Carrying a heavy plow around with the weight of a diesel in front, there is no doubt they're wore. Inspect them and see if the springs are coming in contact with the frame. For a good look you would need to disassemble but at that point you may as well replace them.

 

bummer, is this a hard task? I was thinking about purchasing a 1/2 impact made by kobalt from lowes I wonder if it would back off that bolt, do you think I could get out the old bushing with a regular propane torch

 

propane torch will burn the bushing, but will probably not get the bolt and nut hot enough to disassemble - they get stuck real good sometimes. What's the torque-rating of that Kobalt impact, and what line and tank pressure does it need to achieve it (1/2" vs. 3/8" line, and 175 psi vs. 120 or so)?

The easiest way of doing them bushings would be with an oxy-acetylene outfit, get the bolt and nut red hot and impact them till they come out or break, then burn the bushings out and install new polyurethane bushings in their place.

 

on the website it says the impact is good for 500 pounds of torque, requires 4cfm at 90 psi, it will be running off an 12 gallon 1hp in my garage or if I go to my uncles it will be on a 30 gallon 3hp compressor, and sadly I no longer have access to acetylene outfit

also I only have 20' of 3/8" line

 

500 lb-ft ain't bad at all, should be able to take off most threaded hardware you find on a truck like yours.

 

thats great then! its about 80 dollars and I figure its worth it to spend a few extra bucks rather than taking a chance with harbor freight tools like I was going to

 

How many miles on your truck.

I would almost bet the spring shackle at the front of the front springs has the upper bushing out.

I drove myself nuts trying to find a thump I felt when I hit a pot hole.
I replaced the front springs and added a couple leaves.

When I pulled the front shackle down out of the frame, no bushing, bolt worn almost in half and big wear spots on the side plates of the shackle.

A pair of new shackles, and new bolts, no more thump.