87 4x4 front leaf bushings? / Finished axle rebuild pics

[munice]

Hey everybody, so i finally got both my new axles rebuilt: ('86 GM 10 bolt / 14ff 4.10 open) and got my new tires and rims (don't worry there are pics at the end)

But today was going to be a good day to swap the front in except I can't seem to locate two flippin leaf spring bushings..The problem is that the front leaf springs have two different style bushings for the 87 year. The front end of the front spring uses the typical one piece bushing whereas the rear eyelet for the front leaf uses the style made up of two rubber halves and the metal pin in the middle. Now i got new leaf springs, and they came with the press in bushings for the front eyelets but no bushings for the rear eyelets! (thus, why im looking for some)

i went to the parts stores around here and everybody's saying that they only show a one piece push in style bushing for the front. I talked to the spring shop where I got the new leafs and he's going to look for some and find out why they didnt come with any bushings in the beginning, and I'm going to call the dealership on monday to see if they can get some.

but the one question I had was (besides if anyone else has had this problem) has anybody found bushings from anything else that would fit in these springs? Almost all newer cars and spring kits for that matter use 2 piece bushings, you'd think that there must be some that would fit.

anyways here are the new springs with their front bushings:



This is the replacement bushings the parts store sold me (theyd fit the front eyelets but not the back)



Two shots of the current two piece rubber bushings (front leafs rear hanger)

[munice]

And here are the axle pics:











[
here are the before shots:

IMG]http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu263/AnalogFrog/bigaxles001.jpg[/IMG]

[82swampthing]

nice work, them things were lookin pretty nasty before.

[Buick455]

For my 87 3/4 ton GMC I could not find just the rear bushings for the shackles so I ordered 2 sets of poly bushings, see order below. You can get the originals (rubber) from LMC 34-1368 for $3.95 per (need 8) or shackle kit 34-1350 for $39.95 per side. For this location I would use the poly bushings.

energysystemparts.com

Shipping Method: Standard Shipping
--------------------------
Part Number: 3.2111
Product Name: Front Frame Shackle Eye Set
Quantity: 2
Unit Price: $10.99
> > > Color : Black --------------------------
Order Total : $21.98
Shipping : $7.99
Grand Total : $29.97

[68 TT]

You should paint your new drums with some high heat paint to keep them looking good. That bare cast iron will rust out in a hurry.

I have used BBQ paint from the hardware store many times and it works great.

[munice]

Originally Posted by Buick455

For my 87 3/4 ton GMC I could not find just the rear bushings for the shackles so I ordered 2 sets of poly bushings, see order below. You can get the originals (rubber) from LMC 34-1368 for $3.95 per (need 8) or shackle kit 34-1350 for $39.95 per side. For this location I would use the poly bushings.

energysystemparts.com

Shipping Method: Standard Shipping
--------------------------
Part Number: 3.2111
Product Name: Front Frame Shackle Eye Set
Quantity: 2
Unit Price: $10.99
> > > Color : Black --------------------------
Order Total : $21.98
Shipping : $7.99
Grand Total : $29.97

Thanks Buick 455, I'll look into those!

[munice]

Originally Posted by 68 TT

You should paint your new drums with some high heat paint to keep them looking good. That bare cast iron will rust out in a hurry.

I have used BBQ paint from the hardware store many times and it works great.

Yeah, I have a bunch of header paint, but I doubt it'd work cause i think the the parts have to get really hot to cure the paint. I suppose I could paint them once the axle is in and then just drive around for a bit?

[Buick455]

I painted my rotors with red caliper paint.

[68 TT]

Originally Posted by munice

Yeah, I have a bunch of header paint, but I doubt it'd work cause i think the the parts have to get really hot to cure the paint. I suppose I could paint them once the axle is in and then just drive around for a bit?

They don't have to get that hot to cure the paint but it helps so it doesn't get damaged just putting them on the truck. The paint will be touchy until it gets some heat to make it cure properly.

The heat of use may be enough for brake parts but I usually put them on the BBQ for a while and monitor the heat of the part with my temp gun. I just try to keep the parts about 200 degrees and that seems to be enough to cure the paint.

I have hung headers in front of a propane heater and that worked pretty well too.

I used to have an old oven in my shop that I used for home powder coating and it worked well for curing painted parts too. Absolutely do not use your kitchen oven. It will smell up the whole house and permanently mess up the oven so it always smells like paint.

[munice]

Well I talked to my local GM dealership, and it appears that GM discontinued both the bushings, and the full shackle kit. But, I did hear back from the spring shop, and they've got something coming that they think should work so thats good!

[munice]

Originally Posted by Buick455

For my 87 3/4 ton GMC I could not find just the rear bushings for the shackles so I ordered 2 sets of poly bushings, see order below. You can get the originals (rubber) from LMC 34-1368 for $3.95 per (need 8) or shackle kit 34-1350 for $39.95 per side. For this location I would use the poly bushings.

energysystemparts.com

Shipping Method: Standard Shipping
--------------------------
Part Number: 3.2111
Product Name: Front Frame Shackle Eye Set
Quantity: 2
Unit Price: $10.99
> > > Color : Black --------------------------
Order Total : $21.98
Shipping : $7.99
Grand Total : $29.97

I took a gander at that website and noticed that O'reilly's is one of their distributors.. So I checked on Oreilly's website and the list a "leaf spring shackle bushing sleeve kit" part no. 69201 so that might be a backup plan