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Hi Guys, yesterday I decided to change oil and lube my truck and generally check over. I haven't even looked underneath it much since I got truck running 2 years and 2000 miles ago. After knocking off huge globs of hardened up grease from around the leaf spring bushings I was surprised to see all of them took grease except one. The left front leaf at the rear was missing the zerk fitting. I cleaned it up and stuck a probe down in the hole and then put in a zerk but it won't take grease. It looks like the "eye" of the rear of that spring may be ob-longed as in it is bent, or the bushing is completely gone. I can't really see with everything still together. Sort of like the eye was maybe 1 1/2" diameter and a 1 1/2" bushing fit in there tightly when made, but now the eye has enlarged?? I can stick a screwdriver thru the back of the eye. I think that either the rubber part of the bushing is completely gone or the eye has oblonged??? I think I will have to take apart but I would like to have parts available I will need before hand. All 4 of the springs look OK , and I don't really want to replace them but so far I haven't seen a kit with just new bushings/ sleeves/shafts, etc. Any of you guys done this and do you have a disassembled picture of leak spring bushing?? Thanks, Greg.
I think I will have to take apart but I would like to have parts available I will need before hand. All 4 of the springs look OK , and I don't really want to replace them but so far I haven't seen a kit with just new bushings/ sleeves/shafts, etc. Any of you guys done this and do you have a disassembled picture of leak spring bushing?? Thanks, Greg.
You might need a bushing removal tool . I got one at mid fifty. I no longer need it and would send to you if you do. Just message me you mailing address. I don't want any money for it so don't worry about that.
To remove the bushings and install, I just got a piece of all thread and washers. To remove, I used a socket the same size as the bushing.
I was sure I had a picture of me removing one from the frame, but I can't seem to locate it. For install, freeze the bushing and heat the spring. That gives a little more room.
I have the bushing removal tool as well. I liked the all thread method better. Swinging a big hammer can be problematic for someone with my coordination or lack thereof.
To the OP there are is no rubber (as you can see in the pictures posted) in the stock bushing. An easy way for removing the bushing is to assemble a hack saw with the blade through the bushing with the teeth of the blade facing the backbone of the saw and saw a kerf in the bushing. They drive out and lots of times just push out after being cut.
You guys are the greatest!!!-Effie, I see what you pictured and it looks like there is no rubber, I think that set will work! -Art, That is very generous of you but I think I will try...-Joe's method with the all thread, or maybe Dave's way with the hacksaw blade or a combination of both. Thanks again all of you!!!
Got the bushing set yesterday so decided to take apart the rear bushing of the left front spring. Came apart easy like a 1 year old truck! Now I can see that there was no problem with the bushing/sleeve at all. There was just a little wear. I didn't know that the main leaf has the bushing which fits tight in the eye and there is another leaf that loops around the eye of the main leaf. That is where I was able to stick a screwdriver in, (which was why I thought something was bent/oblonged). But when I had the spring off the frame mount I found it was loose at the frame rivets! So I ground/cut the rivets and replaced them with bolts. So it was worth it to take apart to find that. I found a piece of 1/2" all thread and used that with washers and a socket to remove the old bushing. Also used it to install new bushing. Thanks for the tip, worked great!! Mount is on floor by jackstand. Here's the 2nd oblonged "eye" that got me confused... Pulling old bushing "Special tool #8675309.... Bushing out, It came out real easy. New bushing went in with the threaded rod really easy also. Rivets replaced w/bolts. One down 5 to go. (2 each on front mounts)
That was enough for today. I'm going to replace the rest of the bushings next and probably will have to fix the right front spring rear frame mount.
Glad it worked for you. That 1/2" all thread looks much sturdier than the size I used. Next time I have to do that (probably never) I will get the 1/2"
Thanks so much, Joe. When I was posting I couldn't see your post and forgot who gave me the tip... It was you and thanks so much. I have a long piece of 3/8" allthread and was going to cut it but then found the piece of 1/2" about 7-8" long in a bolt can- that was perfect! Thanks again. Greg.
What did you use on the back side of your setup? Was the nut large enough to catch the bushing? I used two sockets, one the size of the bushing and one larger to brace against the leaf spring. Then when I tightened the nut it pushed it out the back. It looks in your picture like the nut caught the bushing and you pulled the bushing into your socket. If I'm correct, there is another advantage to the 1/2" all thread, the nut is large enough to catch and pull it bushing out.
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