Radius arm bushings
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: charlotte, nc
Radius arm bushings
About the only thing I have never replaced in my front suspension and pretty sure they are the originals. Truck has power steering, new wider brand name wheels (Cragar) and tires (BFG). I have some of that over assisted feeling at speed and it darts at times when hitting large bumps just right.
Everything else (rag joint, suspension components, power steering pump) is all new or rebuilt. The darting is worse with the new wider wheels & tires. Shocks are older, but the bounce tests checks out good. So thinking it is the radius arm bushings.
What is the level of difficulty to replace these for the do it yourselfer?
Everything else (rag joint, suspension components, power steering pump) is all new or rebuilt. The darting is worse with the new wider wheels & tires. Shocks are older, but the bounce tests checks out good. So thinking it is the radius arm bushings.
What is the level of difficulty to replace these for the do it yourselfer?
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,206
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From: Oakhust NJ Jersey Shore
There not that bad to do, but you can look and see if there good or not. If there all rotted out or mushroomed they need to be replaced plus you would hear the clunking everytime you hit a bump, Im thinking axle pivot bushings, usually when you get that floating feeling you either have to much caster, that is what makes the steering wheel return after you make a turn. If it's off you get that over steer feeling or those bushings go bad and tilt the axle which effects caster.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
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hardest part would be to get the radius arm nut and driving out the through bolt on the i-beams. getting the spring out is not hard nor is reinstalling everything, I cant remember if the beam can be pulled far enough foreword to get bushing out. a impact would be your friend here but may want to check out king pins
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2014
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The radius arm bushings are not bad. No special tools really. Getting them "squished" enough to get the big washer on was my biggest challenge. I purchased a minimal sized washer and a correct-sized nut and used that to squeeze them down and then installed the big "washer" and the nut that is supposed to be there.
Pivot arm - mine went to a repair shop for removal and installation of the bushings. Cost $25 per arm.
Pivot arm - mine went to a repair shop for removal and installation of the bushings. Cost $25 per arm.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: charlotte, nc
Well, just checked all 4 shocks. Rears are still firm, fromnts one is bad and the other is iffy. Time to replace those and see if that helps. When I replaced everything in the front 8 years or so ago, front seemed fine. Visually they still look good so I guess they just wore out. any brand recomendations for shocks?
I didn't replace those radius bushings when I was doing the front end as they looked good. I bought those parts and returned them. But I have not noticed any clunking.
I didn't replace those radius bushings when I was doing the front end as they looked good. I bought those parts and returned them. But I have not noticed any clunking.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Memphis
I just put Monroe Gas Magnums on mine this week, and I am very happy with them. 34900 on the front and 34911 on the back. Is yours a 250? Those shocks would be a little stiff for a 100.
A couple of other guys on here have done shocks recently. Some Monroes, some KYB, and maybe some Ranchos - all seem happy with their choices. Good thing is you have choices, at least with the 250, as lots of other Ford trucks/vans used the same specs for the next 20+ years.
A couple of other guys on here have done shocks recently. Some Monroes, some KYB, and maybe some Ranchos - all seem happy with their choices. Good thing is you have choices, at least with the 250, as lots of other Ford trucks/vans used the same specs for the next 20+ years.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: charlotte, nc
I have a F100 Shortbed.
No swaybars front or back. Rear springs have the Ford heavy load shackle. Forget what Ford calls it.
Driving through my neighborhood, below 45 MPH it rides fine but does have some body lean, just figured it was due to no swaybars. I will go with a name brand, decent quality shock and see how it does before tackling the radius bushings. At some point I'd like to do a crown vic swap, but that is probably 1-2+ years down the road.
No swaybars front or back. Rear springs have the Ford heavy load shackle. Forget what Ford calls it.
Driving through my neighborhood, below 45 MPH it rides fine but does have some body lean, just figured it was due to no swaybars. I will go with a name brand, decent quality shock and see how it does before tackling the radius bushings. At some point I'd like to do a crown vic swap, but that is probably 1-2+ years down the road.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
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From: On the Edge of the Desert
I have a F100 Shortbed. No swaybars front or back. Rear springs have the Ford heavy load shackle. Forget what Ford calls it. Driving through my neighborhood, below 45 MPH it rides fine but does have some body lean, just figured it was due to no swaybars. I will go with a name brand, decent quality shock and see how it does before tackling the radius bushings. At some point I'd like to do a crown vic swap, but that is probably 1-2+ years down the road.
Bad radius arm bushings will give a wandering/ bump steer reaction, particularly at higher speed.
Many of us have recently done shocks. In fact there is a current thread on the topic. Monroe gas magnum shocks are probably the most popular.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
The steel/rubber I-beam bushings (3B177) can be a real b!tch to remove, especially if one doesn't have a air chisel.
The FoMoCo procedure was to remove the beams, then use a press to get them out. Usually the holes in the I-beams have to be reamed.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: charlotte, nc
Installed some Gabriel shock, the regular duty, not "work truck" heavy duty. Made a big difference. Less sway around curves, less floaty feel. Need to find a big bump in the road and see if it still darts.
Also picked up some radius/control arm bushings, but have not yet installed them. As has been said, looks like that wil take some effort. I will save that for a rainy day.
Also picked up some radius/control arm bushings, but have not yet installed them. As has been said, looks like that wil take some effort. I will save that for a rainy day.
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