Rusted / Frozen Shackle

[Investig8]

Good Afternoon All.... HELP!! I am replacing shackle and pivot bolts on the leaf springs of my M-38. Perhaps you saw the pivot bolts I removed.. Bad, bad, bad! When moving on to the shackles, two came off without much difficulty. I won the battle on the third, but the last one is winning so far. I have used WD-40, heat and an impact gun but the "nut" (with the grease zert) that screws onto the shackle bolt refuses to break loose. I would entertain any and all recommendations at this point... Thanks, photo attached.
Dennis

[CoastieReid]

In relation to position on this frame, where is this shackle? I wanna say there are reverse thread ones.

[RonD2]

Hi Dennis,
I agree with April.
The lower ends of the right rear and left front are left-hand threaded.
The others are "normal" right-hand threaded.

Considering your photo shows what looks like an upper is the problem, you might have something assembled wrong, or not in accordance with the manual.
Or maybe it is just stuck that bad.

Do you have a copy of the manual?
See the note in Paragraph 250 on page 294 of TM9-8012.

Consider using PB Blaster instead of WD-40. The "WD" in WD-40 is "Water Displacement" and it does a pretty good job of that. Not so much anything else.

Good luck!

[Investig8]

Thanks for the replies, and yes, I do have a manual and did read it before I started, which isn't my normal plan of attack, but never-the-less, having built an M-37, I now try to always do a little research before I start. LOL!!

This is the passenger side front shackle, so the reverse threaded ones are out of play, unless of course Bubba worked on it. I have found several other indicators that he has...

This is an upper, so it should be normal thread. I believe it is simply frozen up. I removed the grease zert and thought I'd try to get some brake fluid in there, put the zert back in and let is cook for a day or so... we will see.

[RonD2]

...yes, I do have a manual and did read it before I started.....

Hi Dennis,
Sorry about that!
If you say it up front I promise not to keep hitting you with the obvious "have you looked in the manual?" stuff.

I'm still surprised by the folks who own one of these jeeps without ever feeling the need to open a copy of the manuals.

I think I'd have to try the stuck one left handed one time just to be sure about Bubba.

Good luck!

[Xamon]

Just for curiosity sake, can you move the shackle itself ignoring the nut portion. If it moves turn it and see which way it moves in or out could help tell you if it is left or right thread.

[Investig8]

Hey Ron, no apologies for asking if I had a manual... you should see some of the work a guy obviously WITHOUT one has done...LOL

Now for the update. I was finally able to get the entire shackle to turn a bit inside the frame mount. Once that was accomplished, I took an angle grinder and cut off the shackle flush with the frame bracket and after some work, was able to drive it out the other side. Happy to report all shackles are installed and greased along with new pivot bolts... YEA!! Now off to the steering linkages.

Can't thank everyone enough for the help, it always helps to have a different opinion, and even better when it comes with such experience.
Thanks again,
Dennis

[RonD2]

Thanks Dennis.
Pretty sure I was no help with that one.
Glad to hear you solved it!

Good luck!