Nice truck

 

Looks great Bob. Glad you were able to keep the tool box in the family. Does it already have a bed liner?

 

Yup, a bedliner was in there already

 

Ok, I've got a bunch of parts that have come in the last couple days, new front coil springs, new shocks, urethane suspension bushings, tie rod boots, a new fuel line, floor pans, and more. So a question for those of you who have done this stuff before: Given the list of parts above to be installed/replaced, any words of wisdom or advice for safe and effective removal and installation?

 

I'll just address the suspension parts. You follow the procedure to remove the front coil spring (this will include having you remove the shock), and once you've done that it's the perfect time to to replace bushings on the I-beam and strut rod, then when you put it all back together use the new coil spring and new shock, that way you don't duplicate any effort. I did mine last year (69 pickup upgrade with I-beams and disc brakes from a 77). The axle pivot bushings can be a bear to get out! I took some pics. Start here and scroll left:

 

I usually take a drill to the rubber bushing, then cut or cave the old sleeve in with a chisel and a BFH, use a good bit of lube on poly bushings, they love to squeak.

 

Thanks fellas.


@Cracker289 I did get new axle pivot bushings so I'll do those when I do the coils and shocks. Not sure what you mean about a strut rod... Couldn't see but the one picture, am I missing something?


@Fordtruckfan89 My neighbor mentioned something similar when it comes to replacing the bushings for the leaf springs in the back, and I do love using a BFH. What type of lube do you recommend for the poly bushings?

 

They should come with a thick white grease, if not search energy suspension lube and something like formula 5 should show up.

 

Thanks again. I was at the parts store, where else would I be, and I picked up some Valvoline Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Moly fortified multi purpose grease, more for future maintenance, but I'll have some to install these bushings with, don't see any thick white grease on them or in the package.


Was just talking to my neighbor and it sounds like this is going to be a fun job, and by that I mean challenging for me. Looks like we have to take just about everything apart to get the new coils and shocks in, like the radius arm for one, but I'm looking forward to learning and wrenching on it. Also putting in new axle pivot bushings, have no idea how I'm going to do that, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

 

The strut rod connects the axle to the frame near the cab, the bushings just slide off it easily. When those bushings wear out they contribute to the Ford "death wobble" because they allow the axle to move back & forth a little bit. In this picture, the strut rod is the shorter arm that is pointing towards the top of the pic.

 

I'd go online and get some, I would not use regular old grease. Depending on the type, it can mess up the poly bushings

 

Ok sorry. Potato / potAto thing, I was tracking that was the Radius arm, and I do have new poly bushings to put on there. Your pic also shows one of the I-beams, I have new poly bushings for those too!

 

Thanks! Just looked it up and I should be able to get some from my local Oreilly Auto Parts store.

 

Oh, well now that you mention it I don't know what the correct name is that Ford calls it. Strut rod is kind of a generic term. I looked up the bushing on autozone webpage and they call it "Control Arm Bushing". Whatever works!

 

If I knew anything about this car and truck stuff, I think I would have known what you were talking about the first time. All very new to me.