Spring eye bushing replacement

[fastpakr]

I'm sprinting to get the swap complete on the Ranger this week and trying to offload a couple of smaller tasks. Have any of you guys paid a shop to replace spring eye bushings? I've got a set of sport trac leaves I'd like to throw in while the bed is off but would love to skip the labor time of installing new bushings. Just curious what a shop might charge.

 

[Dirtman]

Probably going to pay an hours labor so anywhere from 75-100 bucks.

However I say do it youself, if you buy poly bushings they dont need to be pressed in so zero time to install. And I've always just burned the old rubber bushings out. 20 minutes with even a little propane torch is all it takes. Just hit them with the torch till the rubber catches fire and then let them burn. After a few minutes you can just poke them out with a screwdriver. clean they eyes with some scotchbrite then the new poly bushings just slide in. Simple job.

 

[fastpakr]

Tempting. If I can get my hands on a set of poly bushings quickly I might just do that. I burned out one of the rubber bushings on my existing springs today, then promptly blew up my largest c clamp trying to press in the new one.

 

[Dirtman]

Look up the part number you need at energy suspenions website then just buy them on amazon. Youll prolly have them by Tuesday lol.

 

[fastpakr]

I've been trying to do just that. So far I've come up empty on any urethane options for an 02 Sport Trac.

 

[Dirtman]

I've been trying to do just that. So far I've come up empty on any urethane options for an 02 Sport Trac.

Can you measure the I.D of the spring eye, width of the spring, and overall width of the oem bushing? Alot of times you dont buy them per specific vehicle but buy size alone.

 

[fastpakr]

I can do that tomorrow and try to dig through a catalog. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[fastpakr]

For anybody who cares...

There's nothing in the ES catalog that directly fits the 2nd gen Explorer and 1st gen Explorer Sport Trac front leaf spring eye (RB237). Per some users over at Explorer Forum, you can use Energy Suspension part number 3.2125 for that purpose if you leave the original metal sleeve in place.

The rear spring eye is the same size as the Ranger's, so RB131 or equivalent will work there.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Which catalogue did you use? I need to find a bushing for a non spec application.
edit; ES = Energy Suspension
Online or paper?

 

[fastpakr]

ES is Energy Suspension, yes.

Click here for their universal catalog.
Click here for a list of Dayton's bushings

Past that, there was some luck involved in Google searches.

 

[fastpakr]

For anybody who cares...

There's nothing in the ES catalog that directly fits the 2nd gen Explorer and 1st gen Explorer Sport Trac front leaf spring eye (RB237). Per some users over at Explorer Forum, you can use Energy Suspension part number 3.2125 for that purpose if you leave the original metal sleeve in place.

The rear spring eye is the same size as the Ranger's, so RB131 or equivalent will work there.

Energy suspension 3.2125 was perfect for the explorer front eye bushings. I burned out the rubber core, ground out the remaining rubber with a rotary rasp bit, then tapped the urethane pieces right in.
https://m.harborfreight.com/high-carbon-steel-rotary-rasp-set-10-pc-62694.html

Quick question on the rear eye bushings. Should I take these sleeves out?

This is what's going in. Slightly different than the stock bushing. https://www.truckspring.com/products/Rubber-Leaf-Spring-Bushing-Type-1__RB-131.aspx

 

[Dirtman]

The link doesn't work but its fine to leave the sleeve in place if the replacement bushings require it for proper fit. Just make sure you file down the burrs.

 

[fastpakr]

I hit with a sanding wheel so no burrs, but it definitely doesn't appear to fit. I can't lay my hands on my calipers at the moment or I'd confirm inside and outside diameter.

Which link doesn't work?

 

[Dirtman]

The link to the bushings isnt coming up for me. Poly bushings should never be press fit or fall right in. Some grease and hand pressure should be all it takes...

 

[fastpakr]

It's not the poly bushings that I'm having trouble with. This is the stock replacement one for the back, it just isn't actually quite the same as the original.

https://www.stengelbros.net/RB-131-...-ID-2-916-Length-3-Overall-Length_p_2544.html

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk