how hard is it to replace the radius arm and how would i do it?

 

Depending on the year of the truck... Pre-1979 or 1980 and newer?

 

Is it an '88 Bronco II ?

 

By the user name, you might be on to something! Things that make you say, "hmmm."

 

it is a post 80s (80-85) full size will it take very long

 

Yes it will. You have to take each side of the axle apart - meaning lockout, caliper, rotor/hub, spindle. Supporting the vehicle by the frame, you have to remove the 1 1/8" bolt on the bottom of the radius arm. The fun part is the nut holding the spring in, and the stud holding the arm to the top of the arm. take the top nut off, and remove the srping. If you don't have a torch, the stud can be really tough. I almost always end up cutting the stud and replacing it, about $17 each at Ford. Once I replace it I use a lot of anti-sieze so I don't have to worry about it again. Now disconnect the drive shaft from the front axle and axle shafts. Hey, this is a good time to do new axle shaft joints. Remove the 1 1/8" nut from the back of the radius arm. Remove the center pivot bolts from the axle. Drop the entire assembly to the ground. IF your truck has anti-sway bars, you'll have to disconnect those too. Now all that is left is to take the arm off the axle, it should fall off, and replace it.

Do you need to replace the whole arm or just the bushing? If you only need to do the bushing, then it is a little easier. Ok, a lot easier.

 

It will require the removal of the radius arm-to-frame bracket, (a few bolts and possibly rivets that will be a PITA). That monster locknut that goes through said bracket and the bushing. Also the front spring, shock(s), the spring cup on top of the axle, the stud that holds the cup and the bolt the holds the lower ear of the radius arm to the bottom of the axle. While its not absolutely necessary, its a good idea to get the at least the break caliper if not the entire hub and rotor assembly out of the way too. Its enough of a pain to reach into the spring to loosen the nut that holds the spring cup down. The radius arm is captive under the spring, spring cup and the nut that holds them down. If your Bronco has a front sway bar you will want to disconnect it from whichever side you are working on.

The process is time consuming and although I have not heard much mention of it here, when I put longer arms on my '92, the only way to remove the stud in the top of the axle and the bolt from the bottom was to heat them. Mine were heavily coated with a threadlock material that wouldn't budge unless heated. Ended up replacing one of the studs (rolled a thread trying to remove it without heat).

I'd say if you have ANY aspirations of a suspension lift in the future, deal with the arm as best you can for now. You will be pulling all that apart again if you go with extended radius arms on a suspension lift. Which is better than just adding drop brackets for the stock raduis arms anyway. My $0.02.

 

I've never heated them, but I did have to use a 3' cheater pipe on a 1 1/8" combination wrench, even after soaking them with Liquid Wrench for 3 days. Buy some Anti-Seize Lubricant before you start, and coat EVERY fastener with it before reassembly. It'll be MUCH easier if there's ever a "next time".