Suspension work 4/?
Got a good amount done within the 3 or so hours I had available over the weekend!
The exhasut was re-attached. If you recall from a previous post, we cracked an exahust hanger, but were able to mend it by bending it around a similar diameter object, and welding it back together. Feels good to rescue something that is (maybe) original instead of just buying new! I painted it with a high heat paint and reattached the muffler to the frame and tightened all the clamps we'd loosened. With the exahust back together, I was able to set her down on her own feet!
I celebrated the job with some gratuitous photo opps, then jacked up the front and went to work on the passenger side. In looking at all the stuff passing through the front frame rail (wires, brake lines, fuel? ) I decided the passenger side would be easier since we're doing things a little different up front. Some time back, I asked on the board how hard it would be to get hardware (bolts) into the frame to mount the brackets. With the boxed frame up there, it would be fairly difficult. It was recommended (Rus, I believe?) to leave some carcass of the rivet hanging through, and just weld to that and the frame (since we're welding anyway). I'm opting for this method for the front brackets.
I started removal at the shackle, and much to my surprise, EVERYTHING up front came off using a ratchet and not much else (I'm still nervous about this haha. Nothing should be this easy). Using pliers, the cotter pins on the spring eye bolt bracket was removed, as well as the ones at the shocks and those were removed (I saved the washers for now). The U-bolt nuts were a tiny bit banged up, probably where PO dragged it over a rock, so a hammer was used to pound a socket on. Everything then came off with a little bit of elbow grease and a breaker bar. The shackle up front looked no worse for wear, so I'm going to save that one for a spare.
I cut the brackets off, and realize now, I was being too delicate with getting them off the frame in the rear, or perhaps expeirence is kicking in lol. I cut the welds much more efficiently this time, and using a hammer and chisel, was able to bang them off very quickly using more force compared to how the rears went. Granted, the front is more accessible...Also, not having to remove the rivets is a tremendous time savings. The less time I have to spend with the die grinder and the burrs is extra lives in my book lol.
The axle bump stops were obliterated up front. The passenger side one is cracked through and missing entire chunks or rubber. The drivers side is literally just the metal plate remaining. I bought replacements for these, so pulled these off the frame and was extremely happy that everything turned 'freely'. However, there was quite a bit of rust underneath each, so I'll be sure to clean those up extra good and paint them. The design doesn't look great, tbh...there's s small indent in the metal backing plate that looks like it will allow water to pool and sit. Not that I'm planning water crossings any time soon, but I'm left wondering if there's a better solution than just allowing it to sit in there. In any case, I'll be sure to paint extra thick through there, and also apply a thick coat when everything is back together to form a barrier.
Next steps will be to remove the upper shock mount (which will require removing the fender), cleaning and prepping all of the surfaces for welding.
Something to note: When I had the jeep set down, I was tightening the rear lugs and heard a peircing metallic rubbing/scraping/screech-y kind of noise. Assume the studs are spinning? Likely something that'll have to be addressed soon.
Thanks for reading!
