Radius Arm Bushings
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 0
From: Lockport, NY USA
If your radius arm bracket is bolted to the frame then you just remove the radius arm nut then unbolt the bracket, slide on the bushings and put it back together.
If your radius arm bracket is riveted to the frame then you need to:
1) Jack up vehicle and remove front tire
2) disconnect the bottom of the shock
3) remove the stabilizer bar (if you have one)
4) remove the coil spring
5) remove lower spring seat
6) unbolt front of radius arm from axle
7) remove the radius arm nut
8) replace bushings and do everything in reverse.
This is for a 2wd. If you have a 4wd it gets slightly more complicated. BTW put a dab of loctite on everything when you put it back together. I didn't and had to go back and retighten the bolts 2 weeks after i changed the bushings.
-Jon
If your radius arm bracket is riveted to the frame then you need to:
1) Jack up vehicle and remove front tire
2) disconnect the bottom of the shock
3) remove the stabilizer bar (if you have one)
4) remove the coil spring
5) remove lower spring seat
6) unbolt front of radius arm from axle
7) remove the radius arm nut
8) replace bushings and do everything in reverse.
This is for a 2wd. If you have a 4wd it gets slightly more complicated. BTW put a dab of loctite on everything when you put it back together. I didn't and had to go back and retighten the bolts 2 weeks after i changed the bushings.
-Jon
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: houma, la.
Jon,
Thanks for the info. I replaced the bushings on both sides last night in 2 hours. The driver's side bracket was bolted & riveted, the passenger's side was just bolted, but several of the bolts were behind the converter with no way to access. The bushing on the pass. side was still intact but was melting. The driver's side was melted, cracked, & falling out. Thanks again for the help!
Thanks for the info. I replaced the bushings on both sides last night in 2 hours. The driver's side bracket was bolted & riveted, the passenger's side was just bolted, but several of the bolts were behind the converter with no way to access. The bushing on the pass. side was still intact but was melting. The driver's side was melted, cracked, & falling out. Thanks again for the help!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Kemah, TX
I want to replace pretty much every bushing on my truck. I have a few squeaks but can't figure out the source. It's driving me nuts. Does energy suspension make a replacement kit for our fords with all the necessary bushings to replace the stock ones? The only thing I'm affraid of is, I'm going to have to get this thing totally realigned. Was it really that easy to unbolt everything and replace them? Thanks.
-Joel
-Joel