how do I change leaf spring bushings?

[crawlin91]

is there a special tool that will press them in and out? Is it hard to do? Im putting a bastard explorer/ranger leaf spring pack in and the bushings are really worn out. The leaves on the truck are oem replacements and are fairly new. Could I just swap the bushings over to the bastard leaf pack?

 

[4x4junkie]

I think the OEM bushings are bonded to the leaf.

Is it possible to use the main leaf with the good bushings in it on your "bastard" pack?

 

[Ranger44]

The way I did it was heating the rubber with a propane torch. It makes the rubber super brittle. Then you can pick it out easily.

Then just replace them with these polyurethane bushings from James Duff.

http://www.jamesduff.com/broncoII/bodylifts.html

Junkie is right, the rubber bushings are bonded from the factory and the only way to get them is to buy a new leaf pack.

 

[Hondafreak08]

just did them on 63'' chebys... Had oxy/act on the bucshing with no luck. after hours of fighting. tool a drill and junk bit, and just kept drilling on the rubber until i had basically drilled it all away,. thats the only option i had. really easy/

 

[94RangerGuy]

I just took mine out the other week while replacing a broken leaf spring mounting bracket. Often times (especially if you live in an area that uses lots of salt) the bolt that goes through the bushing will be siezed to the metal insert in the center of the bushing. In order to get it out, I needed to but the ends off of the bolt. Next, I drilled several holes into rubber the entire way around the bushing until the bushing could be removed (using needle nosed pliers you will be able to start pulling pieces out untill it all just pulls out).

As for new bushings, I used replacement bushings availble at Napa, Advance Auto etc. They have a steel outer shell with rubber inside that and a steel insert in the center which holds the bolt. The only way that I was able to insert the new bushing was to remove the entire leaf spring and press the bushing into the leaf spring using a hydraulic press.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I've always used the 20 ton shop press at work to remove and install them without any problems.