1993 leaf spring bushings

[btoscano]

Hey all,



I bought some MOOG SB266 (front) leaf spring bushings but they don't fit apparantly Dodge started using a 5/8" bolt instead of a 1/2" bolt in 1993. Anybody know a solution other than to ream out the center of the bushing?



Thanks,

 

[AKimmel]

This doesn't really help, but I think they used a 5/8 bolt on all the diesels.

 

[TKingsbury]

The 5/8" bolt must be a later deal, my 91. 5 has all 1/2" hardware up front.

Travis. .

 

[btoscano]

Yeah. In searching the forum I found that 1993 folks usually ended up reaming out the inner sleeve in lift kits, etc. . hope there's a better solution.



Brian

 

[Flexiheep]

I bought bushings at the dealer a couple years ago because the parts houses couldn't source the larger bushings. The price wasn't bad, thought I don't remember what it was now (maybe 5-8 bucks each?). The problem I had was that they didn't fit the spring eye tightly. Might be worth trying the lift manufacturers (Skyjacker has diesel specific lifts maybe they have the right bushings).

 

[btoscano]

What did you end up doing with them not fitting the eye tightly? Do you have a part number?

 

[Flexiheep]

I don't really remember what I did, probably not much to be honest (it was a lot better than what I pulled out at the time. I was fighting a lot of spring movement and put in new bushings on the drivers side and repaced a bunch of loose rivets in the front of the frame. I really hate the push pull steering that the american trucks had then, it seems like it really does bad things to the bushings. Give me cross-over any day!

 

[btoscano]

My drivers side bushing is the one that's shot too. Getting worse every day. Time to give the dealer a call. Skyjacker docs say to leave the sleeve out in diesels where bolts are bigger than other models... nice of them! I would think the sleeve would be more important because of in the increased load.

 

[btoscano]

I have never replaced leaf spring bushings before. Its the ones in the front of the truck that need it... NOT the shackle end. Can anyone give me the procedure? Jack up and support the frame up front... then what? Do I need to deal with the shackles and let them down? Thanks!