Leaf spring bushings
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 777
Likes: 6
From: Florida
Leaf spring bushings
Well my truck is a 97' and by the looks of it my leaf spring bushings are original. I spray some WD-40 on them from time to time which took away the squeaks and so on. I'm looking for the nitty gritty on what I should replace them with and what it might cost. Should I go with rubber or upgrade to poly? If I upgrade to poly is there any benefit and how much would they cost? What would a shop charge for such an install? My Pop says stick with the rubber ones but as most of us here I'm addicted to upgrades. 
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
The other day I picked up some OEM rubber ones for the front springs of my '97 250. I told the guy at Autozone I wanted all the bushings for the front, all I got was the two for the front of the front springs and the two for the shackles and they were $76. I usually deal with an independent parts place, not Autozone or Advance. I couldn't get the poor guy to understand how many bushings for what.
I looked these up after....
Ford F250 Spring / Shackle Bushings
I looked these up after....
Ford F250 Spring / Shackle Bushings
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
Front kit for eyes and shackles - $62.96
Rear kit for eyes and shackles - $56.66
I don't know what shipping would be. These aren't hard to install cause they're two piece bushings. Just slide one half in from one side and one half in from the other side, not like pressing (or beating) the OEM kind in. It will be harder to get the old ones out than to put these in.
Rear kit for eyes and shackles - $56.66
I don't know what shipping would be. These aren't hard to install cause they're two piece bushings. Just slide one half in from one side and one half in from the other side, not like pressing (or beating) the OEM kind in. It will be harder to get the old ones out than to put these in.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,420
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
i did oem for the shackle bushings it aint hard to do best tool is press out the rubber with t balljoint tool then collapse the steel sleeves with a air hammer and pop it out i pressed the new ones with a vise and as for the leaf springs i used energy suspension poly bushings
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Florida
What would a shop charge for an install? could I torch the old ones out, making nasty fumes of course
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Thanks for the heads up
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 11,132
Likes: 3
From: Southern West Virginia
Find an old socket or a short piece of pipe the same size as the outer sleeves and go to work with a hammer or press! Sometimes they come out pretty good, sometimes they take a little more effort, but it's not too bad of a job. Like Ronnie said, torching is messy and if you get that burnt rubber on you......OOOOOH baby that hurts!!!
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 20
From: Denton, TX
Don't forget about the bushings in the front shackle too. I went with Energy Suspension but suspect Prothane to be comparable. The front shackle bushings arrived about 2 weeks after all of the others did.
When removing rubber bushings, apply heat to the outside surface of the item the bushing is pressed into. The 'military wrap' on the springs can make this a challenge. I used this method successfully working on my 8.8 rearend of older Mustangs. As the metal gets hot enough the rubber can be heard popping away. The rubber seems to shrink as it gets old.
When removing rubber bushings, apply heat to the outside surface of the item the bushing is pressed into. The 'military wrap' on the springs can make this a challenge. I used this method successfully working on my 8.8 rearend of older Mustangs. As the metal gets hot enough the rubber can be heard popping away. The rubber seems to shrink as it gets old.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 860
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From: Grantsburg,WI
are you going to take the springs off the truck to do this? because you may not be able to get some, or all of the bolts out with out torching them off. Same with the U-bolts. This can add to your costs. My back bushings I torched out. Pounded one side in with a impact socket and 2lb hammer. i almost destroyed the new bushing. The next side i took the bench grinder and ground off a small amount off the outside diameter. Then I oiled it up and pounded it in. It was still pretty snug. Did it while it was on the truck. Pain in the but trying to keep something up there to pound against.