[TheForge] stubborn rivets

[terry l. ridder]

hello

I need some suggestions on removing rivets.
the leaf spring brackets on a Ford f150 are rusted out.
in attempting to replace them with new bolt on replacements
i have cut the head off of one side of the rivet.
several of the rivets just come out with a tap from a ball pein hammer.
i have several which do not want to come out.
these are 1/2 inch rivets. conflicting stories that these are cold
formed rivets & these are hot formed rivets.
The "button" which i cut off were roughly the size of a US quarter.

I would like to find a simple & elegant way to remove these pesky
rivets.

I have an oxy-propane torch, pneumatic air hammer, sawzall, etc.

my least desired solution is to fire up the torch and burn out the
center of the rivet.

my 2nd least desired solution is to use a welding tip on the torch and
heat the surround metal to allow the rivet body to fall out.

suggestions welcomed.

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>