Front Leaf Spring Bushing Removal

[nfury8]

How is the front bushing front the front leaf springs removed?
This is the one pressed into the frame. It looks like both sides
have a shoulder. Is it 2 pieces, one pressed in from both sides?
If so, how is it removed? I don't see any mention of it in the
service manual.

Thanks!

-Scott

[MarsMonster]

Hello,

Are you refering to the bushing that has a pin through it? There is a hanger on it, holding the front spring eyes? Did you notice the busing barrel? It has a greese fitting on one end? Am I talking about the same thing you are?

Might not be the best way, but was certainly the easiestf for me. I ground the 3 rivits off the frame that hold the bushing in place. Then took the whole thing to a machine shop and had new bushings pressed in for near nothing. I had to do some leg work to find the correct bushings though. I believe I bought them from ESPO.

Hope this helps.
Dave

[nfury8]

66 may be different, I don't see any rivets or zerks.

It is the bushing, just forward of the shock tower.

[digdoug]

Beat or torch the center out.Sawsall the outer case of the bushing.knock it out.

Doug

[nfury8]

I had one of the mechanics from next door take a look, that was pretty much his answer also.
Luckily, there is nothing wrong with it, so it will stay in place.

[HEtkind]

Funny, I was playing with spring bushings yesterday...

here is MY write up I did for the Town Wagon list server...

For the last few years I have been trying to track down an annoying
front end weave, only present at highway speeds on the 62 Town Wagon,
D100. I rebuilt the leaves, put in a new steering box, king pins,
tie rod ends, and nothing seemed to help. The heavier the rear of
the truck was loaded, the worse the weave got, and a heavy trailer
was miserable.

Well, last summer I was following the wife as she drove the 68 D100
Sweptline pickup and noticed the left front corner seemed to sag
about 3/4" compared to the rest of the truck. First thought was that
we really needed to go on a diet, together. However, a few cans of
spray cleaner later, I found out the spring bushing on the left front
spring, in the front position had crumbled, so I swapped it out, and
the truck rode more level. Then I changed out the other side, then
the two front ones in the Town Wagon.

Once I changed the front ones in the Town Wagon, handling started to
improve. Then the project got halted since I needed to put the smoke
back in the electric locks, fix the gas gage, the ammeter and 10,000
other projects.

Last week, I must have got a bug up my rear, but I ordered this time
a box of FOUR spring bushings for the rear eye of the front leaf
springs on both old dodges. I did the Town Wagon over the weekend,
and I found the right rear bushing was just about totally destroyed.
This box of bushings were from ESPO Springs and Things, five bucks
each for the two piece poly.

Road Test revealed much improve tracking at highway speeds and
moderate speed on county roads. I am very happy with this result.

Now, I am getting different listings on rear springs bushing sizes,
some books say same as front 1/2" bolt, 1" diameter, some books say
1.25" outside diameter, and some say 3/4 bolt. Does anyone have a
good size on these, or do I need to pull a spring and measure?

Oh, once the bushing totally crumbles, the outer layer of metal is a
pita to remove from the spring eye!

Howard

[nfury8]

I got a pretty good idea that is what is jacking with my 71.

Good info!

[HEtkind]

anyhow, now that the front bushings are done, time to start on the back one...ESPO has shackles with bushings for $31, so I am going to order a set tonight.

Howard