I have a 95 f150 with a worn out bushing on the front driver side. Its so bad that when you drive down the road you can here it banging back and forth making a loud noise. My question is has anyone ever changed one of these before or should i take it in for service. Thanks in advance for your help..BJ

 

I dont know what it is called but if the part we are talking about is the same it is the big rubber bushing that goes on some support arm from the I beam to the cab. My 95 needs it changed also. I have the parts but haven't done it yet. Looks like a real chore.

 

Yep we talking bout the same thang. I was afriad of that, I just wonder if it will cause and damage or if im taking the risk of the wheel falling off if i dont change it right away. HaHa

 

It's called a radius arm bushing. If you don't change it, eventually something is sure to break. In the near future, you'll have alignment problems and tire wear.
I've replaced them on an E150 van once, wasn't too hard. The big nut on the end is tough to get off, use lots of "PB Blaster" and an impact gun it you have it. On the vans, the brackets are held on by bolts, easy enough to remove until you discover that the pass side bolts back into the cat, preventing removal. I wound up having to cut the bolts to get them out. IIRC, F-150 have rivets holding them in. You'll need to grind them off and replace with bolts, use Grade 8, they are available from the dealer.

Good luck

 

don't remove the brackets, take a large tie down strap and pull the large treaded end out of the bracket. the whole arm will pivet on the center bushings just enough to install the new pieces. remember which way they come out so you don't have to take it apart like I did 2X. Impact wrench is a must on that large nut

 

TIP:

Make sure you buy the polyurethane bushings when you decide to change them out. The rubber ones, especially the passenger side next to the cat, will wear out again. The poly's will last a longgg time.

-Glade

 

Depending upon the motor, the primary reason the passenger side goes out first is due to how close the exhaust is.

The exhaust on the 302 V8 equipped trucks is VERY close to the radius arm bushing, and it pretty much cooks the rubber. I replaced mine a while back, and also welded a metal plate to the frame to shield the bushing from the exhaust.

 

I agree with beckerjs. I've chaged alot of them. it was easiest for me to remove the shocks and springs and then the rest will pivot enough from the center.

 

from what I remember, you don't need to pull the shocks or springs just the large nut facing aft, of corse the truck needs to be supported from the frame so there is no weight on the front end

 

I did consider the swing method, I didn't think there was enough play to do it. If I ever do it again, that's how I'd go.

 

Tom knows what's up. Been there, done that.