Radius Arm Bushings and Pivot Bushings

zavetsky · 01-23-2003, 09:45 AM

Hi all....

I did a search and found only a few topics on this (right!!).....

Actually, I am kinda serious....*MY* issue isnt RA bushings per se...its the REPEATED replacement of them....

My truck is in the shop having upper and lower balljoints (both sides) and front U Joints replaced....

The mechanic said they noticed that there is a gap in the RA bushings......Now, mine were just replaced about 1.5 years ago (maybe 10k miles tops).....

I have had that annoying knocking sound again though, and couldnt isolate it from the bad balljoints.....

Is it possible that the cold weather (5 degrees at night) is causing this noise????? I cany believe that the RA bushings would be bad ALREADY.....I took it to adealer for that and they used Ford's POLY replacement kit......(they are definately the hard poly stuff).....

I was also wondering if the axle pivot bushings are an issue --- would these give me any kind of noise???

Since they are already doing the balljoints, would this save me any labor to have them do the pivot bushings now?? Or is that seperate altogether????

I intend to look at the RA bushings myself this time and do the rivet-cut method.....seems like the best bet.....but the axle pivot bushings sound very scary.

thoughts??

DZ

*Isles4evr* · 01-23-2003, 02:39 PM

The bolt on the back of the bushing might have back itself off. If the bushing still look fairly new (I'd imagen they do), then I would try to tighten them. I had a knock over bump, etc from ball joints, and a few months after that I had a knock when brakeing, so i replace the RA bushings. If the knock is over bumps, and not just braking then it is probably no the RA bushings. The pivot bushings are more invlolved. Either you have a special tool to do the bushings while they are still on the truck, or you drop the axle (I-beam), and press them out. A tool like a ball joints press may be able to do the trick for ya.

Hope this helps some
Chris

zavetsky · 01-24-2003, 07:45 AM

Do you have any info on the special tool/procedure needed to do it while the Ibeam is in the truck??? I want to try to stay away from dropping the whole suspension.....

Thanks in advance!

DZ

*Isles4evr* · 01-24-2003, 03:39 PM

I have never had the privlidge of doing them myself

. I'll ask another tech at work tomorrow though.

Chris

*KEbert* · 01-24-2003, 08:15 PM

Actually you don't need to drop the suspension. You will probably have to dissconnect the swaybar though. The remove the nut on the RA and push the axle forward. It moves, or a least mine did, enough to put the bushings on.

01-23-2003, 09:45 AM	#1
zavetsky Wannabe Elite Explorer '94 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 313 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Radius Arm Bushings and Pivot Bushings Hi all.... I did a search and found only a few topics on this (right!!)..... Actually, I am kinda serious....MY issue isnt RA bushings per se...its the REPEATED replacement of them.... My truck is in the shop having upper and lower balljoints (both sides) and front U Joints replaced.... The mechanic said they noticed that there is a gap in the RA bushings......Now, mine were just replaced about 1.5 years ago (maybe 10k miles tops)..... I have had that annoying knocking sound again though, and couldnt isolate it from the bad balljoints..... Is it possible that the cold weather (5 degrees at night) is causing this noise????? I cany believe that the RA bushings would be bad ALREADY.....I took it to adealer for that and they used Ford's POLY replacement kit......(they are definately the hard poly stuff)..... I was also wondering if the axle pivot bushings are an issue --- would these give me any kind of noise??? Since they are already doing the balljoints, would this save me any labor to have them do the pivot bushings now?? Or is that seperate altogether???? I intend to look at the RA bushings myself this time and do the rivet-cut method.....seems like the best bet.....but the axle pivot bushings sound very scary. thoughts?? DZ __________________ 1994 Explorer 4x4: GONE! Now: 2003 Dodge Durango 4x4!! ===================

01-23-2003, 02:39 PM	#2
Isles4evr Elite Explorer ECX Member Mechanicsville, VA 91 XL 2dr Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 921 Vehicle Specs	The bolt on the back of the bushing might have back itself off. If the bushing still look fairly new (I'd imagen they do), then I would try to tighten them. I had a knock over bump, etc from ball joints, and a few months after that I had a knock when brakeing, so i replace the RA bushings. If the knock is over bumps, and not just braking then it is probably no the RA bushings. The pivot bushings are more invlolved. Either you have a special tool to do the bushings while they are still on the truck, or you drop the axle (I-beam), and press them out. A tool like a ball joints press may be able to do the trick for ya. Hope this helps some Chris __________________ '91 XL 2dr, converted from 2wd to 4wd Now working on a SAS 44! My Rig '04 GMC Sierra, tow rig and Daily driver

01-24-2003, 07:45 AM	#3
zavetsky Wannabe Elite Explorer '94 XLT 4x4 Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 313 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Do you have any info on the special tool/procedure needed to do it while the Ibeam is in the truck??? I want to try to stay away from dropping the whole suspension..... Thanks in advance! DZ __________________ 1994 Explorer 4x4: GONE! Now: 2003 Dodge Durango 4x4!! ===================

01-24-2003, 03:39 PM	#4
Isles4evr Elite Explorer ECX Member Mechanicsville, VA 91 XL 2dr Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 921 Vehicle Specs	I have never had the privlidge of doing them myself . I'll ask another tech at work tomorrow though. Chris __________________ '91 XL 2dr, converted from 2wd to 4wd Now working on a SAS 44! My Rig '04 GMC Sierra, tow rig and Daily driver

01-24-2003, 08:15 PM	#5
KEbert Elite Explorer California '91 XLT Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 987 Vehicle Specs	Actually you don't need to drop the suspension. You will probably have to dissconnect the swaybar though. The remove the nut on the RA and push the axle forward. It moves, or a least mine did, enough to put the bushings on.