leaf spring bushings
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,387
Likes: 0
leaf spring bushings
I was looking at my leaf spring bushings and they need to be replaced, they are cracked bad and falling apart. I did a search and couldn't find anything on replacing the bushings, so I have some questions. Can you just unbolt one end of the leaf spring at a time and replace the bushing or do you have to remove the whole spring? Do the new bushings need to pressed in by a shop like the Hayens manual says, or can you push the new bushings in with a c-clamp? Do the bushings need to be greased in any way before they are installed?
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,387
Likes: 0
like i said:
not trying to be rude, but cracked and falling apart=bad bushings, need i say more???
Originally Posted by el conquistador
they are cracked bad and falling apart.
Last edited by el conquistador; Jun 19, 2004 at 12:31 AM.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
Well, I've never changed them on my Ranger, but I've replaced quite a few. I think you'd have a real hard time trying to change them without pulling the springs clear off the truck. Sometimes it's a bit of a fight to get the old bushings out. Also, I've never put stock bushings back in, I've always replaced them with aftermarket bushings. To get them out, I would drive a cold chisel into the end of the spring eye from each side (so, two chisels required) to spread it open enough to get the bushing out, and holding it open, drive the new one in. A large C-clamp is useful here, to press it back in. Any grease would be at the recommendation of the bushing manufacturer, but I shouldn't think it would generally be nessessary, the bushing doesn't rotate in the spring eye, it flexes, or twists internally (if ya know what I mean). All in all, it's not a real fun job, but not too bad. Hope this helps. -TD
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 114
Likes: 1
I have, and i tell you, kiss your old bushings bye-bye, with the pin, cause your NEVER in a MILLION YEARS get that sucker out with a C-clamp!!! LOL!! I tried that once on my 89, and i broke EVERY tool i tried with! i SNAPPED a 500$ bench vise trying to get that pin out... no WAY... a friend later on told me a 25 TON PRESS would STALL on such a move, no matter what the make. The bushing is really a rubber doughnut with at metal sleeve for your pint sit in.... after a few years it rust-welds and ta-ta you'll never remove it to use it again.
The only thing you can do is take the nut off with a socket, use a screwdriver to span the holders apart a bit, and cut both sides of the pin with a 6" (at least) cutting blade on a hand grinder. While your'e there though, its a REALLY good idea that you drop the whole spring, remove the clamps on the axel, and pull it right out. This way you can work on the part with ease, and not worry about runining your springs clamps during the process... they are not meant to twist while your pushing on an end. Doing one eye at a time is no good either, trust me. Those bushings will NOT come out unless you drill some of the rubber out with a decent bit. You can forget the chisel trick, cause that didn't work for me. Once its out, clean up the eyelet as best as you can, and the inserts just drop in by hand. Get the ones from NAPA. They are far superior because it has a metal casing around the rubber as well, so it goes in with your hand. The ones without the outer casing (stock style) may need to be pressed, which you MIGHT get away with a bech vise.... but I wouldn't bother if I were you my friend. 8 grade bolts (or better) are a must!! Its also not a bad idea to replace the clamps if they are questionable.... these are vital components to the rear axle of the truck so best spend the extra 5 bucks!! Also, from my experience and if you need your truck, get the parts first.. i had to order my bushings and it took 24-48 hours.... and i was in Detroit!! Even the Ford dealer didn't have the one bushing I needed.... dont forget that the two bushing are different sizes for the front and back. TigerDan is right, its not the best job in the world, but you can do it all in less than an hour if you have everything with you. Oh yeah, you don't need grease, unless you wanna redo your hubs/bearings while your there.... but this is one of the few greaseless parts on this truck.
have fun!
lala
The only thing you can do is take the nut off with a socket, use a screwdriver to span the holders apart a bit, and cut both sides of the pin with a 6" (at least) cutting blade on a hand grinder. While your'e there though, its a REALLY good idea that you drop the whole spring, remove the clamps on the axel, and pull it right out. This way you can work on the part with ease, and not worry about runining your springs clamps during the process... they are not meant to twist while your pushing on an end. Doing one eye at a time is no good either, trust me. Those bushings will NOT come out unless you drill some of the rubber out with a decent bit. You can forget the chisel trick, cause that didn't work for me. Once its out, clean up the eyelet as best as you can, and the inserts just drop in by hand. Get the ones from NAPA. They are far superior because it has a metal casing around the rubber as well, so it goes in with your hand. The ones without the outer casing (stock style) may need to be pressed, which you MIGHT get away with a bech vise.... but I wouldn't bother if I were you my friend. 8 grade bolts (or better) are a must!! Its also not a bad idea to replace the clamps if they are questionable.... these are vital components to the rear axle of the truck so best spend the extra 5 bucks!!
Also, from my experience and if you need your truck, get the parts first.. i had to order my bushings and it took 24-48 hours.... and i was in Detroit!! Even the Ford dealer didn't have the one bushing I needed.... dont forget that the two bushing are different sizes for the front and back. TigerDan is right, its not the best job in the world, but you can do it all in less than an hour if you have everything with you. Oh yeah, you don't need grease, unless you wanna redo your hubs/bearings while your there.... but this is one of the few greaseless parts on this truck.have fun!
lala
