Front spring eye bolt bushings

[DPKetchum]

Any body ever replaced the spring eye bolt bushings?That was my noise and i've ordered them. $8. 00 each. How hard or easy are they to replace?

 

[keimmmo]

Here in central Mexico the roads are ROUGH and I replace lots of suspension bushings! Replacing them is not difficult if you know a couple of tricks.



If you just try to beat out the bushings, it will be GRIEF!!! Either take the spring to a hydraulic press and crush the spring eye a little to shrink the bushing, or use a screwdriver like a wedge to slightly open the spring eye. Now you can easily remove the bushing. If you use a press, crush the spring eye all you can without permanently deforming it and the bushing will often just fall out... literally!!!



Press or hammer in the new bushing. Dropping a bolt the same diameter as the spring bolt into the bushing as a driver helps avoid damaging the bushing. After installing it, use a drift punch to stake it so it can't move side to side. Use the punch against the outer wall of the bushing to "flair" it in at least 2 places... better 3-4.



You should be set for several more years!



If you have more questions, I'll try to help.



Steve

 

[cerberusiam]

They suck! They need to be pressed in. If you can replace them with resorting to a press, they won't last. The best luck I have had is take the springs out and drop them off at your favorite truck center. Might be an excellent time to do a recurve and rebuild to cure the inevitable sag and rough ride.

 

[keimmmo]

Between my vehicles and friends vehicles, I have PERSONALLY replaced dozens of bushings over the years! A press makes the install easier, but a good 3-5 pound hammer will get the job done. If you have trouble getting them started, use the screwdriver method to slightly open the spring eye while driving the bushing. Just don't get the point too far inside so it will hit the bushing as you are driving it.



It is a common problem to have the bushings move side to side after the install... even if you press them in. That is why it is important to stake them!



This IS NOT a fun or romantic job! But, it CAN be done with common hand tools with good results.



Steve

 

[keimmmo]

Another important point... do not tighten the bushing bolts until you set the truck back on it's wheels. This applies to both the front bolts and rear shackles. Install everything and tighten everything else, but leave the bushing bolts till last! If you tighten them with the wheels hanging, it will twist the rubber inside the bushings when you put weight back on them... quickly breaking them again.



Steve

 

[DPKetchum]

Thanks for the info. I really hoped not to remove the springs but install bushings in springs with only dropping front then rear etc. I still have good clearance between spring and rubber stop. Also really can't afford new springs now. I think before a rearch i would just buy new aftermarket. Really just want to replase bushing. Was hopeing to like drop rear of spring on a jack stand,do the bushing then do the front same way. am iwrong in thinking this way?

 

[keimmmo]

I have replaced bushings without dropping the whole spring, but it is a ROYAL PAIN!!! You can open the eye a little with a screwdriver or chisel. That will help. The biggest problem is getting something heavy enough behind the spring to support it while you pound out the old bushing and drive in the new one. You will DEFINITELY need a strong friend to help you!



If you pull the springs, you can lay them over an anvil. I use an old 6 cylinder Chevy block I have in my shop... good use for it since it was cracked anyway. It is still easiest if you have a friend hold the spring while you pound on the bushing.



If your U-bolts are rusty and will probably break, you will suffer one way or the other... choose which way you prefer. If things aren't too rusty, it would be easier to drop the spring. We replaced the front springs on the old '92 a couple of weeks ago. It has seen road salt only a couple of times in it's life. Everything came apart like it had just rolled off the showroom floor!



Something else to consider is the position of the shackle on the passenger side. From the factory it is installed in such a way that you have to drop the exhaust to get it off or take it apart with a torch and replace it. If the upper bushing is still good, you can drop the whole spring and get it out. If you leave the springs bolted to the axle, you will have to completely drop the whole spring and axle assembly and drag it to one side to get it apart unless you drop the exhaust or cut and replace the shackle. If you remove the shackle, you can install it with the nuts inboard so it will come apart easily the next time.



Steve

 

[DPKetchum]

Damn what a pain!Sure want a new 03!!The problem i'm going to run into is only ordered bushings. There are no shackles or u/bolts in stock anywhere. The biggest thing is where ever we do it,at least the place i talked to can't(won't) tie up a rack for days waiting parts. Was hoping to drive them out and new ones in with a big hammer or the shop manual shows making a tool with a bolt/washer/sleeve or using a air hammer etc. I can't do this job at home in driveway and two shops said they would do it only if its in and out in a few hours. Nobody around here really wants to work on it!

 

[SnoDawg]

If there is a spring shop in your area They can make the U-bolts. I ran across this problem a year ago when I needed one for my 65 Caddy and they made one up for me just take the remains of the old one with you or a good set of measurements.

 

[keimmmo]

A lift??? I haven't had THAT luxury for over 15 years!!! I DID have the luxury of a cement floor and a 4 ton floor jack to change the springs on the '92. Other than that all that is needed are some wrenches and hammers! This IS NOT rocket science!!!



I have not had the luxury of air tools for about 15 years either. I am not used to using them. I could see that you might be able to beat out the bushings with an air chisel if you use a big hammer as a backup on the spring. I'm not so sure about getting them back in that way.



