Rear Spring saturday
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: San Diego area. calif
Rear Spring saturday
Well I finally got around to removal of my rear leaf springs,yesterday.First I want to thank you all for the posts on removal and the problems one might encounter,in this job. I dropped the nuts off each u-bolt and lifted the bed to clear the axle,and then drove the pins out,sounds easy,but no..went for the 5lb sledge,worked like a charm.Anyway got the springs out,now looking to the removal of the bushing from the eye leaf,cleaning the leafs,removing 3 from the stack and putting it back together.
I did note the shocks were only for show,as they dropped to fully open when removed from the mounts.Looking forward to reinstall and starting on the front,and then smoother ride ,I hope
Mark
I did note the shocks were only for show,as they dropped to fully open when removed from the mounts.Looking forward to reinstall and starting on the front,and then smoother ride ,I hope Mark
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 347
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From: Wilmington Delaware
Sounds like my shocks were also.
Getting my bushings out was pretty eazy since they were worn almost all the way thru to the spring eye. I cut the old bushings with a sawsalls and they knocked right out. Putting in the new ones were no so easy. I galled my first one up trying to push them in with crap tools. I took them to my machine shop and they pressed them in,....no problem....$20. If you go this route, take a new pin to the macine shop. The new, soft, brass bushings can warp a bit when pressed into these sometimes out of round spring eyes. If the shop has the pin they can hone them for a nice fit.
I later read here, I think, how some folks pressed thier bushings in with a big C clamp type rig.
Thats my 2 cent and I am stickin to it
Getting my bushings out was pretty eazy since they were worn almost all the way thru to the spring eye. I cut the old bushings with a sawsalls and they knocked right out. Putting in the new ones were no so easy. I galled my first one up trying to push them in with crap tools. I took them to my machine shop and they pressed them in,....no problem....$20. If you go this route, take a new pin to the macine shop. The new, soft, brass bushings can warp a bit when pressed into these sometimes out of round spring eyes. If the shop has the pin they can hone them for a nice fit.
I later read here, I think, how some folks pressed thier bushings in with a big C clamp type rig.
Thats my 2 cent and I am stickin to it
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: San Diego area. calif
Hey John
I was thinking about the same thing.One more easy step to move the job along.I hope the front assembly is as easy as the rear(bloody knuckles not withstanding )Tomorrow I'll check a local spring shop
Cheers
Mark
I was thinking about the same thing.One more easy step to move the job along.I hope the front assembly is as easy as the rear(bloody knuckles not withstanding )Tomorrow I'll check a local spring shop
Cheers
Mark
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 347
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From: Wilmington Delaware
Hey Mark,
My fronts went a lot easyer and faster than the rear,....but this was all new to me. After doing the rear springs,.. I had 1/2 of a clue when I got to the fronts. I couldn't get anywhere without these FTE folks helping out
My fronts went a lot easyer and faster than the rear,....but this was all new to me. After doing the rear springs,.. I had 1/2 of a clue when I got to the fronts. I couldn't get anywhere without these FTE folks helping out
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: San Diego area. calif
John
I am in complete agreement,about the information on this site.Took my springs in today and for all 6 bushing,(both rear and 2 shackles)it ran $11 for each... so $66 plus new center bolts and 6 new rear spring clamps. Did you replace or add to the front springs any front shims .like go from 2 degrees to 4 degrees? And did you remove any leafs? which is what I'm doing
I am in complete agreement,about the information on this site.Took my springs in today and for all 6 bushing,(both rear and 2 shackles)it ran $11 for each... so $66 plus new center bolts and 6 new rear spring clamps. Did you replace or add to the front springs any front shims .like go from 2 degrees to 4 degrees? And did you remove any leafs? which is what I'm doing
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 347
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From: Wilmington Delaware
Mark, I wish we had a decent spring shop over here. Sounds like a lot of help for $66,....WOW
My fronts were such a mess. The drivers side had, I think, 5 leafs with a castor wedge cracked right down the middle, and the pass side had 6 leafs and no wedge
. The thread on my spring saga " LEANING PANEL OF PIZZA " is the whole story on my spring adventure. If your really bored sometime read it. I asked every posible dumb question there was.
I ended up getting a front set from JC WHITNEY. They were the cheapest,...MADE IN THE U.S.A and had the bushings already in them and got nearly-free shipping on a promo they were running then. The EDAWG-MeISTER from here/FTE turned me on to them. I am staying pretty stock,...just something to mess around in and cruise a bit,...keeping it simple.
I cant remember the size/degree of the castor wedges but they were pretty close, by eye sight, to the size of my cracked one.
My fronts were such a mess. The drivers side had, I think, 5 leafs with a castor wedge cracked right down the middle, and the pass side had 6 leafs and no wedge
. The thread on my spring saga " LEANING PANEL OF PIZZA " is the whole story on my spring adventure. If your really bored sometime read it. I asked every posible dumb question there was.I ended up getting a front set from JC WHITNEY. They were the cheapest,...MADE IN THE U.S.A and had the bushings already in them and got nearly-free shipping on a promo they were running then. The EDAWG-MeISTER from here/FTE turned me on to them. I am staying pretty stock,...just something to mess around in and cruise a bit,...keeping it simple.
I cant remember the size/degree of the castor wedges but they were pretty close, by eye sight, to the size of my cracked one.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 394
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From: Springfield, Il
I just installed the bushings in the rear springs also. I used a vise to press the bushings. They went in pretty easy. My mainleaf eyes had some wear to them also.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
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From: San Diego area. calif
Hi
I think I will try to work the front bushing with a vise also.This company did it pretty fast and the reaming of the bushings seemed to be with a rough "reaming"tool.I dont think I could do much worst,anyway Ill try one and see.
John
I did read your story.And it was well worth the time. Enjoyed the process of discovery.Thanks for your help.
I think I will try to work the front bushing with a vise also.This company did it pretty fast and the reaming of the bushings seemed to be with a rough "reaming"tool.I dont think I could do much worst,anyway Ill try one and see.
John
I did read your story.And it was well worth the time. Enjoyed the process of discovery.Thanks for your help.
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