Leaf spring shackle bushing. NEED HELP ASAP!!!

[Nuckinfoob]

alright, i notice my shackles were rotting out and got the replacements. the first side went on in 15 minutes. the 2nd side, not so much.

i got the bolt out of the leaf spring but the bolt that goes through the frame seems to be affixed to the bushing.

i have spent hours pb blasting it, beating it with a hammer and prying at it with a crowbar.

i can get the bolt to spin but it takes the steel bushing sleeve with it. and i dont have a torch hot enough to get the bolt cherry red.

so i think i have to drill out the bushing and replace it. but the guy at the dealership says i can ONLY buy that bushing with the frame which has to be complete bullshit.

but before i tear into it i need to know of a local place where i can get that bushing. autozone, murrys, pepboys, advance.....

I NEED TO HAVE MY TRUCK MOBILIEZED BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

my only other option is getting it towed tomorrow to a shop. and paying out the ass to fix it.

so anyone have info on that bushing?

 

[exploder xlt]

I know this is an old post but im having the same problem as you. How did you fix it?

 

[crunchie_frog]

Okay, I did not get it cherry red, but that probably is the easiest way, there are other posts on here that describe that. I knocked the little ears back on the bushing, soaked it with PB and then beat the *&%# out of it with about sledge hammer until it came out.

 

[exploder xlt]

By little ears do you mean the tabs on the head of the bolts?

 

[Wakeboy1337]

I am currently having the same problem too D-: I'm going to see if I can borrow a friend's torch. I've tryed a crowbar and picklefork and neither have done the trick for me. If I cant borrow a torch I'm not sure what I'll do. I've actually got a thread of my own going on this subject.

 

[crunchie_frog]

By little ears do you mean the tabs on the head of the bolts?

The bushing edges are pinched over just a little on the frame to be sure the bushing doesn't wiggle out (don't you wish). I took a chisel and knocked them back so there no longer the little edges that are pinched over on the frame. It is really small if you look at the bushing closely you can see it. I think I knocked off the tabs with a chisel first or maybe they had already rusted off.

 

[sjr033]

I used a ball joint press to push mine out. Also the Ford part number that you need is.... F57Z 5A546 AA for the new bushing. Cost at my local dealer was $14.44

 

[exploder xlt]

ok yeah i see what your talking about the end of it is kinda crimped over ill have to give that a shot i already picked up the replacement and it comes as one piece withthe rubber and the two sleeves. The guy at the dealer only charged me 8 bucks because it was on the shelf since 2005 lol.

 

[exploder xlt]

Well i bent the ears in today beat the sh%t out of it with the 3lb sledge till my arm fell off anf th damn thing would not move i dont understand how anything could rust so solid but then again the xploder is full of surprises. I brought it to the shop down the street and my mechanic is gonna help me get it out. Ill let ya know how he does it.

 

[jlsparky7]

I cooked mine till the bushing melted.

 

[crunchie_frog]

Well i bent the ears in today beat the sh%t out of it with the 3lb sledge till my arm fell off anf th damn thing would not move i dont understand how anything could rust so solid but then again the xploder is full of surprises. I brought it to the shop down the street and my mechanic is gonna help me get it out. Ill let ya know how he does it.

Sorry to hear you are having to take it to a shop. I had to lower the spare tire, I think I had a 6 or 8 lb sledge and I hit it for quite some time, probably an hour or so with multiple breaks and it finally broke loose. It is a press fit so when you put the new one in I had to heat up the hole in the frame and put the new bushing in the freezer.