Radius arm bushing ?'s

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Jun 4, 2008 | 03:19 PM

jostrowski

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Joined: Jul 2004

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From: Fayetteville, Ar

Radius arm bushing ?'s

Need to replace Radius arm bushings. What's the easiest way to pull the arm out of the hole? I've read to use a come-along to pull something forward but I'm not sure where to attach. Any diagrams, pictures?

Jun 4, 2008 | 04:33 PM

Tedybear

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We cheated with ours due to not having enough "Beef" (also replaced the front springs at the same time) We wound up taking that super large mega nut and bolt out of the I-Beam. That allowed the radius arm to swing out a greater distance. You will need a good sized breaker bar for the whole operation, and a lot of PB blaster. The cotter key in the castle nut at the rear end of the arm is also known to either rust to small pieces---or get wedged in with rust so tight? We wound up drilling both of ours out.

You'll also need to use a wire wheel/brush to scrub the heck out of the arm ends that hold the bushings. They get caked with dead rubber and rust--makes removing and installing the bushings a real butt-buster.

Keep an eye on the thread for a bit. This has been covered several times and many people know much more then I do on the subject-and probably know of better ways to get things done without pulling as much apart as I did.

S-

Jun 4, 2008 | 04:43 PM

79_250RangerLariat

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I've always taken the mount off the frame. Gotta either grind or torch the rivets off and replace with grade 8's.

Jun 4, 2008 | 06:16 PM

OldMetal

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From: US/Baja border

Yup, removing the rear mount from the frame is the best way, use some anti-seize when you put the new bushings on, it makes it easier and you can tap them into place with a hammer. The large nut is torqued to 120 ft lbs.
You may have trouble lining up the bolt holes but just use a tapered punch to pull the mount into place.
They can be a pain so don't get too excited if things don't just fall into place.

Jun 4, 2008 | 06:39 PM

MBBFord

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From: Louisiana

I've heard of guys pulling the axle farward, but I've never done it.

I bought drop radius arm brackets, so I had the brackets off when I was replacing the radius arm bushings and it was pretty easy.

Jun 4, 2008 | 09:25 PM

ubereal2

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From: Lexington Mo

Done this too many times. Removing the rear mount is the easiest. Get a good look at the bracket that mounts to the frame. If the bushing's been bad long enough it lets that radious arm wear that bracket.
Bob

Jun 4, 2008 | 10:59 PM

Pickupmanx2

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From: Near Yosemite CA

Well, on both my 2wd 66, and 4wd 77 I dropped the whole shootin match. If you are doing the radius arms, you might as well do the I-beam pivot bushings 2wd, or the track arm bushings 4wd, and the c-busings 4wd. Energy supension has all the stuff you need 2wd or 4wd. If 2wd, unbolt the radius arm and the pivot bolt and drop the whole thing down, a wire wheel and torch will take out the pivot bushing, if 4wd, unbolt track arm, coils, and radius arm and lower everything. It is best to just do it all at once and be done with it. I also did both brake lines while I was at it.