Leaf spring bushings..cause of looseness??? - Diesel Forum

mybimota · 09-10-2005, 01:54 PM

i have searched high and low through the forums and about wandering "X".

I have replaced ball joints, pitman arm, shocks, re-alingment and fluid change in stearing gearbox.......now it comes to bushings or the stearing gear box its self.

My question could it be the leaf spring bushing?
and
is there an aftermarket stearing gearbox avaible??

thanks

Hoowasat · 09-10-2005, 03:51 PM

Did you read this article?
http://www.supermotors.org/clubs/for...le_1/index.php

FamilyRide · 09-10-2005, 06:15 PM

Have you adjusted the steering gearbox?

mybimota · 09-11-2005, 06:06 PM

i did adjust the steering gearbox and got it tested to be sure also.....but she's like brand new!!.

ok i did some experinmenting by putting the truck frame on jack stands and pushed on the front passenger wheel...and i could move the leaf spring at the frame(back bushing)
I had probly 1/4" of slop. I also did it to the drivers side and my front leaf spring mount was moving a little less then 1/4". and i have squeeking from the mounts also

my truck has over 100K miles on and the suspension is stock beside new rancho shocks and swaybar bushing(the cause of the clunking noise).

I bet that this is the cause of the Wandering X's... people with over 90k miles on it

I am ordering a bushing kit from Energy Suspension to see if this is the problem.

If you are under your "X" and get some one to rock the truck back and forth using the bumper and see if you have movement also....i also could see movement and feel it this way with the tires on the ground.

thanks

EXCAV8TER · 09-12-2005, 12:24 AM

Hey do you have a photo of the "clunking" sway bar bushing? thats gotta be whats driving me nuts!
and PLEASE inform me of the energy suspension upgrade..I am seriously considering that. I have a friend here in town that swears its the best thing he's ever done to his truck...
Thanks
Tom [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

mybimota · 09-12-2005, 11:46 AM

Tom,

I throught out the old swaybar bushing when i replaced them but here is the link for energy suspension part # Energy suspension
scroll done to excursion and I replaced it with the part # 4.5180 was about $15

I am buying the master kit today part # 4.18120 it about $175..

ill let you guys know what what feedback i get from that

thanks

coldair · 09-14-2005, 07:25 AM

I have deaver springs that Incorporated the factory rubber spring bushings in their packs and I had 3 for them start to move around first I noticed a squeak coming from the front spring hanger, Deaver sent me all new bushings and after replacing them the truck was much tighter. the other things that need checking is the upper drag link ball joint at the pitman arm and the tracking arm bushings and bolt torque its is something like 387 ft lbs

clamgulch · 09-15-2005, 10:28 PM

There is a local shop that replaces track bars all the time. The owner swears the factory ones are junk and wear out in 24,000 miles, sometimes less. I have an adjustable trac bar on mine and it helped a little bit, but with my lift, I think the only thing that's going to really help is ladder traction bars on all 4 corners. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]