Q on leaf spring bolts during lift kit install

[cwhit910]

I just spent most of the day yesterday putting on a 3" lift kit from Rusty's Offroad in Alabama. Nice kit, though they don't send you any replacement hardware for your stock U-bolts, shackle bolts, etc. If you have an older Cherokee (mine is a 1991 with 160K) you'll need tons of break-free and a lot of elbow grease. We spent 3 hours trying to remove the leaf springs and eventually had to cut off the bolts at the front to get the springs off. Of course, in a world where NAPA stays open past 12 noon you can replace them no problem-- not in VA apparently where people don't work on their cars on Saturdays. If you take a look at this bolt you'll realize that these two will prevent you from driving your Jeep anywhere if missing.

Does anyone know the size, grade, and thread of the forward bolt? Every auto parts store around here can sell me the bushings, but no-one has any idea about the bolt. My local Jeep parts authority is closed until Monday and will likely need to special order it, but I have a fastener store right down the road that can get or make anything. HELP!

If you know the good stuff about the back one as well that'd help.

PS- check your front sway bar links-- mine was so bent it broke off in my hand. C

[Saudade]

Don't you still have the bolt "fragments"? You can look at the markings on the head to get grade info. Measure the diameter from the old bolt. Then use a ruler to estimate a decent length. Just get a nut/washer to match.

[cwhit910]

I do have the fragments, in three undistinguishable pieces. I believe the grade is "8" or "A", but the length is unknown. The front mounting bolt for the leaf springs has a nut on the inside of the frame which is tac-welded in place. Without knowing how far inside the threads go the overall length is a mystery. If I could have gotten to it the replacement would have been easy.

PS- just finished with the 3" front lift. It went great. C

[cwhit910]

Got the lift finished, looks great. Found the bolts. My local Jeep dealer was able to get them for me in two days. The front and rear shackle bolts are the same, the front just screws into the tac-welded bolt while the rear has an external bolt.

Just a fore-warning to all shade tree mechanics looking to do their own lift. The rear leaf spring removal is a bear unless you drench every visible bolt with a serious penetrating oil. The job is deceptively hard and can really sneak up on you. All in all my 5-6 hour install turned into a 14 hour job.

[Saudade]

Yep, never seems to go as smoothly as we think at first. I always make at least 2 trips to Pep Boys every time I work on mine.

Thanks for the update and glad it all worked out.