Leaf spring bushings

[bfiakas]

Iam going to replace my leaf spring bushings and I have some questons. Can I raise one side at a time and relpace the bushings or should I put the whole rear end of the Bronco up on jackstands and let the axle hang? Also is the nut of the upper shackle bushing part of the hanger or does it come away with the bolt?

 

[chrwilkins30]

the shackle comes apart at the hanger. You will be lucky to get the shackle without the bolt being seized in the bushing. Mine was like that and i had to cut all bolts off and get new ones. Hope you have better luck than I did.

 

[Nathan123]

Even if you get the bolts out of the bushings, I doubt you'll be able to remove the bushings with the spring on the vehicle. You will more than likley need a press to press them out. The nut that holds the shackle to the bracket is just a nut, and it has a tab on it to allow you to tighten it without a wrench. The nut that holds the spring to the shackle is just a nut, it will come off with the bolt.

 

[bfiakas]

Thanks for the help,I plan as a 2nd option to remove the spring if the old bushings don't come out. I only know about 50 cuss words and I think I will use all of them by noon today on this job !

 

[bobbywalter]

if it is an az vehicle it likely will be pretty easy.


if you have a ox act setup or access it will likely be cake.

often times i just use hard all thread and hd washer custom fitted and reciever tubes made of pipe...sometimes i have to drill out or hole saw the rubber and use a c press and then a sawzall to get the innerbushing insert.

torch is handy

 

[Nathan123]

I had my leaf spring bushings pressed out by a shop, but for my swaybar link bushings i just drilled all the way around the rubber with a drill bit and they punched out real easy with a socket