Front end poly bushings questions (pics)

[fireguywtc]

First off I am having a noob to suspension question that I hope someone can give me some advice to make the install easier. I was trying to install the axel pivot busings on the I-beams and it does not want to go back in. Also I don't know which way the bushing are supposed to face exactly. The instructions are vague at best, but to support them being vague and insufficent, energy posted on their instructions that "if you are not familure with this type of work,...you should take it to the experts." When I attempted to put the driver side axel into place, the bushing would not stay in place and would pop out and deform no matter how much I tried to persuade them. Heres some pics of the bushings and the crappy instructions. (my specific application on the instructions is 4.3124, the middle one)



Finally I have some mystery bushings that I would like a verfication of to make sure im not crazy or doing anything wrong. NPD sent me 2 sets of radius arm bushings. One set is titles as such and the others are called strut arm bushings. The strut arm bushings are what I installed, they consist of 2 doughnuts (for each side) only and they reuse the OE washers. I assembled them on one side and they seem to fit quite well, so I believe I put them in the right place. BUT!, The other radius arm bushings have instructions to install them in the same place. When I tried to put them on the other side, they don't fit. I did look them up with the part# on google and found most places listed the for 80s model 2wd pickups. However, one place listed them as an upgraded bushings for the 65-72 pickups Do they go to anything else? If not they will be for sale since I doubt I can return them. Heres some pics of them to compare.

[fordman]

the installe radius arm bushing looks right to me the other one looks wierd. i've never seen one like that. i'd use the ones like you have installed already . the axle pivots look like they just slip together to me. once they are in you put the bolt through them. mayeb scotch tape tehm together if they are falling aprt when you put them in.

[QC]

The poly bushings that I put in my axles required the steel outer sleeve from the original bushings be left in the axle. You have to remove the rubber and leave the sleeve in. The poly bushings fit snugly in the sleeve. I see that the sleeve is gone from your axles, that is probably why the bushings are loose.

[fireguywtc]

thanks guys for the replys!

It maybe difficult to tell since I had painted everything, but the outside OE sleeve is still there. I have already removed all the rubber which was a pita, and the tight fit is really the problem, not loose at all. Its so tight that it pushes those bushings back out. The instructions call for a lot of grease which is supplied. I coated the heck out of them. It takes so much force to get the outter bushings half way in and then they slide right back out Tape will not hold them and I tried a clamp but the otter ones slipped out again. I figure I am doing it wrong or backwards IDK. Thanks, BIll

[Wes]

Hey fireguywtc I haven't done this, so just thinking out loud. A big "C" clamp and 2 pieces of wood, to squeeze it all in there at once. You may want to spread open the anchor brackets on the frame a little to add install once the bushings are finally in the axles. The radius arm bushings you used are correct the others are later model.

[mrtleavitt]

I did these bushings about 3 months back and all I did was sandwiched the bushings together in the i-beam in the vise. It worked out perfectly! I hope that helps. good luck!!!

[robroy]

When it was time for me to do the axle pivot bushings, I took them to a machine shop. I figured they'd have some fancy hydraulic press that would make short work of them--instead, the guy set them down in the parking lot, lined up the bushing, and SMASHED them in with about three hammer strikes. He put some grease on them first.

[fireguywtc]

Thanks for the replys Wes, Mrtleavitt, and Robroy.

It souns like my headache is a common problem, and I an porbably not as good as it as others! I am going to give it anther go today since I have some time and I will let ya all know how it goes. I am also going to try all your guys recommendations. Thanks again! Bill

[M-100]

The easy way to do it is . Put the center bushing with metal shaft in first. It may fight a little but a hammer and wide punch will get it there. Then put outer pieces in . Put a long bolt with a washer through the hole. Put another washer on and a nut . Then tighten it until it is seated. And dont forget your grease first. And one more thing , after it is seated leave it tight for a moment , to let the air escape. This worked great for me , I hope it work just as good for you.

[fireguywtc]

well I have success at last, I guess. I got them put in, but they are pinched out on the one side and didn't really seat proplerly. I guess that is normal. No metal to metal contact atleast. Thanks for all the help!

[robroy]

I got them put in, but they are pinched out on the one side and didn't really seat proplerly. I guess that is normal.

Hi FireGuyWTC! I'm not certain what you mean about being pinched out. When I had mine installed, they seated completely.

Here's a photo of how mine looked before installation; they're just held in place with plastic straps:



And here's how they looked after installation. Here's the view from one side:



And the view from the other side:



What vendor made your bushings? The ones in these photos were from Dennis Carpenter.

-Robroy

[robroy]

I just re-read your original post and realized that we're using a whole different type of bushing, so my last post may not be very applicable. Sorry!

[fireguywtc]

Robroy,

My bushings are Energy suspension poly bushings. What kind of bushings did you use, where they rubber? I noticed that you didn't have the outside metal sleeve (before installation) that I think I am supposed to have in there on mine. You can see the flanged side of my sleeve in the orginal post. I will take some pics of the pinched out part of the bushings to see if you all think it's normal.

[robroy]

My bushings are Energy suspension poly bushings.

Very nice! I would have chosen those too if I'd known they existed before ordering mine.

What kind of bushings did you use, where they rubber?

Mine were Dennis Carpenter bushings, and they seem to be made of the same stuff the factory bushings were, which is probably urethane rubber.

I noticed that you didn't have the outside metal sleeve (before installation) that I think I am supposed to have in there on mine.

You know, mine actually have the metal outer "shell" too. It's just hard to see in the pictures since Dennis Carpenter applied a thin layer of rubbery paint over the whole thing when they were done.

You can see the flanged side of my sleeve in the orginal post.

I see what you mean! It looks like the Energy Suspension version of the bushing comes in pieces while the Dennis Carpenter model comes from D.C. all molded together as one solid unit. I think you made a great choice on the E.S. bushings though; they're probably way tougher.

I will take some pics of the pinched out part of the bushings to see if you all think it's normal.

Excellent! I look forward to checking it out.

-Robroy

[fireguywtc]

Here are the pics of the pinched bushings, both sides. Sorry they are hard to see since everything is black but you can pretty much tell that the bottom is pushed out from when I forced the axle up into the bracket.