Rear spring bushings

[Robert8096]

What is the best way to remove the bushings from the rear springs and shackles on a 1/2 ton shorty?

Thanks

[85gmcguy]

I've never done it myself, but from what I hear/read an oxy-acetylene torch seems to be the tool of choice. Burn/melt/hammer and punch. sounds like a good time to me!

[1LowToy]

I'd check with a specialty spring shop or supplier. My wife was a CRAZZZED Postal Worker and she had her own RH drive Jeep. A spring had broken on it and the local supplier had new springs in stock for a couple of C-notes. Otherwise I say a press and the right drift.

[rblcori7]

When i had to replace mine i soaked them in some gas and then lit them on fire about 10 minutes later all that was left was the metal sleeve laying there....

[Robert8096]

Seems like fire is the way to go but I am a little sheepish about heating the spring ends. I have a 25 ton press so I may soak them in penetrating oil and try the press, if that does not work then I will fire off the hot wrench. Had a bad experience with lighting up gas so I think I will pass on that option.

Thanks for the replies.

[Gordonr1973]

When I replaced my bushings in my '98 I did not have a press at the time....so I used a power drill and drilled out as much rubber material in each bushing as I could get to (this is a long process and it stinks of burnt rubber) and when I got a little movement there I used a sledge hammer and socket to beat them out.

If you have a press you might be able to do it quicker that way.

I've ordered a master set of Energy Suspension bushings for my '87 and the set should arrive on Friday --- I'm going to do my bushings next week on it so if someone has a better idea (as I can't light them on fire in my backyard in the city) please let us both know!

Thanks!!

[Robert8096]

Originally Posted by Gordonr1973

I've ordered a master set of Energy Suspension bushings for my '87 and the set should arrive on Friday
Thanks!!

Whats the part number of the bushings and who did you order them from ?

Thanks
Robert

[Gordonr1973]

I got them through a local dealer who bought two different sets for me as the catalogue isn't clear on measurements....once they come in I'll give you the part number of the set that fit the truck.

Originally Posted by Robert8096

Whats the part number of the bushings and who did you order them from ?

Thanks
Robert

[Robert8096]

Thanks

[Gordonr1973]

Originally Posted by Gordonr1973

When I replaced my bushings in my '98 I did not have a press at the time....so I used a power drill and drilled out as much rubber material in each bushing as I could get to (this is a long process and it stinks of burnt rubber) and when I got a little movement there I used a sledge hammer and socket to beat them out.

If you have a press you might be able to do it quicker that way.

I've ordered a master set of Energy Suspension bushings for my '87 and the set should arrive on Friday --- I'm going to do my bushings next week on it so if someone has a better idea (as I can't light them on fire in my backyard in the city) please let us both know!

Thanks!!

I now recant my last post after spending 2 hours just getting one bushing apart....I am going to take all of my parts with bushings that need to be replaced and tonite I'm going to soak them in deisel fuel and tomorrow light them on fire at my dad's farm to burn them out. I'm tired of wasting time on chicken sh!t stuff like this!!

[rblcori7]

Originally Posted by Gordonr1973

I now recant my last post after spending 2 hours just getting one bushing apart....I am going to take all of my parts with bushings that need to be replaced and tonite I'm going to soak them in deisel fuel and tomorrow light them on fire at my dad's farm to burn them out. I'm tired of wasting time on chicken sh!t stuff like this!!

I feel your pain man... that is exactly what i did i sat there with a a hammer and a vise and any other tool i could think of out of my tool box for 3 hours and still couldnt get them out so i said F it and got out the fuel lol

best of luck man

[menace121978]

cool thread! i spent a good part of the day hammering away on mine last summer. i got 1 side done and said the heck with it and took them down to the local napa/machine shop and got drilled for $10 a bushing... well worth it though

[Gordonr1973]

Here's what I did today....good news is they came out after only about 4 or 5 minutes in the firs so the metal wasn't too overheated....and everything is going back to the sandblaster tomorrow to get cleaned off!

[Robert8096]

FWIW. The 25 ton press made short work removing the bushings from the springs. I had to do a two step removal process on the shackle bushings, removed the steel sleeve and then the rubber portion. It took me more time to go dig the press out of my storage container than removing the bushings. Total time with press setup was about an hour.

[Gordonr1973]

Originally Posted by Gordonr1973

I got them through a local dealer who bought two different sets for me as the catalogue isn't clear on measurements....once they come in I'll give you the part number of the set that fit the truck.

The Energy part number that fit for me was: 3.2106R (R is for red bushings that I used)

[Gordonr1973]

Originally Posted by Gordonr1973

I got them through a local dealer who bought two different sets for me as the catalogue isn't clear on measurements....once they come in I'll give you the part number of the set that fit the truck.

Energy Suspension 3.2106 R (red)

[Robert8096]

Originally Posted by Gordonr1973

The Energy part number that fit for me was: 3.2106R (R is for red bushings that I used)

Thanks for the info,I ordered those same bushings (but black) and they fit the springs just fine but an 1/8 inch too large for the shackles. It may be that somtime in the trucks life they were replaced with aftermarket units. I took the shackles and bushings to a friend and he is going to try to mill down the bushings to fit. Let me know if you run across this problem.

[Gordonr1973]

Originally Posted by Robert8096

Thanks for the info,I ordered those same bushings (but black) and they fit the springs just fine but an 1/8 inch too large for the shackles. It may be that somtime in the trucks life they were replaced with aftermarket units. I took the shackles and bushings to a friend and he is going to try to mill down the bushings to fit. Let me know if you run across this problem.

Since my shackles were new and had new rubber bushings, I left those as-is.

[SeanPaintsFlames]

Since neither I nor my neighbors are big fans of a big rubber smoke out, I used a different method that I've not seen mentioned. I had a hole saw that was just the right size to fit in between the inner and outer sleeves, and it only took a few minutes to get each of them out. The sleeves were the biggest pain. Having to air-chisel the edges in and slowly fold them over to the inside until they just gave way and popped out- that took about 20 minutes each.

[lilpoindexter]

I took a socket of just under the size of the metal shell, and beat them out with a small mallet. I didn't struggle too bad, although i was pretty tired when I was done.
I put the new ones in the freezer over night, and they went in with no drama.

[mooseknuckles]

Originally Posted by Robert8096

What is the best way to remove the bushings from the rear springs and shackles on a 1/2 ton shorty?

Thanks

burn em out with a torch.