Hey guys. Finally at 317k miles i need to get off my butt and change out my I beam pivot bushings, tie rods, and tie rod ends and remember this is a 2WD. I have never changed the pivot bushings, but it looks straight forward. Has anyone done this that can confirm what needs to be done to change these bushings? It looks like you could just lift the truck, unbolt it, drop the beam down and change them out, but i could be missing something. Thanks guys!

 

I did it on my 250 4X4 gasser. It wasn't too bad. I ended up taking the whole front end out and working on it on the bench. The pivot bushings weren't too bad to take out, I think that I used a "C" frame press from harbor freight (like $30 I think) and pressed them out. Check to see if you need to save the metal "shield" from the old bushings. Energy Suspension said something about needing to use to old ones on some vehicles, although I didn't need them on mine. The tie rods shouldn't be too bad to do. Hope this helps.

Red

 

So the bushings have to press out??? I was afraid of that actually, but i will go to Harbor Freight and see if i can find that press. I don't have any kind of press in my shop for this so i will have to buy one. the tie rods won't be bad, its just the pivot bushings i'm worried about. I don't want to have to pull the hole front end out of the truck. LoL.

 

What you can try to do is to take a drill and drill around in between the rubber and the metal rim and that should loosen up the rubber so it should fall out. Use like a 1/2" drill bit and it will "walk" around the rubber and separate from the steel, and then you should be able to punch the steel shell out if need be. You might be able to torch them out too, but that could get bad real quick, so I would do everything else first.

Red

 

It may be harder to put the new ones in than it is to take the old ones out. You may be able to use a "C" clamp and a couple sockets, but I'm not sure on that one.

Red

 

So the bushings have a steel surround on them??? I might just let a shop do the pivot bushings, but if its something i can do i want to do it myself. So i might have to reuse the steel surrounding on them and i might not then? How do i know if i need to or not?

 

Yes, you have the rubber bushing and then there is a steel shell that goes inside the axle. I don't think that you'll need to save the steel. Look at your new bushings and check the o.d. and see if they will fit in the axle or if you need to save the steel pieces. What kind of bushings did you get?

Red

 

Take pics when you do this. Mine are in good shape, but the day will come.

 

i have a couple pictures of the axles out of the truck and the bushings still in if they'll help, but they are 4x4 axles though.

Red

 

Thanks, but I think we're talking about 2 different things. The 2wd trucks don't have a front axle, so our bushings are different.

 

Yea i would like to know how this goes cause this is one of my winter to do's

 

Chris and Mike, I will try to get as many pics as i can remember to take if i do them this weekend. I will be picking up the parts tomorrow. Got MOOG poly bushings, tie rods, and ends. Once this is done then my front end will be like brand new except the shocks and springs. shocks will be coming soon. Hopefully it won't be too bad. This has been on my "to do's" for about the past year, but it's finally gotten to the point of the I Beams movings up and down while i'm driving causing a shimmy and the tires to wear out and wear really really weird. My front tires have around 25k miles on them and parts of the thread are almost gone while other parts look brand new. it's really strange. Hoping to get more info on this by the weekend so i at least almost know what i'm doing.

 

Mine did that and it was my springs sagging realy bad had to get new springs

 

Mine is the bushings letting the I Beam move around.. They are toasted. I got someone to move the wheel while i looked at them and the beams move a tiny bit when sitting still and moving the wheel back and forth so i'm sure rolling down the road they are moving quite a bit.

 

Yea, I've had to replace my springs too. Tires wore down on the inside edge real bad.

If someone has the OBS specs handy, post up the measurement from the top of the I-beam to the frame.