Efff me fellas, that sucked *** and i only got one done!!! Had to run to uhaul and drop off a trailer. If anyone wants part numbers, process or anything let me know. If your junk is stock oem material, it will be a royal pain in the ***. If i looked at a potential truck in the future i would make sure that has been done haha. To top it all off lordco sold me the frame shackle bushing rather than the spring shackle bushing. WTF?? found out the catalog for performance suspension had the wrong listing. They listed the 4.2131 as the kit needed and it is 4.2121. Man i was pissed off to the extreme today. Tomorrow will be a new day and i hope to complete the spring shackle bushings all the way around, then hit the frame shackle bushings another day haha. Whew make sure you get the 5"x9/16" grade eights before you start haha. 5/8" for the frame shackle ones.

 

ya, im thinkin that when i throw the lift kit on im gonna get poly bushings all the way around. i really wanna go poly body bushings too.

 

i bought the kit that takes care of the entire front end with poly's, and i wont go back the anything else, they are solid as steel, i could hammer on them without hurting them, very impressed. The same company makes the body kits. I have the online catalog from the supervisor at performance suspension so let me know if you want part numbers because apparently there are a lot of part number issues.

 

ill check out their site later. iirc lmc has a complete truck kit.

 

The only problem with polyurethane is it squeaks ...

I bought the complete kit, everything, though I have not installed it all yet, front shackles are next ... Ugg!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

wreckinball what did you have to do to get them out and what tools were you using

 

Yes Wreckingball, more info.

I am doing my ball joints now due to a camber issue. It turns out that the spring height is a big factor in camber setting. Spring bushings affect spring location, at least in the worn/new way. I have a full set of DayStar bushings I need to put on. I am ready with the sawzall, air hammer, MAPP gas torch, and of course, a BFH. Local hardware store did not have the bolts I needed, so I still need those. I do plan to use grade 8 nyloc nuts, and grade 8 washers to replace the flange nuts. Good idea or no?

 

Did you wind up torching them off?

I put the black Energy Suspension poly bushings on my 2000 F350 PSD and it doesn't squeak at all. The black ones have graphite embedded within the poly. I've been told poly doesn't last as long as rubber. I have yet to find this out as it's only been a year since my install.

 

Okay so here is the skinny,

Parts list:
6 - pack of thick metal sawzall blades(they dont sell singles at my store
1 - sharp 1/4" drill bit is what i used to "cut" the old bushing out, slick way to do it and not messy, DONT use a cut off wheel on a side grinder, it will spray black tar everywhere and it is permanent on hands for three days even with mineral spirits haha. Torch is a bad idea imho due to mess and cleanup, dont go there.
1 - 2" wire wheel or whatever your eye diameter is, probably 2".
1 - set of front spring shackle bushings, NOT FRAME SHACKLE(unless they are shot as well.) my store sold me the wrong set and i didnt learn this till after i cut the bolt off
2 - 9/16" X 6" grade eight bolts with nylock nuts. you dont need washers. I dont ever reuse anything on this truck especially when it comes out looking like haggard hell.
2 - Jack Stands and jacks
Heap of patience .

Step one, get a sixer of beer for break time or completion.

Step two make sure you have two jacks, i used a good floor jack and the minivan scissor jack. The scissor jack cant lift the truck so dont go there, it is for aligning the bolt hole.

Step three support the trucks weight on the jackstand at a point you feel comfortable but out of the way of where you will be working.

Remove the tire of where you will be working

right here i just went after the bolts with the sawzall, i am not breaking my back breaking some bolts loose so i cut them off flat with the outside of the shackle

Then i pounded it out while lifting the body with a large floor jack an a wooden brace or similar. once it started to move i put the scissor jack in between the leaf spring and frame to push the spring down.

Once i had the eye out of the shackle i began to use my 1/4" drillbit, just make sure its sharp as hell. it will go a lot faster. Took me three minutes here to drill it out enough to pull the old crap bolt and rotten bushing, it was still a one piece so it was original more than likely.

Once out i noticed there was a metal sleeve and it had to be removed as per instructions of new material. The eye is 2: on mine and with the sleeve in it was only 1.75" soit had to go. This was he hardes part. I used a large standard screwdriver and mini sledge to wedge it in between the leaf and sleeve. Once i had a good amount pulled up i cut it in half with the sawzall, dont worry too much here as the steel is harder than your blades probably, just dont ride on it too long. cut the sleeve and stop. after an hour of this it finally came out in a mangled mess.

I bought the 2" wire wheel and it worked a miracle in the inside of the eye. Clean as a whistle.

The new material pressed right into place and looked great.

Now this last part of seating it was harder for me as the leaf moved out of alignment thanks to the crap sleeve so i used a large metal bar to "tweak" it back into place and lowered it down. carefully to bring it into position and then slammed the new bolt in. It raised my truck over half an inch on that side when i lowered it all back down. Friggin amazing haha.

If i missed something, i am tired and ill edit pics in later but you get the idea.

 

THAT right there is what I'm talk'n about! I need to put the spring eye in the correct spot BEFORE I buy camber bushings. Thanks. You just saved me from myself!

Pictures. YES yes yes. Picture lover right here.

 

I too will be doing this in the near future. I already purchased a set of energy suspension poly spring bushings and pivot bushings. My spring bushings came with new bolts though. I just pulled my AAL's from my old truck and just need to purchase my new ball joints.

 

So you only did the rear spring bushing?

While you are in there, the front shackle needs to come down out of the frame.

That upper shackle bushing was in the worst shape of all the bushings in my front end.

 

Let me tell you fellas, Dave ain't kidding. Now that I have gotten through all of it in the front I feel better and the truck drives better, no more wandering and noises!!

 

I have my passenger front bushings out, and replaced. That shackle bushing was way bad. The bolt sleeve was touching the outer steel sleeve. Fixing that will lift the truck some and help my camber issue. I will finish the install tomorrow including the rear of the front spring.

FYI: The top bolt is 5/8"-11 X 3". Some how I got the idea it was 5" just like the spring eyes.

 

Crap I forgot to mention the top bolt dimensions. Sorry bro!