So I bought MOOG pivot bushings to replace the originals ( as far as I know, but we will get to that). Last weekend i was able to get the driverside done in about 3 hours in the truck . But, I'm thinking I'm going to have to redo it, as it looks like it has worked its way out of the rear of the arm....
Now, the passenger bushing is a real problem. The bolt is seized in the sleeve that is also seized in the bushing. I had to us a breaker bar with the floor jack to get it to turn. I had actually picked the truck up by the bar and then smacked the back of the bar to jolt the socket on the bolt. Then it spun, in the outer sleeve... i was able to put the impact on it and spin the whole bushing in the outer sleeve. I am currently soaking the whole thing with PB blaster. I did reassemble everything after I spun the whole thing 180 degrees from where it has been since Lord knows when. It actually changed how the truck sits as the bushing was worn enough when it spun it moved a half inch. So if that does not work, should I just cut the bolt and are they special bolts?

Next question. Are the TTB mounts factory riveted to the frame like the spring pockets? I would think they are as my driver side one is.... but the passenger side mount is BOLTED to the frame. Is that normal? I know the previous owner and he says it had not been replaced by him. So he had it 5 years, and ive had it 15. So if it was replaced, it would have been before 2005, which is completely possible. But thought I would ask about that too.

 

They are riveted from the factory AFAIK.

 

Cut the bolt. It's a metric bolt best I recall but nothing too obscure, I used a hardware store replacement.

I seem to recall at least one paired bolt setup on that mount. I don't remember if it was all bolts on the passenger side mount (for the driver side beam). The mount on the driver side (for the passenger side beam) was fully riveted.

 

okay, good to know that there is a possibility that the bolt on bracket may be normal.

 

The brackets bolt to the frame crossmember
You can cut or grind both ends of the bolt flush and then spread the bracket to lower the axle
Then proceed to replacing the bushing
Yes, they are a real b itch to get in there all the way to where they will not come back out
Once you have it installed, or think you do, spread the axle flanges where the bushing sits and make sure

 

With the bushing sleeve popping out of the axle beam, I've had that happen too. What fixed it for me was to use a hammer & punch to flare the bushing shell outward once it's pressed into the beam. That way there's now a lip on both sides of the bushing shell. Just need to recall that when you go to remove.