'75 F-250 2wd 390 4bbl c6. Any tips on putting the new I-beam pivot bushings in? I had to pound on the casings very aggressively to get the old ones out. If I cool them in ice water and carefully, sparingly lube the casing will I likely be able to drive the new ones back in with a hammer or should I take it to a machine shop and have them pressed in? Suggestions please.

 

I allways just smack them in with a hammer, or you could try using a c-clamp

 

I stuck mine in the freezer the day before I was going to work on the suspension and I also warmed the I-Beam hole with a heat gun a little. Then I took the frozen bushing applied a light coat of grease to the outside of the bushing and then I aligned the bushing to the I-Beam hole and used a piece of wood to protect the bushing and drove the bushing home with a BFH. Went very nicely. When you install the I-Beams back on the truck lube the bushing on both sides before reinstalling them and don't fully tighten the nut/bolts until the weight of the truck is back on the ground.

 

They're in! Froze & lightly greased them. Getting them started was similar to starting a soft plug - once I got it straight it was O.K. I started driving the first one home with a piece of red oak and a LFH but the oak destructed and I did it mostly by beating on it really __ hard with the LFH. Waiting to torque the pivot bolt until it's in normal resting position seems important because when tightened to the 120-150 ft-lbs spec'd the internal sleeve probably won't move and it seems like any axle pivoting will be allowed solely by the flexing of the rubber. Good tip, THANKS!