I sold my 94 f150 in in '09 and it had 50k miles on the ES poly bushings. They were still perfect riding great.

This summer I bought a '95 f150 and I replaced them with the same ES poly bushings. I didn't drill the rivets like I did on my '94 but I had to pull the front suspension down to do a couple ball joints anyway. So, I've done it both ways now.

I've never replaced the axle pivot bushings, yet. But it's the last thing I have yet to replace on the front end of my '95, now. I just threw some new shocks on yesterday and everything is riding and driving real nice.

 

I did mine and it wasn't easy or hard, i have a lift so all my riveted stuff is gone and I just hoisted up my truck, took off the nut, bracket, replaced and resembled it.

 

I was actually going to ask a very similar question today on the forum...

In an attempt to replace the radius arm bushings in a 4wd, could you take out the axle pivot bushing bolts completely to make the job easier under the truck? I would like to remove as little as possible to replace the axle pivot bushing and the radius arm bushings. Would having both bolts removed as well as the shock, spring retainer, and brake caliper make the front suspension moveable enough?

 

If your front end is stock then it probably is easiest to do all that at once. Wile I was under mine yesterday, your 4x4 has that axel with the rod through it and if you just do the pivot bolt, mine didn't completely come out of the axel bracket but without a lift, it may be as simple as pulling that bolt, (if your on a hoist) pulling the arm down, pressing the old out and the new in. On the other hand, if it's like mine, I'll probably have to do both of the pivot bushings in order to get it to fall far enough and if that doesn't work, you could undo the entire bracket (6 bolts). Sorry I'm kinda confusing but I'm trying to explain both lifted replacement and stock replacement at the same time.

 

I have replaced all of the rubber bushing on mine with the ES poly bushings. The front axle pivot bushings and the front sway bar bushings made the biggest difference. I kinda did the replacement in steps so that I could tell the difference as I replaced things. I have a 2.5" lift with the extended radius arms.

 

He seems to have posted 6/19/2015 s perhaps there is hope.

 

Nope. You'll HATE trying to do it under the truck, trust me. The factory bushings are pressed in as well as flared on the end. To get them out you have to cut the flare off and then press them out. You can smash one of them out (can't remember which side) but you ain't gonna have enough room to swing a hammer to get the other side out. I tried for a bit then said screw it and pulled the axles out from under the truck. MUCH easier on the ground where you can use a ball joint press to remove/install them.

 

How can you tell if the radius arm bracket's needs replacing, is there any documented measurements for the bracket hole diameter. Or what do you look during a visual inspection..... any help greatly appreciated

 

if its riveted, replace it. replacing it while doing the job makes it mUCH easier to do right and quickly without disassembling more stuff, and the bracket replacements bolt on. Ford has a TSB for frame creaking from the driver side bracket, so if yours is riveted, just do it.

 

Ok thanks...

 

Do you have concerns over yours? Show us yours if you are wondering, whats making you ask?

 

Just wondering because I just replaced 2 years ago and I just noticed that I need to replace again while replacing front upper and lower ball joints at first I thought I just needed to tighten up the bolts but on the passenger side arm the bolt and washer has bottomed out and it's still loose basically bushings are shot already

 

Aftermarket ones are junk, and you should remove the rivets and brackets and then also properly get a urethened aftermarket or get ford OEM kits and then follow the install properly.i accidently have 2 washers on my driver side radius arm (only one i did) because i thought the one washer was part of the radius arm, but it just seized well onto it

 

Can someone tell me what is the best grease for these bushings? Any help greatly appreciated...

 

to keep them quiet? You may have to partially disassemble to get it in