Radias arm bushing replacement
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Boston
Radias arm bushing replacement
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-Feb-02 AT 11:46 PM (EST)]I have a bad shake at 50 MPH and see that my front radias arm bushings are in bad shape. Where else can I get these other than the dealership, and what is involved in the replacement of these.
I would imagine that the rear nut comes off and the bracket unbolts fron the frame and you remove it , replace, and bolt back up. Am I missing anything here?
Thanks as always. Also, there are many companys that cater to replacement parts, and upgrades for Jeeps, are there also ones like this for our years Fords?
Chu
Highly modified Jeep
1977 Ford F-350 Dually
I would imagine that the rear nut comes off and the bracket unbolts fron the frame and you remove it , replace, and bolt back up. Am I missing anything here?
Thanks as always. Also, there are many companys that cater to replacement parts, and upgrades for Jeeps, are there also ones like this for our years Fords?
Chu
Highly modified Jeep
1977 Ford F-350 Dually
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2000
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Radias arm bushing replacement
you can get them at any autoparts store...
pep boys or wherever...you dont need to take the radius arms off if its 2 wd. when you take the nut off..(can be a battle) if you have access to a hoist it makes it much easier...and a helper is good..i used a come-a-long cable winch to pull the I beam ahead enough to get the bolt out of the hole....then change bushing and washer then you'll need a buddy now to get it back into place...(we used a couple of bars and it went together fine).
thats what i did.....hope you have an easy time.
pep boys or wherever...you dont need to take the radius arms off if its 2 wd. when you take the nut off..(can be a battle) if you have access to a hoist it makes it much easier...and a helper is good..i used a come-a-long cable winch to pull the I beam ahead enough to get the bolt out of the hole....then change bushing and washer then you'll need a buddy now to get it back into place...(we used a couple of bars and it went together fine).
thats what i did.....hope you have an easy time.
Posting Guru
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Radias arm bushing replacement
If the brackets have bolts its quite easy, except you'll need to buy an oversized socket to fit the bolt in order to tighten to the correct torque. If the come a long idea doesn't work for you, jack the truck up an support it by the frame, so you can safely kick the tire forward.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 589
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From: Crossroads of America-Ind
Radias arm bushing replacement
Make sure they give you the right ones. I just got some for a 79 F-150 4x4, and the one Autozone showed was wrong. I finally had to call McQuay-Norris (thier supplier) to get it straightened out) The tech guy there said that every "Zone" in the U.S. was using the wrong part number! Good luck,
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,838
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From: SD
Radias arm bushing replacement
[font color=red size=2]I think your shake at 50mph is something else. Probably a tire or u-joint. But if the radius bushings are shot, you should replace them anyway. I have 2 suggestions for you... replace the pivot bushings at the same time and use poly bushings.
I suggest this because the pivot bushings get the same amount of wear as the radius bushings, and aren't hard to do when you are doing the radius bushings. I suggest using poly because it is stronger/lasts longer than rubber and the pivot bushings are easier to replace with poly bushings - just burn out the rubber and slide in the poly - no pressing involved.
I got my poly bushings from LMC (www.lmctruck.com) for $50 for the radius arm bushings and the pivot bushings.
This has been discussed in the past, check this thread out:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/61_79/9624.html
Marty
I suggest this because the pivot bushings get the same amount of wear as the radius bushings, and aren't hard to do when you are doing the radius bushings. I suggest using poly because it is stronger/lasts longer than rubber and the pivot bushings are easier to replace with poly bushings - just burn out the rubber and slide in the poly - no pressing involved.
I got my poly bushings from LMC (www.lmctruck.com) for $50 for the radius arm bushings and the pivot bushings.
This has been discussed in the past, check this thread out:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/61_79/9624.html
Marty
New User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 10
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From: Burbank USA
Radias arm bushing replacement
I have a 1978 F-150 and replaced the radius arm bushings with 'poly' about 15 years ago and they are still like new. I bought them at an off road show, but Four Wheel Parts has a set for about $25 (only come in red). My alignment has held well.
Good Luck
78F150
Good Luck
78F150
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Radias arm bushing replacement
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-Feb-02 AT 11:30 PM (EST)]CustomCab4x4, can you elaborate on this? I just bought bushings from AZ and started installing them tonight. They didnt look quite right to me when I started to put them on, and the diagram that came with it didnt quite match my setup, but then mine were so shot it was kindof hard to tell.
77 F150 400
>Make sure they give you the right ones. I just got some for
>a 79 F-150 4x4, and the one Autozone showed was wrong
77 F150 400
>Make sure they give you the right ones. I just got some for
>a 79 F-150 4x4, and the one Autozone showed was wrong
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From: Crossroads of America-Ind
Radias arm bushing replacement
That's exactly what happened to me. The drawing with thier kit wasn't like my truck, and the bushings small diameter didn't go THRU the bracket like it should. The black plastic piece was cupped the wrong way and looked to me like it would get crushed when I drew it all together. The McQuay - Norris tech guy told me that the number A-Z gave me ( FA-1175) was wrong and should be FA-498. He said the 2x4 and 4x4 use the same bushings. ( depending on build date) Unfortunetly the correct bushings didn't have new washers and the wrong bushing DID have. Go figure.
Their tech line number is 815-759-7935. Later, Phil
Their tech line number is 815-759-7935. Later, Phil
New User
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Radias arm bushing replacement
Ok, this is crazy. I take the 'incorrect' ones back to AZ, explain the situation, and they bring out the correct ones that the McQuay-Norris tech suggested. I open one box there and it looks correct - black rubber resembling my old one. I get it home and open the other- red poly. Same part numbers on both boxes! One the black ones theres an inch long nipple on one that fits into other one, the red ones are both identical, having only a half inch nipple.
So now, which one of *those* will work better? Dang, surely this isnt supposed to be this hard. This will be the fourth trip to Autozone for the same part. Luckily its only a block away.
So now, which one of *those* will work better? Dang, surely this isnt supposed to be this hard. This will be the fourth trip to Autozone for the same part. Luckily its only a block away.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 589
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From: Crossroads of America-Ind
Radias arm bushing replacement
Well, I went with the black ones with the longer nipple. They were the closest to what it came with. I just didn't see how the shorter ones could work. Later,
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