I finished putting my Axle Pivot Bushings in tonight.I read all the old posts on this job and they helped and one procedure was about how I did it..Not sure if my noise is really gone or not.I'll list how I did the job."For new bushings with metal shell included".
1.Borrowed ball joint press from Advance Auto.
2.Placed vehicle on jack stands(both sides at the same time will work)
3.Found that to have a good amount of room to work on both bushings I pulled right axle out(told it could be done with axle in).Won't get into that procedure!And removed tie rod.May not really need to do that.
4.Removed bolt(may need jack here) from bushing.(Axle housing wont fall down and crack you)
5.Placed Hyd. jack under lower ball joint/knuckle and jack-up till arm came down far enough to work on.
6.Next step is to bend inward flared end of bushing all around which is rearward end to enable bushing to be pushed towards front.I used a small air hammer with pointed tool or chisel.
7.Next install press with receiving cup forward and I used a 7/8 socket(flat side towards bushing) on the end doing the pressing to press entire bushing(metal housing included) out.Popped out rather easy.Reversed press and you can figure out what cups to use to press in new bushing.
8.Lower jack under ball joint/knuckle and use jack to align housing and bolt hole back up.Do other bushing as other.
Hope this is of help to someone.

 

Twisted,
Now you have me wishing my front axle was still mounted in the truck to do this. Nice work.

 

thanks-Chances are I'll never have to do this again.But, it was a learning experience.

 

Congrats


I wish I had waited more than just a few hours after complete ball joint/steering u-joint replacement before tackling the bushing job.

Ken

 

Good deal!!! Once you figure out how one side goes, the other one takes half the time. Do you plan to replace the radius arm bushings, too? Those may also be part of the 'popping' noise from the front end when turing across a dip or into the driveway. JSM84

 

I replaced the radius brackets and bushings about 2 years ago.Strange, this noise I am getting only started right after I replaced my right ball joints.I think the problem is still there?

 

Fun weren't they . I did mine in truck . I Think I'll yake it all part next time.

 

A quick check you can do. Jack up the tire/wheel, and try to move it up/down and side/side. there should be no sloppy play in the wheel. If there is, either the wheel bearing is out or the balljoints are getting worn. I've gone thru balljoints in 6-8 months or under 20K miles, esp with the lift and bigger tires. replacing those bj's is a real bear! JSM84

 

me84-Just replaced the ball joints on right side and the next day is when the noise started.Left ball joints done just under two years ago and they seem fine and no slop on that side.I decided to recheck my radius bushings again, which I replaced two years ago.The plastic donut on the backside of each show some wear around where it goes over the lip in the bracket.Looks like it may be flexing too much and could be causing the clunk.Not sure about that though.I have no lift or large tires on this and do not off road with it.Joe

 

Even though you don't have a lift, give the axle pivot brackets a look. I had a terrible problem with clunking in my 93 for the first two months then suddenly anything over 45 MPH would make the front end rattle and buck like she was gonna throw a wheel! Took three different shops (including the dealer) before I got fed up and jacked her up ad to the "bad ball joint test". It was only then that I discovered the bracket for the driver's half of the TTB axle pivot had been cracked and finally snapped. the only thing holding that half of the axle housing to the truck was the axle itself and the spring. Its a long shot but obviously not impossible.

 

Are you talking about where the bolt boes up thru to the spring?

 

No, the break was actually at the bracket that holds the axle pivot bushing to the frame of the truck. The bolt that holds the spring to the axle was one of the two things still holding it to the truck.

 

Got ya now!thanks