Front leaf spring bushing question - outer sleeve question

[CS1972]

I started replacing the front leaf spring bushings today until the power went out at my house (squirrel fried via a electrical transformer). It's on my 1/2 ton 4X4.

My question: does the bushing located in the rear of the front leaf spring, upper bracket have a metal OUTER sleeve like the ones in the leaf springs that must be cut/removed, or is it only rubber? It looks to me like it's just rubber with a inner metal sleeve, but I'll defer to someone who's replace the originals to educate me.

Thanks

[AussieinNC]

The uppers are two bushes and a tubular insert.
The outer "tube" is actually a bracket with an attached tube that acts to contain the bushes....

Check out the attached link for an exploded view of the parts...

https://www.lmctruck.com/1967-72-che...-4-wheel-drive


I noticed some cracked paint on the outer chassis rail surface behind the rear bush support...suggest you wire brush the paint and check for cracks in the rail face.

['68OrangeSunshine]

2 rubber halves with a steel tube insert in each shackle eye. [Upper and lower.]
The steel sleeve on the outside of the bushing is for the front spring eye.

[CS1972]

So, I only had to cut / remove the factory outer metal sleeves in the front spring eye. The rear shackle eyes - upper and lower did not have the outer metal sleeve like the front spring eye so that was nice. I did not remove the leaf springs, I just did one at a time (except the shackle – did that all while I was there). Finished passenger side and then I moved to the driver’s side.
Used a 1 1/8” hole saw (front bigger bushing) and 7/8” hole saw (shackle bushings) to make quick work of the bushing rubber. Never done this before so it took me about 12hrs over 2 days to get it all done.

Next project is to do the rear bushings, I noticed that all the bushings are the same size for the rear, is the rear the same as the front? Meaning: the only outer factory metal sleeve to cut / remove is the one that is not at the shackle end?

The LMC picture shows the perfect world of replacing AFTER removing the outer metal sleeve in the front spring eye.

You get so wrapped up with the task at hand you tend not to notice other things, will check out the cracked paint on the outer chassis rail surface behind the rear bush support tomorrow. Tired and ready for my Teeling Whiskey & Coke + TV.

[davischevy]

CS1972, did you go back with the original style bushings? If so, where did you get them?

[CS1972]

No, I did not put the original style front spring eye bushings with metal outer sleeve and as far as I can tell the rear shackle eye bushings from Energy Suspension seem to be just like the original.

What struck me as odd is that ALL the bushings from Energy Suspension for the entire Front leaf springs were "solid", meaning they did not have little “slits” on the inside diameter like the Rear bushings (see pic). Not sure why that is.