Leaf Spring Bushings

[DingBat]

Hey guys,

66 W200 Crew Cab.

Have am 8-lug Dana-44 from a mid-80's chevy.

Looking to put in under the Crew. Plan to switch to the newer style power-gear box for the steering. prepared to put new spring mounts on the chevy axle. If the chevy axle is a titch narrower or wider than the dodge, i'll deal with that with wheel off-set when I buy wheels.

Curious about the leaf springs though, not overly concerned with weight ratings, and would prefer to not have to re-spring it, but no opposed either.

But a guy with a 65 ford told me his ford has bronze bushings in the leaf spring-eyes that need to be serviced(greased) - and that I should watch that on my truck and now would be a good time to switch to more modern rubber bushings.

is this true for our trucks?

[WD]

My 1949 has greasable bushings, my 1969 does not. Crawl under your truck and look for zerk fittings. If you don't see any fittings, the truck should have "modern" no grease bushings, rubber with a steel liner.

Grease them anyway. Pull out the bolt, generously slather it in grease, and put it back in. Do one bolt at a time. Also lube up your spring packs, I use PB'laster, half a can per spring pack, spray the front side of the springs until it creeps all the way through. Flushes out corrosion, lessens the amount of bind leaf to leaf and quiets things down a bit. Did the same trick on a late 50s or early 60s horse trailer that came out of coastal Alaska and then sat idle from 91-2011. Original springs worked great towing the loaded trailer (with an overloaded D100) from Seattle to Memphis.

Most owners ignore their truck's springs. My trucks may look like junkyard rejects, but the suspensions are nearly flawless. 92 and 94 Rangers. 49 and 69 Dodge 1/2 tons. 84 C60. 85 C10. 92 K1500 Silverado. 68 Dodge M400 based motor coach.

[coelcanth]

.

[1surfer]

Looking for bushings.

I have a 1968 W100 1/2 ton. My understanding is that the short bed is rated as a 1/2 ton. I have been told the the springs and suspension are exactly the same as the long bed 3/4 ton.

Does anyone know where I can order the correct bushings ? Having trouble finding them.

Is it ok to just measure width and diameter and use a pretty much generic set ?

[Wildergarten]

Grease them anyway. Pull out the bolt, generously slather it in grease, and put it back in. Do one bolt at a time. Also lube up your spring packs, I use PB'laster, half a can per spring pack, spray the front side of the springs until it creeps all the way through. Flushes out corrosion, lessens the amount of bind leaf to leaf and quiets things down a bit.

Here is what i found at the Eaton website on the topic (https://www.eatondetroitspring.com/lubr ... afsprings/).

Starting in the mid 50’s the steel used to make springs began to change over to SAE 5160 which does not like petroleum based products, grease/oil/etc.

Petroleum based products deteriorate the steel causing premature failure. A great way to demonstrate this is to look at the front springs on a heavy duty truck that is leaning in the front. There is a 99% chance that the spring on the low side is coated in oil and or grease.

Prior to the change the type steel used was not effected by much of anything. In fact, the center section of the spring was designed so the spring could be greased through the centerbolt and the grease would be spread to each leaf.

[PowerMan]

In case you are looking for the bushings in the front leaf springs themselves, you can get them at Summit Racing, etc. I have had good luck with these. Have done these in 4 different trucks.
These should work for 61-71 trucks...at least 100 and 200 series D or W.
Front leaf spring polyurethane bushing part info:

Energy Suspension Polyurethane Bushings:
(2 different color options)
5.2102R (Red)
5.2102G (Black)

As for the upper brass bushings, I have yet to replace any.

[Wildergarten]

Energy Suspension Polyurethane Bushings:

5.2102R (Red)
5.2102G (Black)

Many thanks!

Which are the front v. back bushings in the springs?

[PowerMan]

I edited the post but the bushings I specified are for the front leaf springs.
The rear leaf bushings have multiple different bolt diameters (1/2" for D100, 5/8" for D200, and 3/4" for W 100 and 200 series). As for 300 series and larger, I have yet to replace any leaf spring bushings.

[Wildergarten]

The rear leaf bushings have multiple different bolt diameters (1/2" for D100, 5/8" for D200, and 3/4" for W 100 and 200 series). As for 300 series and larger, I have yet to replace any leaf spring bushings.

Interestingly, I have a '67 D200 that came with factory overload springs rated for 3,125# per side. The bolts are 3/4".

I may just go with those polyurethane bushings.

[PowerMan]

I used some springs from 1969 D200 Camper Special with factory 3 leaf overloads and they were 5/8". That may have changed between 68 and 69.

[68swep]

In case you are looking for the bushings in the front leaf springs themselves, you can get them at Summit Racing, etc. I have had good luck with these. Have done these in 4 different trucks.
These should work for 61-71 trucks...at least 100 and 200 series D or W.
Front leaf spring polyurethane bushing part info:

Energy Suspension Polyurethane Bushings:
(2 different color options)
5.2102R (Red)
5.2102G (Black)

I just checked those out and it looks like they fit 69 and above d100's. Rock Auto looks like they have them for a 68, not poly, but in different sizes. Is there an easier way to see what I need with out taking the old bushings out first?

As for the upper brass bushings, I have yet to replace any.