I'm getting ready to replace my radius arm bushings. I have a 78 e-150 (2wd, twin I beam).

I got a new set of polyurethane bushings.

My plan was to remove the radius arm brackets (they are bolted to the frame). But I don't have a socket big enough for the nut on the end of the radius arm.

What size is this nut? It's bigger than 1".

Is there any reason not to replace these bushings by removing the bracket from the frame?

Thanks.

 

thats the way i change mine,in fact i couldnt get them apart without taking the bracket off.... there shouldnt be any pressure on it, cause i didnt even have to jack the truck up to do it, but you better until you know whats going on with it....as for the nut size, i used a large crecent wrench on it....

 

Wow, I would expect you'd have to use an impact wrench to get it off. I do have a big wrench, I guess I could give it a try, but I doubt it will budge. It doesn't look like it's ever been taken off. It's got a 30 year head start!

 

If you go to Harbor Freight they sell a set of super big wrench's for next to nothin plus you'll havem for the future.

 

I just tried loosening one of the bracket nuts .. which are 13/16 .. and it wouldn't budge, even with the impact wrench .. I guess I need a torch?

 

Also, thanks for the Harbor Freight tip, they have an impact socket set that I can use, it's only $17!

 

Do not use a torch to cut off frame fasteners. To remove stubborn fasteners try the candle trick listed in the FAQ thread in the Garage and Workshop forum. The big wrenches available from Harbor Freight work great for those big fasteners.

 

I didn't intend to cut them off, just to heat up the nuts enough to get them loose.

If I loosen them without heat can I reuse them?

I'm starting to look forward to visiting Harbor Freight, it's always nice to expand the tool set.

Thanks.

 

You already have one thing in your favor. Some trucks had brackets riveted to the frame. I loosened the big nuts with a 14" pipe wrench with 3' of pipe on the handle. It still took some real effort. I would have never gotten them off if I had dropped the brackets first. The bracket bolts were just about as bad. They weren't rusted but Ford put undersized nuts on them and they had to be unthreaded with a half inch ratchet and a breaker bar, all the way to the end of the bolts. There was no finger turning. I guess that they had to be tight if they were taking the place of rivets. I used PB Blaster but it really didn't penetrate. I sprayed mine and put them back on. It would take an earth quake to loosen them.
Yours may not be as bad, but be prepared. My '79-F-250 is Arizona clean, underneath. Parts man told me that urethane bushings sometimes squeak but mine don't.

 

The candle trick allowed me to remove mine with just a wrench with no cheater. They turned right off with the wrench easily. Try it... I reused the nuts.

 

Thanks very much guys for the info. I'm going to use the candle trick followed by the impact wrench. Hopefully that will get them off. If not, I have a big pipe waiting.

 

You shouldn't reuse self locking nuts, they wont hold as good the second time around.

 

Do I have to get new ones from the dealer?

 

na. take bolt and nut to napa ect... they should be able to hook you up

 

OK mixed news. I got the socket set from Harbor Freight. My impact wrench took the Big Nut (it was 1-1/8" BTW) right off. But those frame bracket nuts are frozen solid. Going to get a propane torch and some candles right now.