Too bad you aren't down here in Mexico! The bushings and U-bolts are over the counter items. The bushings I bought had Chrysler emblems on them, so they are probably original replacement items. They cost about $3 each! I didn't need any U-bolts, but I know of SEVERAL places that carry them!



The rear spring bushings were totally shot on my truck. Yet, the upper shackle bushing was fine. I chose not to change it to avoid extra work. That meant I did not have to deal with removing the passenger side shackle. I left it in place and pulled the spring off... no problem since I had removed the spring from the axle. The whole job took less than 4 hours start to finish!



Steve

 

[DPKetchum]

I fully understand. Not that i can't do it. But i've had two knee and one back surgery in last 20 months. last knee was 8 weeks ago. I ordered Mopar bushings and only two came in from Atlanta depot as of Friday. Others shipped from eleswhere. I'm going to see if there is a spring shop in the Athens Ga. area today. Only one in yellow pages phone number is now no good!If they need to be pulled off it will be. I'm just amazed at the independent shops that pick and choose there work. No wonder the dealers end up with all of the HARD repairs. Talked to another stand alone front end shop yesterday. He looked at truck and said PASS!Admited he only wanted easy type repairs. Said he used to do it all but found it was more profit in only doing the easy quick stuff and took hiring less skilled employees. I just as soon pull them. Get springs rebuilt and truck aligned. He did'nt even want to align it. My truck now is CLEAN with 112,000 miles!No rust. And other then a little wear on drivers seat bottom looks almost new. Its amazing at attitudes. Your advise has been GREAT. Thanks!

 

[keimmmo]

I now understand your reluctance to tackle the job! While there is nothing high tech about it, it is heavy work! I have bad knees, just arthritis. That is enough to make some jobs difficult! You have much bigger problems than I do!



With luck, things will come apart like mine did if your truck is as rust free as you think. Still, I understand shops preferring to pass. This is a job that could be a problem if they break something that is not readily avaible at the local parts store!



Let me know how things go.



Steve

 

[DPKetchum]

Well i keep being amazed at the auto repair industry,Called a number of FULL service shops in the ATHENS Georgia area. HOME OF THE GEORGIA BULLDOGS and nobody wanted to do the job including a SHOP that advertised Full service on all makes INCLUDING DIESEL truck etc. Next thing i found out was not a spring shop ONE near or around Athens Georgia. In the past i dealt with KESLER tire in Gainesville ga. About 60 miles away. They DO align dually and MidDuty size trucks etc. Talked to a owner PHIL who said no big deal and said there was a drive line spring re-builder near him. RON's Drive line. Asked me to call them Monday a. m. and see if he had ride height specs etc. Phil said 90% chance he'll turn it around in one day including realignment. I know life can be a pain but thats a lot of two vehicles driving back and forth from one town to next etc. JUST really shocked at ATHENS this isn't a small town. In fact Gainesville a lot smaller then here.

 

[Philip]

DPKetchum



What you are running into is a common problem with the auto repair industry. The private owned shops like to pick and choose the jobs they do. Lets take your truck. Your wanting to do spring eye bushings. No big deal unless you have something jump up out of the ordanary. The shop owner is thinking the lose of a shop stall for a couple of days if a problem comes up. For a lot of them they decide to not take the risk. Send the hard/risky jobs down the road and make a lot of money off of the little easy jobs.

 

[DPKetchum]

Folks don't really have a place to ***** about dealers. I am really amazed at the attitudes of these independent shops. We need a really good Diesel performance store as well as general repair in this area.

 

[DPKetchum]

Talked to driveline shop that rebulids springs. Need my own bushings. Which i have ordered. They don't like to re arch springs said would had a extra small leaf. Seems like a lot of steel spring to me!also said they never no know how much to re arch unless you measure and then tell them how high ypu want it. But he said rearching dosen'nt last. Said a extra leaf will bring it up a inch. Actually my truck has got about 2 inches before rubber bumper stop. Anybody know hi high they were when new. Apt. made for a week from tommorrow to get work done.

 

[DPKetchum]

Well i thought i'd update this. Ordered spring eye bushings for front springs and shackles last Thursday and as of today STILL missing ONE. Appointment for repair is this Tuesday. They all have come from differant depots on differant days. Hope i or nobody else needs any in a HURRY.

 

[DPKetchum]

New update. Its Friday now and still missing all the bushings. THE PARTS guy at the D. C. dealer now says the shakle bushing is same as spring eye and reordered! Dosent know if it will be here Monday or not. Glad truck is drivable. Eight days so far waiting parts!Glad it wasnt taken apart first. The parts guy at D. C. dealer thank god dosent know its for me. He's a 23 year old know it all that i offered to take out for a beer about a year ago.

 

[keimmmo]

On my '92, the front bushing is 1 1/8 OD with a 9/16 bolt. The rear spring eye is 1 OD with a 1/2 bolt. The upper shackle bushing is different... it has a shoulder on it like a control arm bushing. Shackle is 1/2 inch, but I'm not sure about the OD. Bottom line, all three bushings are different!!!



Steve

 

[DPKetchum]

They wanted production date and had us take mesurements of spring eyes etc. Said??a production change. I WONDER?Well see!If your correct this is going to be a mess when it gets taken apart.