guest msu_bobcats]

First of all, thank you for the advice about getting the doors off. A little more elbow grease and they came off fine. I'm down to the frame now and have just taken off the front axle, but am having some trouble taking off the rear axle. Specifically, I'm having trouble taking off the connection at the front spring, can anyone help? It's a B1 1/2 ton pickup. Thanks!

[Norm's Coupe]

Is the reason you're having problems getting the spring off because the bolt is stuck? If it is, heat it up and try an impact wrench on it if you have one. If not, just use heat, penetrating oil and a nice long pipe on the end of the breaker bar. If it still doesn't come off, that's when I turn to the cutoff wheel. Just cut the nut off or the head of the bolt, then drive the bolt out. Bolts are cheap and you can buy them anywhere. Never let a stuck bolt or nut stand in my way. Just cut them off if necessary.

[Tony_Urwin]

First, outside the frame rail, you need to completely remove the retaining bolt and nut. Then you can use a drift or a long bolt to punch it out from inside the frame rail.

The service manual shows a special tool for removing this bolt, but really, it's as easy as pounding it out from inside the frame rail.