bushing question and suggestion?

[SwaintaN]

ok so gonna be messing around with the rear soon, replacing axle, having some things powder coated... so i figured while im back there, might as well change out some bushings, since they are originals.

My question, what is the technical name of the bushings, so when i search i know im getting the right thing. Also I know to go polys, but whats opinions about best brands

These are bushings in questioning, yes the brown on the frame is Ohio lovely salt damage (rust) i was playing with paint to show my kid how to use it

edit: does it matter if the leaf springs are not stock?

 

[Tony H]

I thought the Leaf spring Bushings are in the leaf spring. So they can be called out that way. The 'Rear Frame Spring Bushing' should get you the correct part.

Careful, Aftermarket Springs MIGHT carry a different outer dimension on the bushing.

 

[SwaintaN]

i was thinking about it, the ones in the RC springs blew out a while back, they sent replacements for them, they were poly replacements, even made me take out the metal sleeve and do just bushings, so i guess ill just check those, they might not need it.

for the other one, that is what ill search then. do i need one with a sleeve or do i just take out the old bushing, leave the sleeve in and press new bushing, or take the sleeve out to?

 

[Tony H]

The other one?? you mean teh one in the Frame? You can probably only get that one with Sleeved Rubber.
That is going to be a tough one to get out. You may want to put teh Bushing in the freezer the night before the Install. The will contract a bit and hopefully help you press them in.

I do this with Ball joints all the time. It helps

 

[SwaintaN]

yeah one in the frame.. i dont think i replaced the front of the leaf spring bushings, i think i did just the rear leaf spring bushing that went into the shackle.

 

[Anime]

The ones in the leaf springs are called spring eye bushings, the one in the frame is just a frame or shackle bushing.

You'll have to press out the bushings, then cut the sleeves, since new spring bushings are sleeveless. Same with the frame bushings, but they have their own new metal sleeve already, which makes them a job to press in.

I like Energy Suspension when it comes to suspension bushings, both because their stuff is more reasonably priced than most, and if you get the black bushings, they are graphite-impregnated which helps reduce squeaks.

I would suggest just going ahead and getting the whole Energy Suspension Hyper-Flex kit for the 91-94s, it comes with ALL the suspension bushings, so you can replace the radius arm and sway bar bushings with poly as well. Right now Explorer Express has it on clearance for a great price. It's a better deal than spending almost half the price of the kit just on the six spring bushings.

You will want to double-check the spring eye dimensions of aftermarket springs, though. Many times they will use a different size, so bushings made for the OE factory springs won't fit. In this case you can just buy new spring eye bushings by size.

 

[SwaintaN]

I replaced rad bushings a while back, had to, old ones shot, same with tie rod boots, sway bar bushings, sway bar link bushings, all are red synthetic ones

the ones i found for the frame to shackle bushings dont have metal sleeves, they were just a two piece bushing