Replacing Leaf Spring Bushings

[Uncle Gump]

I don't remember how the other three went but I am still using the bolts.

That one was a bugger, I would have just torched it but the fuel tank was right behind it and I wasn't that iclined to escalate the project to include the dropping of the fuel tank.

Understood... sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

I hope mine will just spin out this morning... would totally make my day. I'm thinking positive. I would be out there now but when the compressor comes on it will wake the wife up... I don't want to have a battle in the garage and inside the house too.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Understood... sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

I hope mine will just spin out this morning... would totally make my day. I'm thinking positive. I would be out there now but when the compressor comes on it will wake the wife up... I don't want to have a battle in the garage and inside the house too.

I ripped the steel bushing loose from the rubber... and it went downhill from there.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

@Uncle Gump
Can you get the nut off? Cut the head of the bolt off and stack washers behind the nut. Tighten down the nut. Keep adding washers until the #\'(ing thing comes out of the bushing.

 

[Uncle Gump]

The nuts did come off... but my impact just won't shake the bolts from the bushing sleeves.

I'm gonna try some heat with my propane torch again and some more soaking in lube. From there I may gave your suggestion a try.

I kinda feel right now that watching them burn would be more fitting... lol

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

 

[Shran]

I have run across more than a few that simply will not come out. My solution is a thin DeWalt cutoff wheel... I found some that are a weird diameter, they're like a 6" wheel or something like that but they have enough reach to cut through the bolt and you can sneak them between the spring bushing sleeve and the hanger itself. Have to be careful with them, they really bite hard if they get bound up. I wear all my PPE with those. Sawzalls are useless on hardened bolts and I've gotten enough torch overspray on vehicle windows to be done using that method.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have run across more than a few that simply will not come out. My solution is a thin DeWalt cutoff wheel... I found some that are a weird diameter, they're like a 6" wheel or something like that but they have enough reach to cut through the bolt and you can sneak them between the spring bushing sleeve and the hanger itself. Have to be careful with them, they really bite hard if they get bound up. I wear all my PPE with those. Sawzalls are useless on hardened bolts and I've gotten enough torch overspray on vehicle windows to be done using that method.

I used the sawzall on mine. Cut the old spring (that I was replacing) and the bolt with it. Trying to save the bracket made it tough though.

 

[fastpakr]

Mine were a mess. As I recall, even with the nuts off I couldn't get the bolts to slide out no matter how I tried to relieve tension on the system. I think I ultimately cut the head off the bolt as well and tapped the remainder through.

 

[ericbphoto]

Wow. I thought this thread was just a few months ago. Justin, how did those bolts work out for you? Length ok? Thread length ok?

Thinking about this as I prepare to replace my leaf spring bushings. Who did you buy bushings from?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Bolts work great, depending on how the grease holes are sitting it can take some effort to get them to take grease though.

I use silicone grease because the normal petroleum stuff will attack the rubber bushings.

I think it was like sdspring or sdtruck or something like that that I got the bushings from. I have second gen explorer springs which have larger od bushings than ranger springs.

 

[ericbphoto]

Bolts work great, depending on how the grease holes are sitting it can take some effort to get them to take grease though.

I use silicone grease because the normal petroleum stuff will attack the rubber bushings.

I think it was like sdspring or sdtruck or something like that that I got the bushings from. I have second gen explorer springs which have larger od bushings than ranger springs.

Thanks. My springs are from Skyjacker. I'll have to disassemble a measure. They don't list replacements for those springs on their site and, if I recall, their customer service isn't great.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I won't replace spring bushings again... mine were old and factory Ford but it was a lot of work to keep old springs.

 

[ericbphoto]

I'm going to try it. New springs are in the $500 range for what I need. These bushings are really wallowed put on the ID.and and not dealing with rust belt symptoms. $30-50 + $50 for 6 greasable bolts sounds pretty reasonable. Plus, my front springs (Skyjacker soft ride) aren't cutting it with the winch. They have settled in some more since installing the winch and my camber is bad with the biggest adjustment bushings I could find maxed out and 1" spacers under the springs. I think I have found a set of coils that will fix the front. But that's another $200.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'm going to try it. New springs are in the $500 range for what I need. These bushings are really wallowed put on the ID.and and not dealing with rust belt symptoms. $30-50 + $50 for 6 greasable bolts sounds pretty reasonable. Plus, my front springs (Skyjacker soft ride) aren't cutting it with the winch. They have settled in some more since installing the winch and my camber is bad with the biggest adjustment bushings I could find maxed out and 1" spacers under the springs. I think I have found a set of coils that will fix the front. But that's another $200.

I am afraid I am going to open that can of worms with my winch too. I am already heavier than most on the nose.

 

[ericbphoto]

It is hard to get data on coil (any) springs for comparison. I want to do a little more comparison and maybe hit Bobby up for a "gut feeling" on what I found. But I think I found some dual rate coils for 5.5" lift on early Broncos that may be what I need.