Leaf spring front bushing Question

[95rangerboy]

Hey Everyone I am replacing my front leaf spring hangers seeing they are rotting out. typical I did the rears last year and now the fronts are gone. The question is how hard is it to change out the bushings on the front of the spring? Thank you in advance for your help..

 

[1996xlt3.0]

the bushing is a metal sleve that sits in two rubber end caps just like the back ones... i used a grinder to cut the nut off the old one heated the piss out of it and used a tuning fork to punch it... have fun with the drivers side you dont have to drop the tank just take them off on the passenger side and push the tank over with a small jack... i didnt reuse the metal sleve i used an over size grade 8 bolt from the harware store that was 9/16ths and i have had no problems without the sleve.

 

[95rangerboy]

I will try that when I get the shackles in. I just ordered them today and hopefully be here by this weekend. I slacked on doing the rear ones and the bed has 2 holes in it where the shackles came through. Gotta love ford and their cheap metal that will rot. Just want ot do it right the 1st time and not worry about the bushing rubber later on... Thanx for the info.

 

[95rangerboy]

I was thinking can I change out the rubber instead of the whole sleeve?

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

when i did my first set on my 1990 i used the torch and burned out the bushings and then used a die grinder to cut a slot in the metal shell because it was to rusted to tap out with a hammer. i replaced them with polyurethane bushings which come in a 3 piece design. you get two rubber bushing, one inserted in each side of the spring and a sleeve, which fits inside the bushings for the bolt to ride in. if you go to the parts store and dont specify that you want this style you will get another bushing with a steel shell on the outside which will be hard as hell to get in without use of a press. the secong set of bushings i did was on my 94 and i bought the springs brand new from LMC. they came with the pressed in rubber bushings so hte first thing i did was order some new polyurethane ones and used the shops press to remove the original sleeved bushings. you might ask why get rid of new bushings that are perfectly fine but ive learned that when you live in the rust belt things have a tendency to crap out when you least expect it and its easier to remove the 3 piece bushings when the bolt rusts into the sleeve vs trying to remove the bolt sleeve and bushing with metal outershell still attached.

 

[95rangerboy]

I actually did buy the polys 3 piece from autozone. I just got my brackets in the mail yestersay and will tackle them this weekend seeing it will be 70+ degrees and I have off on monday soo i can take my time.. I am debating on drilling out the rivets or just grinding them down. I ground down the rear ones when i replaced them last year but hopefully i can drill em.

 

[86ford]

drilling will most likely be more miserable that grinding them. drill bits dont like the domed surface of the rivets not to mention there is a HUGE likely hood you will deform the hole thats left after the rivet is removed.

86

 

[95rangerboy]

I guess grinding is the best bet.. need to get some wheels. and have fun.. thanx for the advise 86 ford.