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So I am in the process of rebuilding the suspension on my 81 4x4. When I went to install the drivers side beam I noticed that the the new poly busing was trying to squeeze out at the bottom. After looking at it it looks like this has been spread out from being driven with worn out bushings and radius arm bushings. Am I correct in thinking this or do they all do this? Just wanting a second opinion before I order a new pivot bracket.
Geppi, that is with the weight of the truck sitting on the suspension, I jacked it up on that side until it came up off of the jack stand slightly. Also installed new radius arm bushings.
Geppi, no I have not installed the other side yet, I was trying to keep it out of the way until I get this issue figured out.
matthewq4b, what would cause the beam to bend like that? I was suspecting that the pivot mount was spread out on the ears where the bolt goes through, the bushing sits flush on the back side of the mount but not the front.
Geppi, no I have not installed the other side yet, I was trying to keep it out of the way until I get this issue figured out.
matthewq4b, what would cause the beam to bend like that? I was suspecting that the pivot mount was spread out on the ears where the bolt goes through, the bushing sits flush on the back side of the mount but not the front.
You have a 4x4 where is the differential located ? On that beam, and what does the dif do? Turns the axles that drive the truck. The torque from the dif driving the axels can twist the beam, It is not uncommon in trucks that have driven hard in 4x4 over a long period of time to have that beam twisted out of shape or to have fractures and broken welds. It would be well worth your time to drop both beams and clean them up to check t see if any of the welds have failed.
The TTB setups were only ever intended for part-time use and light-duty use at that. So it is not uncommon to see them twisted all out of shape and fractured in trucks that been driven hard in 4x4.
