I spent $2.79 on replacement hardware at Lowe's.

The support arms were so worn our attic stairs refused to descend.

The pivot assembly was attached to the wooden frame with two rivets.

The worn pivot point allowed the load springs to warp arms out of shape.

The metal bars could no longer scissors past each other.

I unbolted the support arms from the wooden ladder.

I strapped the folded ladder out of the way during the repair.

I used an air chisel to remove the rivet heads.

With the rivet heads removed, the pivot hardware came right off.

The next step was to remove the support arm from the worn out axle.

That would required a little grinding.

In a few minutes the arm was free from the axle.

A few hammer taps and the axle was free from the mounting bracket.

I decided to replace the axle with a 3/8 bolt.

I replaced the rivets with two 3-inch lag screws.

The mounting bracket had to be drilled out to accept the 3/8 bolt.