Need help replacing leaf spring bushings.

[xtremebikr04]

I attempted to put my 3 inch drop shackles in over the weekend and ended up having to cut a couple of the bots and fully remove the springs from the truck. Upon doing so I noticed my leaf spring bushings are all cracked and should be replaced. Whats the best way to go about removing the old bushings? I was planning on replacing with energy suspensions poly bushings.

 

[TrentNell]

I have always used a "shop press" , and pressed them out , I have heard of guys "burning" the rubber out and then using a hammer and chisel to get the metal sleeve out in a pinch but have never tried it .

 

[xtremebikr04]

I have always used a "shop press" , and pressed them out , I have heard of guys "burning" the rubber out and then using a hammer and chisel to get the metal sleeve out in a pinch but have never tried it .

In all my searching I was seeing people would burn them out but i dunno if I wanna go that route. Probably just be easier to find a shop to press them out. Do the poly bushings need to be pressed in?

P.S. Engine should be ready in the next few weeks

 

[Leadfoot]

I've burned them out, pressed them out, combinations of those two, etc.
Burning is a PITA and smells and smokes, plus the rubber ends up being burn your skin hot.

If you use a drill and drill the rubber repeated around in a circle between the outside edge and inside collar, then press them out (balljoint press with big "cup") works best. Then a hammer and chisel to collapse the outter sleeve and pull it out. Takes a little bit of time, but works well, no smell and no fuss. The biggest "issue" is the shavings created by repeatedly drilling the rubber but that's easy cleanup with a vacuum or dust pan.

 

[TheBac]

I took a chisel and wedged it into the slit where the spring eye comes back around. This "opened" the area surrounding the bushing just a little. Sprayed some lubricant between the spring eye and the bushing, too.
I then took an air chisel and folded the lips that overhang the spring eye back over onto the bushing on one side. There is one side that has shorter lips than the other, I did that side.
Then I just switched to the air hammer, and using a socket as large as the outside of the side of the bushing with the folded lips, I "pushed" it right out.

I installed the Caltrac aluminum bushings using the air hammer and socket, so I think it would also work for OEM style too.

 

[Evan@InglewoodTrans]

I ground the outer lip off,set the leaf on a couple blocks of wood and beat it through with using some PB a big hammer and a socket. I could of brought it down to the shop and pressed it out but whats the fun it that.

 

[xtremebikr04]

these are some good ideas guys! :thumb: I might end up giving one and or a combinatoin of these a try and see what happens.

 

[hondarider552]

Why the need to fully remove the springs for 3" shackles? I just put mine on my LB7 this weekend, took an hour.

 

[Evan@InglewoodTrans]

Why the need to fully remove the springs for 3" shackles? I just put mine on my LB7 this weekend, took an hour.

I know on mine the bolt in the upper shackle was so frozen I had to take the pack out to get it out.

 

[hondarider552]

Then im lucky, mine slid right out :woott:

 

[jmaz268]

Mine was the same way....had to press the bolt out. Shit sucked.

 

[jlawles2]

To remove my bushings, I fired up the propane burner on low, set the spring on there and watched it burn/melt. After that was done, I took the air hammer and a punch and folded it in on itself on the small side and it slid out.

To put the new urethane bushings in, I used grease and stood on it. If that does not work, get a piece of threaded rod and a large socket. Use the threaded rod and a washer to pull the bushing into place.

 

[xtremebikr04]

Why the need to fully remove the springs for 3" shackles? I just put mine on my LB7 this weekend, took an hour.

The upper bolts were seized right into the spring themselves. Had the hitch and bottom bolts out in 30 min and thought man this is going way to easy....

It was a success getting the bushings out tonight after work. I used the drill method running it around the outside and it actually slowly worked the bushing right out. Then used an air hammer to get the sleeves out. Id say took about 1 1/2 hours. Most of the time was firguring out the first one. Thanks guys for your help!

 

[moss]

I took a chisel and wedged it into the slit where the spring eye comes back around. This "opened" the area surrounding the bushing just a little. Sprayed some lubricant between the spring eye and the bushing, too.
I then took an air chisel and folded the lips that overhang the spring eye back over onto the bushing on one side. There is one side that has shorter lips than the other, I did that side.
Then I just switched to the air hammer, and using a socket as large as the outside of the side of the bushing with the folded lips, I "pushed" it right out.

I installed the Caltrac aluminum bushings using the air hammer and socket, so I think it would also work for OEM style too.

X2!!