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Leaf spring bushings

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Old 06-01-2016, 08:03 PM
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Leaf spring bushings

As some know I just put new front leaf springs under my truck a few days ago. I just got under it and was looking at the bushings them self, I was looking in between the spring and the bracket and it appears that the bolt that goes through the bushing has ripped the bushing all the way down from the weight of the truck. Is this normal?
 
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Old 06-02-2016, 07:13 AM
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Normal? Yes, for a worn out bushing. Not for a new one. What did you replace?
 
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Old 06-02-2016, 11:30 AM
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These are new bushings. I put new leafs in the front and they had new bushings already in it.
 
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Old 06-02-2016, 11:38 AM
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Any photos?
 
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Old 06-02-2016, 06:06 PM
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Originally Posted by mcali2
Any photos?
Upon further inspection it appears they are distorted and the paint is flaking off them. Should they be distorted this much? Also should the bracket be tightened down until it closes in on the leaf spring? I tightened those bad boys down till I was afraid of stripping or breaking something.







 
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Old 06-02-2016, 07:50 PM
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wow that does not look right at all.
 
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Old 06-02-2016, 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by mcali2
wow that does not look right at all.
That what u was thinking. The weight of the truck has defiantly distorted the bushing pretty badly. I think I'm going to call sd springs in the morning. It kinda seems like it has ripped the metal sleeve loose that's in the bearing.
 
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Old 06-02-2016, 08:36 PM
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You raised the truck, replaced the leafs, torqued them down, then set the truck back on the ground?

You should have left those bolts loose, set the truck on the ground, and then torque them.

With sleeves are molded into the rubber. When you torqued the bolts you captivated the sleeves, not allowing them to rotate. Setting the truck onto the ground put the rubber around the sleeves in a bind, giving you the distortion you see. Bounce that down the road and the distortion turns into rips.
 
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Old 06-03-2016, 12:01 AM
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Is there a steel sleeve in there? or just a bolt in the rubber hole?
 
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Old 06-03-2016, 12:05 AM
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Originally Posted by LeoJr
You raised the truck, replaced the leafs, torqued them down, then set the truck back on the ground?

You should have left those bolts loose, set the truck on the ground, and then torque them.

With sleeves are molded into the rubber. When you torqued the bolts you captivated the sleeves, not allowing them to rotate. Setting the truck onto the ground put the rubber around the sleeves in a bind, giving you the distortion you see. Bounce that down the road and the distortion turns into rips.
I didn't know that . Will I'm using the squeaky non rubber kind. I will be starting that job tomorrow.
 
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Old 06-03-2016, 06:59 AM
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Originally Posted by LeoJr
You raised the truck, replaced the leafs, torqued them down, then set the truck back on the ground?

You should have left those bolts loose, set the truck on the ground, and then torque them.

With sleeves are molded into the rubber. When you torqued the bolts you captivated the sleeves, not allowing them to rotate. Setting the truck onto the ground put the rubber around the sleeves in a bind, giving you the distortion you see. Bounce that down the road and the distortion turns into rips.
that's exactly what I did. I'm replacing the shackles today i will loosen them up and re tighten them. Hope they aren't ruined. I had no idea they came with no instructions.
 
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Old 06-03-2016, 11:29 AM
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Well got my shackles swapped out. The old ones was shot. The bushings was pretty much gone. Also loosened up the leaves while the weight was off of them and re torqued everything after I put the tires back on the ground. The bushings didn't appear to be ripped or anything. Cab mount bushings are on the way. Not looking foward to changing those out at all.
 
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Old 06-03-2016, 11:41 PM
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did the new bushings help it any?
 
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Old 06-04-2016, 04:56 AM
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Originally Posted by 97-psd
did the new bushings help it any?
the new shackles help some but it still leans a little to the passenger side.
 
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Old 06-04-2016, 12:27 PM
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Any chance the the front chassis horn is twisted?
 


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