Radius Arm Bushing replacement

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Jan 6, 2011 | 11:08 PM

Poppabear

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Joined: Oct 2006

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From: Texas

Radius Arm Bushing replacement

Ok, gotta replace the Radius Arm bushings on my '78 F150 2WD. It looks pretty straight forward, The mounts on the frame are bolted on instead of riveted so I'm going to try removing everything from the back end without using a come-along to shift things around. My question is this: Do I have to elevate the front end and remove the wheel to do this, or can it be done sitting on the ground? And what size is that nut on the end of the radius arm that holds everything together? It's going to need to be done in a friends carport so I need to know the best way to approach this.

Jan 6, 2011 | 11:57 PM

cj06

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Joined: Feb 2010

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From: CASA GRANDE AZ

well that big nut if i remember is 1 1/8" and if you can unbolt the frame mounts then it should work and try first on the ground you can always jack it up

Jan 7, 2011 | 06:57 PM

harley dude

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Joined: Jul 2008

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radius arm bushing replacement

just finished mine..1 1/8 nut. just leave on the ground... may use a floor jack on the arm to raise if needed...may want to check the parts before you start...mine were wrong....right # wrong parts

Jan 10, 2011 | 12:16 AM

73 fourxfour

Tuned

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 269

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From: Paradise, CA

Nice paint job Pappabear!!! I replaced my bushings a couple years ago. It was a pain. I ended up grinding the rivots off the bracket and replacing with bolts. I couldn't push the arm far enough forward without using a jack to get the arm out of the bracket. There is a big debate on whether or not it's harmful to use a jack. Anyways, I chose the bracket removal route. Besides that, my local parts store had two different size bushings. I also had to really lube the bushings and whack them to get them on. I thought the whole job would be done in under an hour, but with multiple runs to the part store etc, it ate up half a day. Knowing what I know now I could do it in under an hour. Good Luck!

Jan 11, 2011 | 01:40 PM

Poppabear

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Joined: Oct 2006

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From: Texas

Thanks for the input guys. The repair took 3 1/2 hours from start to finish and the truck rolls smooth and quiet again. I did use a comealong but only to nudge things back into position after I had taken the brackets off. Again, a cheap repair. Parts were a total of $35, pizza afterwards to thank the buddy that let me use his carport $12. It proved to me AGAIN that I just can't afford a newer truck, this one is way too cheap to keep running! Plus working on it saves me thousands of dollars in therapy every year and has kept me out of divorce court. We have a fight, I work on the truck for an hour or so, come back in after everyone has cooled off....