When/If you replace the bronze bushings in a spring or shackle, do they need to be reamed for the pin to fit?

I received my extended Y hangars from Mid Fifties this week and on one of them the pin will not slide through the bushing. I will call them this week and I am sure they will take care of it.

But I was wondering if when you replace those or any spring bushing if there is any requirement to ream them?

Bill

 

The only time I've used a reamer is when a bushing was undersized.

 

The bushings on my 49 were made to fit and did not have to be reamed.

 

Thanks guys,

Any time I have had a bushing that needed reamed there were specific indications that it was required.

I did put a caliper to it and it is about 18 thousandths out of round. It must have gotten dropped, banged, or mishandled somewhere.

Bill

 

Is the bushing loose or installed in the shackle? If it's installed in the shackle, I'd bet they pressed it in with a hammer. If it's loose, I'd be tempted to send it back.

At any rate, if you ream or hone it, the clearance in these spring bushings is a lot sloppier than say kingpin bushings. I suppose that's to allow grease to get in there, but it seems like a tighter fit would really benefit bushing life and (on front springs) keep the truck pointed in the same direction better.

 

The bushing is installed in the shackle, but the pin wont even go in. The bushing itself is very tight in the shackle. Not sure what their bushing installation procedure is (hammer or press) but plan on calling them today
and getting a new on the way.


Bill

 

Has anybody seen or ever done a Rockwell hardness test on the pins themselves? Sort of curious before I try the result of my phone call.

I doubt that information is anywhere other than some long forgotten or destroyed file cabinet in Dearborn.

I have to say, my phone conversation was not what I expected.


Bill

 

Take your parts to big Truck shop they should be able to help you.

 

Been awhile since I worked with the numbers, but the pins are heat-treated alloy, so I'd say Rc around 65 - 70?? They're darn hard, try hacksawing one!

Why, are they telling you to heat them?? or to pound them through the bushing to cut a new bore? To be honest, I was tempted to suggest it...

 

Back in my Metrology days we called C60 "File Hard". I grabbed an old one and scratched on it a bit with a file. That's my guess.

 

You're right, I looked up the hardness scales and even 60 would be about tops for the pins unless they were case-hardened, and I don't think they are. Chrome is 62+. I think the scale is more or less logarhythmic (sp?). Been too long for me.

 

Emery paper is what was recommended for the pin. That isnt going to solve the issue.

On one side the pin slides through like you would imagine. The other shackle bushing measures .768 and 90 degrees to that the measurement is .743 and that is on both sides of the bushing. I dont think emery paper is going to make that pin oval.

My concerns with just hammering it together is the ability to remove that pin when the time comes and if the shackle will actually conform to the pin or just remain out of round.

I understand that on the darkside sometimes things need to be finessed, but sure seems there is a simpler answer to this.

Bill