Radius arm bushings - Diesel Forum

jonmercer05 · 05-02-2005, 03:00 PM

Has anybody here down these on your own? How difficult are they to do? So far ive heard only negative things about them. Also the center pivot bushing(or whatever) needs to be replaced.
--Jon

Doug Bensen · 05-02-2005, 03:24 PM

I'm doing mine as we speak but not because I wanted to. I was trying to replace the king pins and couldn't get the pin our no matter how hard I tried. It did budge a little but not enough to come out. Sooooo, I unbolted the radius arm bushings, axle pivot bushing and the lower spring mount and brought the whole mess to a machine shop. I will go back together with all new rubber parts so it should be good as new.
To just do the radius arm bushings I don't know if the axel shaft needs to be lowered to get the distance to load all the bushings on the arm end. I wouldn't want to seperate the radius arm from the knuckle end. I seems easier to lower the whole mess like I had to do. Just a thought. Let me know how it works out.
Good luck,
Doug
'86 F-250 4x4
'89 E-250 ATS

**finallygotanIDI** · 05-02-2005, 10:32 PM

when we did the ones on gruss's truck, we ground off the rivits on the brackets, and replaced them with bolts, easier than trying to undo the axle end,
Nick

Stickhauler · 05-02-2005, 10:44 PM

I second Doubles reply. We use a torch to cut the radius arm bracket rivets. Be careful to not cut the bracket or the frame. A good chisel on an air hammer will work also. I have seen Poly bushings at the local NAPA store. They are a little more money but should last longer than the rubber ones. Just my .02