explorer spring questions

[--weezl--]

i just got back from the JY with my new explorer springs, they are sitting along side my belltech 6400's, before i put them in i have questions, do you guys replace the bushings in the springs? and if so, how?

second, and it's quite unrelated, the fx4 level II model rangers have a lower tow rating, does anyone know if it's because of springs or what?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I took my chevy 64" [C$15.00 + 1.5hrs removing] springs to a shop to have the bushings removed. I should have done it myself. I figured 10-15 minutes of shop time. They said they had to torch them out and charged me: C$120.00 New bushings that I installed myself: C$90.00 I could have bought a new set of springs for C$220.00 bushings already installed.
I'd think twice now on replacing bushings unless they are shot IE; deep cracks, vulcanization. But if you need to, people have suggested drilling out the rubber before pounding out the bushings.

edit; from my research, all else being equal, a lower tow rating is caused by a heavier truck IE; an extended cab instead of a reg. cab

Richard

 

[BONES]

Bushings are one of them things I would change anyways while it's apart, there fairly cheap and will provide a better ride once renewed and you won't have to mess with them again for a few years at least.

Use a small drill bit on a drill to drill out all around the old bushing through the rubber, once you have drilled away most of the rubber you can take a hammer and punch to remove the bushings outer steel sleeve.
Lube up the new one and cinch it in with the old nut & bolt with thick washers and an impact gun or press it in with a vice. Or you could stick an old bolt with a big washer in the new bushing and hammer it in, not the best method but if your careful it can work. I have also watched guys use a bottle jack to press things apart and together, if you have a little imagination you could make that work, be careful tho, that can be a lot of energy let go if the jack slips out on you.

Harbour freight or Princess Auto have an inexpensive shop press you could purchase too, would make all these little jobs that much easier.

 

[--weezl--]

$220 for new!?!?! i should have bought new! i paid 87$ for 2 used springs... i'll have to inspect the bushings tomorrow, but i think i'm going to end up replacing them, if i can get them for a decent price... the parts came out of a 99, not sure the mileage, there was no gauge cluster...

also, not sure if anyone cares, but the tow hooks on an 02 sport trac do not work, if you do a 3" body lift, however, the towhooks from an s-10 blazer fit in perfectly, using the stock mounting holes! they are almost like they were intended to be interchangeable! found those for my buddy's sport trac while i was there.

 

[disciplerocks]

You must have got them from a salvage yard. I pulled mine myself for $10 a piece.

 

[--weezl--]

You must have got them from a salvage yard. I pulled mine myself for $10 a piece.

i pulled them myself at a jy! fuk i got overcharged! they advertised 33.99 for leaf springs, but that's plus a 5.99 core, and that's each... what i want to know is why the hell there is a core charge for springs (first problem) and why a junk yard is charging core fees for anything, expecially used parts!

 

[disciplerocks]

Because they can scrap it. I bought an aluminum rim here for a spare and they charged me $30. That included a $10 core. I asked why and he said they usually get $20-25 just from scraping them.

 

[--weezl--]

dumb

 

[--weezl--]

u bolts... what do i do here? i've got the expo ones, but the mounting plate on the bottom was part of the shock assembly, (of course) and mine are going to be too long... can i make it all work, or am i going to have to get new ones? i'm taking the blocks out of the rear of my truck also...

the expo ones are rounded at the top, because they go around the axle tube, where as the top of the ranger ones are flat because they go around the springs...

 

[disciplerocks]

They should be the same size, as you should have an 8.8 also. The thickness might be different though. Check to see if the u-bolt will fit through your stock plate.

 

[--weezl--]

u bolts worked, the expo ones are much smaller... with the expo leafs and the 6400 shackles i'm maybe 1/2" higher than i was before but at full droop i'm fully maxing out my shocks, so i'm going to see this weekend if this helped my rubbing problem, honestly, i'm doubtful... if it doesn't, i'm going to have to get longer shocks, and put the blocks back in... or find a shock extender...