86 B2 radius arm bushing gone bad

[jkufen]

On my 86 B2 i tried to get an alignment and they said my coil springs were bad. I fixed the coil springs and took it somewhere else and they said that i needed new bushings for my passenger side radius arm. The mechanic wants $300 to remove thw rivets replace the bushings and then put bew rivets in. Is there a way to do it without removing the rivets? More specifically something i can do myself to fix it? Thanks!

 

[adsm08]

In the long run it is easier to pop the rad arm buckets off and bolt them back on.

It is possible, and in my opinion easier, to just take the front axle out. Get the front of the frame up on stands so that the wheels are off the ground. Undo the rad arm nuts (have to come out anyway), hang the calipers up, take the shock bolts out, take the pivot brackets off the frame (it's usually easier than getting the pivot bolts out of the eyes). Then you can slide it forward, pop new bushings in, and slide it back up.

Either way you still have to get it aligned at the end.

 

[jkufen]

Yeah i know that i just dont want to pay $300 plus whatever the alignment cost

 

[chrwilkins30]

Unless your in a position to replace the parts yourself doesnt seem like any other option. $300 does seem a little high to remove 2 rivets and unbolt 4 bolts, unless that involves a correct alignment.

 

[509lifted]

chirwilkens i was quoted 400 from 3 different shops around here for mine so i don't think its high haha. but you can drill out the rivets with a 7/16 drill bit and then replace with grade 8 bolts, i did mine in 3 days but that was because everytime i got it put back together i realized i messed something up and it was cold and snow on the ground so i wasn't able to work on it consistantly.

 

[jkufen]

Well I am sure I can pull the axle out and replace the bushings myself. I figured when I pull it out ill clean it all up and paint it to help keep it from rusting more. I figure ill take two days and get it done. $300 is not all that expensive but I am a college student that has more time on my hands than money. I really don't know about swapping the rivets for bolts. I'll have to think on it a little more. The good thing about pulling the axle out is ill be able to address anymore issue that I don't know about yet.

 

[chrwilkins30]

chirwilkens i was quoted 400 from 3 different shops around here for mine so i don't think its high haha. but you can drill out the rivets with a 7/16 drill bit and then replace with grade 8 bolts.

400 is even worse considering brand new poly bushings only cost $20.Forget drilling, grab a grinder and get the heads off in less than a minute a piece.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Well... I really don't know about swapping the rivets for bolts. I'll have to think on it a little more.

You don't read to much around here, replacing rivets with G8 bolts is extremely common. From out of the box lift kits, to custom solid axle swaps. Even leaf spring swaps, and the common leaf spring frame brackets.


Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[PetesPonies]

bolting in ball joints where the factory riveted them in is totally normal and accepted. This case here should be no different.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Where would you even get an 11mm rivet?
And what would you use to smash it...?

 

[adsm08]

I believe Pete is referring the the IFS Chevy S-10 and other similar designs. The factory lower balljoints are press-riveted to the control arm, similar to our rad arm buckets, but the replacement units come with metric 8 bolts for attaching the new ones to the arm. That is how you can tell if they have ever been replaced.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

You can try to use a 2' ratchet strap around the axle and bumper. Remove whatever is in the way of pulling the bumper and axle together...like the sway bar linkage. You may be able to do it without removing the wheel but I have not tried that myself. If this works, you can then use a small jack to put the arm in the right spot to allow the arm to fit back in the hole while SLOWLY releasing the strap tension. You might want to practice that first before removing the arm all the way.
If that won't work for you, search for " rivet removal" and do what works best for you. Once I have the rivets out, I use a step drill with the biggest diameter of 1/2". It makes quick work of drilling the holes and leaves a really clean and ROUND hole exactly 1/2" in size. then use 1/2" grade 8 bolts that have a non-threaded shank sightly less than the thickness of the metal that you are bolting together. If you have to, use washers to make the bolt work. IMO, you don't want to use bolts that are threaded all the way to the head as the shear strength is not as strong.
Good luck,

Richard

 

[CarsonChris]

I re did the radius arm bushings on my daughters BII. Remove and hang the brakes, coils, shocks and it's all pretty easy. You can do it by yourself in an afternoon. I was lucky enough to have a neighbor that had the right size wrenches. Tools are cheap compared to a shops labor plus you have the tools for future use and other projects.

 

[jkufen]

yeah I might just grind off the rivets and replace with bolts. From all the comments it seems pretty common plus as old is my truck is I am afraid I start taking too many old bolts apart Ill break something else or round one off and be fighting that

 

[jkufen]

So any idea where I can get a grade 8 bolt or what to look for to make sure it's grade 8? I dont know anything about bolts but is it something simple and itll say grade 8 on the box or something?