little problem

[1991fordexploder]

Ok so I changed the passenger side radius arm bushing and I can't get the bottom axle bracket bolt back in. How can I get it to line up? And can I drive it like that?

 

[Maniak]

No, you can't drive it with any of the bolts missing..

Are you saying you have the RA back into the RA bracket but the RA bracket's bottom bolt is not in yet? If so, you need to get the RA to relieve the pressure from the bracket.

How is the truck situated right now? Are the front tires down? is the truck on the ground or is it on stands? if on stands, where are they?

Just trying to figure out how to tell you to relieve the pressure. It will depend on how the truck is sitting right now.

~Mark

 

[1991fordexploder]

I drove it to work this morning w/o the bolt in it. But I had the jack stand on the frame right in front of the trans crossmember.

 

[Maniak]

Ok, got cha.. Here is what "I" would do..

You need to get the pressure off that RA bracket..

Loosen (don't remove) the RA nut and the other bolts holding the bracket on.. (you need the bracket to be able to move)..

Now put something big in back of the passenger side front tire.. Something big that the tire can't drive over and something that wont' slide (I actually own wheel chocks, so thats what I use)..

Now start the truck, put it in reverse and drive it backwards very slowly about 1" or so. Now put on the parking break and put it in park.

That "should" relieve the pressure on the RA bracket so you can get the bolt in. You may still need to put a big punch or something in there to align the holes but you should at least have a fighting chance now..

~Mark

 

[1991fordexploder]

The top bolt for the ra is under the spring and no one has a 3/4" drive deep 1 1/8" socket

 

[Maniak]

Not those bolts.. I mean the single bolt at the end of the RA where the bushing it. Its that same 1 1/8" bolt.

You want it loosened so as you pull the axle forward (by driving backwards a little) that is take the pressure off the RA bracket..

You may still need a jack to lift up on the RA or the RA bracket to help line up the bolt.

Also, The 1 1/8" bolt at the bottom of the spring can be removed with an open ended wrench. Thats how I always remove mine.

~Mark

 

[1991fordexploder]

Did u ever take off the top bolt/stud?

 

[Maniak]

Have I "ever", yes.. Have I ever when doing RA bushings, NO..

When we put on the extended (custom) Radius arms I had to remove those nuts (funky bolt actually). I just cut the open ended side off of my 1 1/8" combo wrench and used my high lift jack handle as a cheater bar and took it off by hand. I used this method since where we were doing the work didn't have a good compressor.. His compressor could only do 4 cfm and he only had 1/4" air line. We just couldn't get the volume or pressure needed for my 1/2 drive impact to break it free.

I have also used an impact wrench to take them off (the ones that hold the RA to the axle beam). The impact did make short work of it, but it wasn't "needed". We did this at my neighbors house and he runs 180 psi on his air lines and runs 3/8" air hose on his small lines.

~Mark

 

[1991fordexploder]

I have even tried putting the truck in 4low. While holding the brakes and tugging on the front axle and it moves too far.