radius arm bushings
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,358
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From: Nebraska
radius arm bushings
I'm getting ready to do my radius arm bushings this weekend. I have pretty much everything I need, but NAPA doesn't have the spacers. Do these wear out too and need replaced or can I reuse my old ones? I will check a couple other places tomorrow and see if they have them.
My second question is, any tips on getting the rivets out on the brackets? I don't have a grinder that will fit in to grind them off. Thanks.
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1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 155" 4x4 M5OD 302
1986 F-150 4x4 NP435 300
My second question is, any tips on getting the rivets out on the brackets? I don't have a grinder that will fit in to grind them off. Thanks.
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1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 155" 4x4 M5OD 302
1986 F-150 4x4 NP435 300
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 632
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From: State College, Tunkhannoc
radius arm bushings
use torches to get the brackets off, just blow them rivets right out. be very very careful not to burn anything or catch anything on fire on the backside of the frame. the fuel line runs right where you are gonna be working so watch for it. i had a pail of water handy to soak any hot metal down and i used most of it. as far as the spacers go, i couldnt even put mine back on, there wasnt enough room to get the nut started. i tryed sucking it down all the way to make space and everyhting it wasnt even close. so i left my spacer out. so far no problems at all, you'll want to get someone else's opinion on that though. hope this helps.
chris
chris
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
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From: Topsfield, MA
radius arm bushings
You can also drill it out. My air chisel worked nicely.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
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Justin - One Happy FTE Member
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Justin - One Happy FTE Member
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 267
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From: Everett, WA
radius arm bushings
>I'm getting ready to do my radius arm bushings this weekend.
>I have pretty much everything I need, but NAPA doesn't have
>the spacers. Do these wear out too and need replaced or can
>I reuse my old ones? I will check a couple other places
>tomorrow and see if they have them.
>My second question is, any tips on getting the rivets out on
>the brackets? I don't have a grinder that will fit in to
>grind them off. Thanks.
They can wear out or get old and crack. You can pick them up at the dealer for about $5.00 each if I remember right. As long as you've got it apart, have you considered using the polyurethane bushings?
If there's not enough room to get the nut started, you can take a little bit of the material off the bushing on the backside - where the washer and the nut are.
Hope this helps...
msautry
>I have pretty much everything I need, but NAPA doesn't have
>the spacers. Do these wear out too and need replaced or can
>I reuse my old ones? I will check a couple other places
>tomorrow and see if they have them.
>My second question is, any tips on getting the rivets out on
>the brackets? I don't have a grinder that will fit in to
>grind them off. Thanks.
They can wear out or get old and crack. You can pick them up at the dealer for about $5.00 each if I remember right. As long as you've got it apart, have you considered using the polyurethane bushings?
If there's not enough room to get the nut started, you can take a little bit of the material off the bushing on the backside - where the washer and the nut are.
Hope this helps...
msautry
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Nebraska
radius arm bushings
I think I'll probably end up drilling the rivets out.
>They can wear out or get old and crack. You can pick them up
>at the dealer for about $5.00 each if I remember right. As
>long as you've got it apart, have you considered using the
>polyurethane bushings?
Thanks, I'll try the dealer then. I've got a set of the polyurethane bushings from Energy Suspension. My old truck has these too and so far no problems.
--------------
1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 155" 4x4 M5OD 302
1986 F-150 4x4 NP435 300
>They can wear out or get old and crack. You can pick them up
>at the dealer for about $5.00 each if I remember right. As
>long as you've got it apart, have you considered using the
>polyurethane bushings?
Thanks, I'll try the dealer then. I've got a set of the polyurethane bushings from Energy Suspension. My old truck has these too and so far no problems.
--------------
1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 155" 4x4 M5OD 302
1986 F-150 4x4 NP435 300
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
radius arm bushings
I just pull the sway bar & shocks & let the axle droop enough to pull the back of the radius arms out of the brackets. I never took my brackets off my frame, or the other truck I did it to.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 541
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From: Victoria, Texas
radius arm bushings
Steve, that sounds like a great idea! I don't know why I didnt think of doing it that way. I need to replace mine and didn't really want to torch or drill out rivets, but now you've got me motivated to do it.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 766
Likes: 0
From: Lakeville USA
radius arm bushings
i had the same problem with not having enough thread to get the nut started. I just left a bushing off the back side, tightened it up a bit, put a clamp on it, took off the nut and put the bushing on and it worked. I would recommend putting everything back the way it was. And those polyurethane bushings are great.
Thread Starter
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From: Nebraska
radius arm bushings
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-Nov-02 AT 07:58 PM (EST)]Well I got 'er done today. The passenger side went pretty quickly as I knew what I was doing and there were no rivets. (Never again will I drill those out 
) Anyway, it looked like when the PO did the passenger side they got bolts from Ford specifically made for this. The bottom ones looked like this and it was MUCH easier to just take the nuts off than try to get a rachet up behind the cat. So if you are planning to ever take the brackets off, look into these as it makes it a whole lot easier putting it back together.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=10691&.jpg
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1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 155" 4x4 M5OD 302
1986 F-150 4x4 NP435 300
) Anyway, it looked like when the PO did the passenger side they got bolts from Ford specifically made for this. The bottom ones looked like this and it was MUCH easier to just take the nuts off than try to get a rachet up behind the cat. So if you are planning to ever take the brackets off, look into these as it makes it a whole lot easier putting it back together.https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=10691&.jpg
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1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 155" 4x4 M5OD 302
1986 F-150 4x4 NP435 300