front leaf spring bushing
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2009
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front leaf spring bushing
My truck is a 95 F-150 XL 4x4. When I bought the truck I knew that the front leaf hangers were bad. I bought two kits for the hangers from e-bay. I also purchased new bushings for the leaf springs. I got the old stuff apart without any major issues. The issue I have is with the new bushings. They are smaller in diameter than the old ones and there's about an 1/8 inch gap between the leaf spring and the new bushing when centered
. I tried to get different ones from another partrs store, but they are the same size. As anyone ever come across this issue? And what do you do? Thanks in advance guys.
. I tried to get different ones from another partrs store, but they are the same size. As anyone ever come across this issue? And what do you do? Thanks in advance guys.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 679
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From: Vancouver B.C.
there are two diferent bushings for the spring eyes... ones that have the steel sleeve and one that don't. When I ordered mine I was asked if my springs had the steel sleeve or not... I guessed not and I was wrong. So I had to go back and get the other set...they dont come with a steel sleeve, they just make the rubber bushing bigger... at least thats what I remember when I did mine.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 364
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From: Ca
Perhaps he needs to re-use the sleeves from the old bushings then. It's unlikely that leaf spring bushings are installed without sleeves. The bolt that mounts the spring eye to the hanger would destroy the bushings if there was no sleeve in there. Maybe i'm crazy......
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The bushing that came out of the eye hole looks identical to the new one, with new one being smaller. There is a center sleeve where the bolt goes thru. The rubber bushing itself. And an outer sleeve with thinner walls than the inner sleeve. And as for reusing the old sleeves, not going to happen. I used an air chisel to push it out.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Ca
There ya go, get new sleeves and your problem will be solved. You need those sleeves or the bushings won't expand to fit the spring eye.
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The new bushings came with new outer sleeves. Am I missing something then? I don't understand how the bushings would expand with the outer sleeve on. Like I said, the old looked like the new, with the exception the new is a smaller diameter, inner bolt sleeve, rubber bushing, and an outer sleeve. Would it possible that there are different size spring eyes used for different years and models?
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Senior User
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From: Ca
To tell you the truth i don't think you even need the outer sleeves. My leaf bushings dont have outer sleeves, and i put mine in over a year ago with no problems to date. In every catalog i've ever looked at for our trucks i never saw bushing kits with outer sleeves, just inners....
Maybe i'm the one missing something
Maybe i'm the one missing something
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Near a cornfield in Iowa
They are smaller in diameter than the old ones and there's about an 1/8 inch gap between the leaf spring and the new bushing when centered. I tried to get different ones from another partrs store, but they are the same size. As anyone ever come across this issue? And what do you do? Thanks in advance guys.
. I tried to get different ones from another partrs store, but they are the same size. As anyone ever come across this issue? And what do you do? Thanks in advance guys.I had that exact same problem from my local parts store. They ordered the bushings for the rear leaf springs. Same bushing but different diameter...smaller.
I battled with Advance Auto Parts for a week on getting the right ones.......they forgot to order the right ones so I gave up and went on-line and bought an Energy Suspension leaf spring bushing kit.
They fit right the first time, and ride better anyway as they are poly bushings.
