Removing Old Leaf Spring Bushings?

[darrel_s]

Trying to replace the leaf spring bushings (front and rear)in my 71. Tried removing just one last weekend and it was nearly impossible to get out. Any body got an easy way to remove these?

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http://www.forsakenproductions.com/1971_K5

[69 longhorn]

I have always burned them out. Heat the center steel to a glow,& when the rubber lites up you can push the sleeve out. Then let the rubber burn,& push it out. Then take the torch & cut the outer sleeve 2 places & push it out. Note,you may want to do this outside.......or you will look & feel like a coal miner!!!!!

[darrel_s]

Thanks for the advise. I take it you used a cutting torch. I tried a little propane burner but that was useless at getting the rubber to burn.

Do replacement bushings come with the inner ring, rubber, and outer rings ? On the one I did get out, I left the outer ring cause I wasn't sure if it stayed. Couldn't beat it out anyway.

Where did you get your replacements from?



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http://www.forsakenproductions.com/1971_K5

[REPO1]

I did them on my '81 4x4. It was a real b!tch. Again like stated above, I used a torch and burnt out what I could. (a huge mess) then used an air hammer to cut/chisel out the outer part.

Reid

[Low69CST]

We've always used urathane bushings back, but you can also buy factory rubber ones.

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'69 CST Short fleetside
Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 3" dual exhaust, 40 series Flowmasters, 4 wheel disc brakes, all stainless hard and flex lines, front & rear sway bars, Dana 9 1/4" rear end 4.11's w/Detroit Locker, soon to have 18" rims
Not my daily driver. More like my weekend A$$ KICKER.
See my truck at: http://www.geocities.com/low69cst/
Future Automotive Engineer attending the University of Kentucky.
Feel free to message me on AOL, SN- SS95ZQ8
My Dad's projects:
72 Short Fleet 4x4 Chyenne Super
72 Long Fleet 4x4 Chyenne Super
Both 350 autos restored original

[69 longhorn]

The ones in my longhorn came as complete(innner/outer/sleeve). If you are using urathane,I would check with the manufacture,I think some of those bushings use the original outer shell. Yes i do use a cutting torch......it will make a lot of black smoke though. Good luck....69 longhorn.

[Big69C20 Toy]

The ones i've done i usually ended up drilling many holes in the rubber around the inner ring then bangin the piss outa that inner ring till it slid out, then i just pulled/drilled out whatever to get the rest of the rubber out. When i replaced mine i did em with 2 part urethane bushings that have a lubing assembly internally so you can hook up a nice grease gun. Ohh yeah i'm without a torch so i had no other way

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69 Custom 20, 396BB,Longbed fleetside.
Just Installed Wood Bed... Gorgeous

Edelbrock performer RPM-O, Edelbrock 750Carb, Headers, HEI.

SN= Ares220

[Yukon Jack]

With mine I used a hole saw to get rid of as much material as I could then a drill bit to get rid of more, then used a v shaped air chisel bit to knock the bushing out. Then I used that same v shaped air chisel bit to bend and beat and bend and beat the outer sleeve out. It was one of the more time consuming task when I did my initial lift.

I tried a little propane hand torch with very little success. I'm sure a cutting torch would be a different story. If the springs are still attached to the axle/truck, watch out for burning unintended stuff.

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1969 C20 4x4 with roughly 6" lift and 35's
residing near Rose Hill, Kansas

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