The thread don't catch the bushing, the nut without a washer does, When installing the new one you use 2 washers which isn't in pic. Yes the bushing in the bracket is smaller than the one in the spring eye. You see in the pic that the nut is a 3/4 hex. That is what would catch and pull out the bushing and pull it into the socket. Now that I look at that pic I remember I took that perch out cuz the rivets were loose and I replaced them with bolts. It's been a while since I did those, though I did the rear spring bushings last year when I had box off truck and noticed one of the rear ones was loose and could be pushed sideways. Anyway, those front ones I was surprised to see were like new and I really didn't need to change them. Also when I replaced the smaller perch bushings in the rear I ruined one while trying to drive in with a socket and hammer- that was a stupid move..... but I bought the driver and another smaller bushing from MidFifty and used driver in frame. This makes me 2nd think what I said before. I may have not changed the bushings in the frame(front) and rear(perch) of the front springs because I think they looked like new. So maybe what I have been telling you is wrong, I guess now I am not sure if the 1/2" (3/4 hex) nut is the right size to pull out the old bushing from the perch. I hope I didn't mess you up, Well it sounds like the hacksaw works. Let us know how it comes out! And you are not "thick" ....