Radius arm bushing
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Radius arm bushing
This weekend, my dad and I replaced one bushing on my '87 F-150. We were planning on doing both, but time constraints led to only one (the one that was actually cracked) being done.
I read up on the 3 methods to do it, and decided to try the easiest sounding first. We unbolted the nut by the bushing, blocked the front tire and tried backing up to get the arm free. It came except for the last 1/8" when the block started sliding.
Time for plan B. We tried unbolting the radius arm from the axel. The bottom bolt was so rusted on that the 3/4" impact wrench wouldn't budge it so we didn't even try to top one.
We finally resorted to drilling the rivets out. Just center-punched them and did 4 passes from about 3/32" to 7/16" I don't know about all the horror stories about "hardened rivets" and such. Those things drilled pretty easily.
I figured I'd write up my experiences for any other sucker that has to change those things. The passenger's side one is slated to be done in 2 weeks.
Eric
I read up on the 3 methods to do it, and decided to try the easiest sounding first. We unbolted the nut by the bushing, blocked the front tire and tried backing up to get the arm free. It came except for the last 1/8" when the block started sliding.
Time for plan B. We tried unbolting the radius arm from the axel. The bottom bolt was so rusted on that the 3/4" impact wrench wouldn't budge it so we didn't even try to top one.
We finally resorted to drilling the rivets out. Just center-punched them and did 4 passes from about 3/32" to 7/16" I don't know about all the horror stories about "hardened rivets" and such. Those things drilled pretty easily.
I figured I'd write up my experiences for any other sucker that has to change those things. The passenger's side one is slated to be done in 2 weeks.
Eric
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Originally Posted by shooter05
Thanks for the update on how it worked for ya! How long did it take for the one side? I need to do mine.
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From: Colorado Springs
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Newark, Ohio
Originally Posted by msb71
Best way is to air chisel the rivets out and rebolt with grade 8 bolts , makes for an easier time the next time.
Mike
Mike
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From: Lindenwold, NJ
I unbolted the shock and radius arm and used a come-along hooked to a tree to pull the radius arm out of the bracket. It still sucked but it was better then removing the bracket from the frame. And as for the bolt that goes through the I-beam and radius arm, those things never come out without a fight. I have installed drop ibeams on about 5 or 6 trucks and they are the worst.
