Radius Arms Bushings?

[quadtrac]

Im trying to change the radius arm bushings in my 1997 4x4 ranger, but am not sure how to get it all apart. I got the 2 nuts off the arms and all the parts on the backside, but am not sure how to get the rubber bushing in the front of the bracket. Someone said you can grind off the two rivets and then take out all the bolts for the arms bracket? But am not sure what is the easiest way. Thanks

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Remove the rivets that hold the radius arm cross member to the frame, remove the cross member, replace the bushing. Then reinstall the cross member with appropriate sized grade 8 hardware.

 

[Downey]

^^^ exactly and make sure its grade 8 dont buy cheap bolts or you will fold the front suspension right under your truck if you hit a good bump

 

[quadtrac]

Removing the Crossmember??

ya that was my plan on how to take the crossmember out, but its shaped kinda like a U in the middle so I cant just pull it straight back. Im working on the passenger side, but needs some ideas on how to slide that crossmember out. Thanks

 

[harriw]

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but if you were replacing the pivot bushings too, would you still need to remove the radius arm mount bracket? I was thinking unbolting all 4 points would allow enough room to pull out the arms... Or does the front drive-shaft not have enough play? In that case, would it be easier to take off the front drive-shaft instead of taking off the radius-arms mounting bracket?

Thanks!

-Bill

 

[Downey]

^^ if you are replacing the pivot bushing you can just unbolt the drive shaft and the radius arms and both pivot points and drop the whole front end. and slide it forward and replace the radius arm bushing and slide everything back. i would rebolt the radius arms b4 you try and put the pivot bolts in

 

[BlackBII]

You could always remove the shock and tie rod end, then push the whole beam forward, so the radius arm comes out of the bracket. That's how I have always done it. That way you dont have to grind any rivets and unbolt the crossmember.

 

[harriw]

That sounds great. I had planned to remove the shock, sway-bar-link, and cailper, but hadn't thought of the tie-rod end. I'm going to be replacing them too so that's a no-brainer. Can you get enough play without unbolting the drive shaft? Or do you take that off too? Not a big deal I guess, as that will be the only thing holding the front end to the truck that I am not planning on replacing.

I would LOVE to see the look on the wife's face if she saw the ENTIRE front end assembly removed, sitting on the garage floor...

Thanks again!

-Bill