'41 Cadillac, Leaf spring, front bolt removal.

[Peter Cornwell]

I am in the process of replacing the rubber bushings in the leaf spring eyes on my '41 Cadillac. Everything going well other than removing the front eye bolts. Other than brute force to drift them out (I have new ones from Eaton Detroit Springs), has anyone any tips?
Kind Regards
Peter
England

[Bob Schuman]

Squirt some penetrating oil around the head of the bolt (it is on the inboard side), loosen the nut on the outboard side a few turns, remove strain on the bolt by jacking the car and jacking under the axle.
Use a large hammer and drift to hit the nut end of the bolt. After it moves you can remove the nut and drive the bolt completely out. The bolt head is serrated and mates with female serrations in the bracket on the frame.
A word of caution! If your new bushings are from Steele Rubber they are okay, but if from Eaton Spring the large end of each bushing may be rounded, making installation much more difficult. That was my experience several years ago.

[Peter Cornwell]

Thanks for the reply Bob, it's just as I imagined it was, mine is just being difficult!
I had got the parts from Eaton Spring, interestingly the rubbers which come on the eye bolts are flat ended, yet the ones bought from the same source, at the same time for the spring hanger end are rounded. There a pretty loose fit in the spring eye though, expected to have to ease them in with some lube.
Kind Regards
Peter
England