Help Please! Have the front leaf hanging

[1984 CJ7]

So, I replaced the front driverside shakles with Poly bushings and it went smooth and easy. The rear spring bushing is not so easy. The axle will not drop and I think it is because I need to disconnect the swing arm and shock?? Can just remove the side I am working on or do I have to disconnect both side??

See pics

The front shakle is on, just fyi. It might need to be removed?

 

[mtnwhlr]

When I did mine I put a sissor jack between the frame and spring and jacked the spring down that way I didn't have to unbolt the other stuff. It worked real well.

 

[1984 CJ7]

I have a bottle jack and tried that but the frame angle makes the jack slip.

 

[mtnwhlr]

I used the stock jack for the Jeep. And why do you have a jack under the axel? If you lower it down would it let it drop?

 

[1984 CJ7]

No the jack is not even touching the spring plate. It won't \drop unless I remove the shock and the sway bar linkage. Dang. I guess I will just try and get teh rear back in and do the fronts only and have a shop do the rears.

 

[mtnwhlr]

You don't have a sissor jack in one of your other cars?

 

[1984 CJ7]

yes, but it is too large. I just tried it. Man, this sucks. I might go buy a really small bottle jack and see if it will fit.

 

[mtnwhlr]

I would think you should have enough drop in your shock and swaybar that you shouldn't need to unhook them. you might try unbolting the other side also and see if with both sides unbolted it will drop.You only need like 3"

 

[Old Dog]

I'd disconect the sway bar and try. I had to pry mine out with a big crow bar, and knock it back in with a BFH. But I had everything disconnected as I was changing the springs.

 

[bondo258]

this works for front and rear, FYI.

Large jack-stands work well with a small jack. Trick is to jack the axle up, put stands to frame, remove the tires, and drop the axle down low.

You need close to zero pressure to have a chance of getting the bolt out.

Hanger ends are mounted lower, and tend to want to swing away once unbolted, more than the hanger end.

Chock wheels, Disconnect the shocks, and crack loose the lugs before starting. Watch your soft brake lines, too.

Depending on your setup, you may want to disconnect the driveshaft also.

It will go much easier if you drop left and right, the hangers don't have much slack for a off-center leaf and new bushing. don't tighten stuff till it's back on four wheels.

I spent a loooong day doing bushings and greasable bolts. It should have taken me three hours, tops. Oh well, live and learn.

I guess I will just try and get teh rear back in and do the fronts only and have a shop do the rears.

Take the money you would give the shop, and buy a large jack and jackstands. A low-end set is around 100$. You own a CJ. You will need them again. I had to cut my rear shackle hanger bolts out. Borrow or buy a sawzall.

 

[1984 CJ7]

For some reason the end without the shakle is not coming out of the mount. When I removed the spring bolt, the spring snapped up to the frame! THe wheel is off and the axle is nowered. Does both sides need to be on jack stands? I only have the side I am working on up on a stand. the other wheel are on the ground.

THanks!!!

Sorry, I just read your post! You are right, the rear pulled away from the mount! So now, it iwll not drop far enough to change the bushing and it is too far away form the mount to get it back together. WTF. So, you say jack up both sides and remove boith front tires right? I will try that. I just bought a 3 ton jack and 4 ton frame stands. stressed out... this si truning in to a full weekend deal. The shakles were easy.. Maybe I wil lossen those back up and see if I can get the dang thing to drop and go back to the rear mount.

 

[1984 CJ7]

Got it in! Removed the other side and lowered it down. Then pushed the axle back a little bit and it fit.

Thanks everyone! I heard that you are supposed to do the rear first and it is easier to reinstall the leaf. Note to self..

 

[mtnwhlr]

Happy to hear you got it

 

[1984 CJ7]

Thanks for the heklp! I might try the rears again later or just take and have them done. Not sure yet.