For anyone who has installed rear leaf spring hangers themself. HOW did you get the rivets out! I did just like the instructions say and used a grinder to cut the heads cut off. Poped the stock hangers off from there. I then beat and beat on the rivets and nothing even budged. I put heat to them and beat on them; nothing. Ended up drilling 3 of the 4 out before I was just wore out and came inside. They are HARD to drill; is this how everybody has done it???

 

HOW TO REMOVE A RIVET: use a punch and punch out the center of the rivet. then get a drill and drill out the shell (real easy) i had trouble removing rivets till someone showed me

 

Was this on the leaf spring hanger rivets? Is there suppose to be a center and shell to them?

I've done a bunch of regular pop rivets just as you said, but this is different.

 

Not the same kind of rivet!...you need a air in pack gun or a strong arm with a punch,
Mike

 

I can't get a good swing with a hammer since I don't have any help to remove the bed, and don't want to remove it really. I laid into it with an air chisel for a while and tired each of them. It just laughed at me and my ear is still ringing from that one.

Guess I will be back to drilling

 

sorry about that, didnt realize not the same rivet...

 

WOW, mine came out with the air chisel..well good luck.
Mike

 

I got to look at one after I drilled it a little off center and knocked it out and they look like they are "bent" and shifted. Maybe hopefully possibly the other side will be easier!

Maybe it is the results of 500+ launches at the track!

 

I just did this 2 weeks ago, its a ***** first of all. Drill the middle with a big drill bit, or even start with a smaller one first to make the big one drill faster if you want. Once you do that the head will come off real easy with an air chisel. Now use a different chisel bit, like a pointed bit and air chisel the rivet out, it will take awhile but give it hell and it will come out. The air chisel is key. If you wear the edge off the chisel bit, rear grind an edge back on it or it will take forever. Watch grinding near that gas tank also. Good luck let me know if you have anymore questions.

 

use an air chisel with the tapered chisel. Like the one at the bottom after you grind off the heads of the rivets.

 

I used a pry bar to spread the hangers a little. that provided just enough give to allow the air chissel point end to drive them out.

 

i ran into the same thing with factory steel rivets on ball joints on a GMC Envoy. I tried it all, air hammer like suggested above, 3lb hammer and punch, air chisel, penetrating catalyst. only thing that worked was center punch the rivet after chiseling head off, then drill with bit just smaller than rivet, then punch out with 3lb hammer.

 

I usually cut a slot or two in the top of the rivet, then use an air chisel to knock the head off, then center punch the rivet and drill about an 1/8 of an inch, then use the air chisel with a pointed bit and they pop right out.

As a matter of fact I just did this yesterday to replace the Radius Arm Bushings on my Gen 1 Lightning

The two important parts:

Cutting a few slots on the top of the rivet helps to "peel" it off with the air chisel.

Drilling a small amount after the head is off helps to relieve the pressure on the sides of the rivet so that it will pop out easier.

 

Cut slot or an X in the rivet head then chissle off. Then use the pointed chisel to punch through. Yelling and cursing always helps too.

 

Where in Florida are you Casey? Are you close to Orlando? I can come help you pull the bed if you want to. LMK.

Tom