Spring bushing help
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 299
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From: Topeka, KS
Spring bushing help
Having trouble getting the old bushings out of the spring hangers and spring eyes on my '53 F100. The "beat the H---- out them" method isn't getting me much of anywhere. If I take the springs off I can press them out, but how about the hangers? I can't turn my frame on it's side and put it in the press...advice?? Bigger hammer?
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 2
From: Riverside, So Cal
You can press out the bushings in the springs, like you said. You cut the rivets that hold the hangers on and do the same to them. Use grade 8 bolts in lieu of the rivets when you reinstall the hangers.
I found that an easy way to take the rivets out was to cut an X into the rivet head using my angle grinder and a cutoff wheel. The X needs to be thru the head itseld so that it is quartered. Then I used an air hammer to shear the heads off and drive the rivets outs. Works pretty fast. My air hammer is the $20 Harbor Freight variety - not too fancy.
I found that an easy way to take the rivets out was to cut an X into the rivet head using my angle grinder and a cutoff wheel. The X needs to be thru the head itseld so that it is quartered. Then I used an air hammer to shear the heads off and drive the rivets outs. Works pretty fast. My air hammer is the $20 Harbor Freight variety - not too fancy.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,285
Likes: 1,050
From: NM
Is your truck all together, or down to the frame (at least on the front or rear, whichever springs you're working on)? Have you gotten the springs off, and the front hanger out of the frame?
If so, there's always the Hot Wrench approach.
Usually if you can get a chisel on the OD of the bushing and bend it in away from the OD, you can get a penetrant in there and it will break free with just hammering.
If so, there's always the Hot Wrench approach.
Usually if you can get a chisel on the OD of the bushing and bend it in away from the OD, you can get a penetrant in there and it will break free with just hammering.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 929
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From: S.C.
PB Blaster and brass drift worked well for my 54. I also went ahead and cut the forward rear hangers off and relocated them 1.5" higher on the frame along with rear 1.5" drop shackles I got an extra drop in the rear hieght for very little change.
Here's how this procedure usually goes....
soak the bushings in blaster,
wait with cold beer,
impatiently hit with hammer and drift and re-soak with blaster
another cold one
soak again
take something else apart to feel like you CAN do something right
Hit with drift until you miss and hit your hand
cuss
cold beer
vow to win against the (insert your own cuss work here) bushing
soak and hit until the bushing gives up......and it wiil, eventually!
Another beer in celebration while standing over your kill.
Hang in there and good luck with it, it will be something you will look back on and be glad it's done and you've got it behind you.
Ed
Here's how this procedure usually goes....
soak the bushings in blaster,
wait with cold beer,
impatiently hit with hammer and drift and re-soak with blaster
another cold one
soak again
take something else apart to feel like you CAN do something right
Hit with drift until you miss and hit your hand
cuss
cold beer
vow to win against the (insert your own cuss work here) bushing
soak and hit until the bushing gives up......and it wiil, eventually!
Another beer in celebration while standing over your kill.
Hang in there and good luck with it, it will be something you will look back on and be glad it's done and you've got it behind you.
Ed
Last edited by e william; Dec 17, 2006 at 07:45 AM.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 299
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From: Topeka, KS
All excellent advice, fellows. My truck is down to frame, and I've gotten the pins and springs out. I'm just not crazy about taking the spring perches off the frame. I particularly like the hacksaw idea. That method combined with the beer method simply cannot fail...
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