Just thought I'd share... I'm happy to have my truck back on the ground! I pulled everything off below the frame rails, degreased, wire brushed, painted, and installed new polyeurathane bushings. The only problem I have now is the truck leans to the pass. side badly. I accidently switched the coils during reassembly, so I hope switching back will correct this.

 

any more pics of the new bushings you put in. i am also going to be doing this soon.

 

Did you have any trouble with the c-bushings on the axle? I was reading the instructions that came with mine, and they said to completely remove the axle, and attach the radius arms with c-bushings in such a way that they end up in the same plane. I didn't do this, but I'm wondering if I should expect any issues down the road.

I am doing one side at a time.... I was concerned about mixing up parts from opposite sides

 

Sorry, no C bushings here, 2wd. The only tip I can offer is to wear gloves when greasing the bushings and metal parts. That is some of the stickiest stuff I've ever seen! Notice the cottonwood fluff. Also, if you're DIY, get an extra deep socket for the radius arm to I-beam bolt. I had to wait a week while one was in the mail.
I, too, was concerned with mixing up parts, so I put everything in seperate L and R boxes as I took it apart. Somehow I still managed to switch the springs and didn't realize it 'til the right side was done.

 

No need to disconnect the entire axle.I replaced all of my bushings last summer and the instructions that came with the lift said to loosen but do not remove the radius arm nut and C-clamp on the opposite side you are replacing. It worked out great... the PITA was reinstalling the track bar and getting the frame centered over the axle. Quite a bit of ratcheting with a cargo strap finally allowed the bolt on the frame bracket to slide through.

 

Installing a trac bar does not have to be that difficult, and you dont have to get that creative with cargo straps or other devices.
In the future try starting the vehicle and have someone turn the wheels on direction or another to align the trac bar. The weight of the vehicle will move the chassis left or right over the axle and will align the bolt for you.

 

X2!! Yep, my 10 year old daughter is a great helper for this, if you explain exactly what to do,,, it works well!

 

Mine is 11 and she prefers to tell daddy what to do. I turn the wheels and she runs the bolt in.
We end up using two way radios to communicate because she does not have a big outside voice.

 

To each their own... Things are a bit different when wrenching by yourself... I usually don't have anyone helping me so I gotta be resourceful.

 

Now this is perhaps one of the best tips I have picked up in my years on FTE. Mine are 7 and 5, and once we get past whose turn it is, we seem to have troubles with the communication, the walkie talkies make sense!

 

Which Spring goes in which side? I just swapped 78 250 suspension underneath my 73 100. Then springs that came off were the same height and coil thickness. The 250 has one taller then the other and the shorter of the two has thicker coils. Which one goes under the driver to compensate the weight? I would think the taller would but then again thicker coils would not flex as much under weight...I am confused. Any help?