Radius Arm Bushings

[Ford(BuiltTOUGH)]

Bought a 92 explorer. Eddie Bauer edition. The radius arm bushings are rotted away.

Question..

Is there a simpler way to change these with out removing the brackets?

 

[5spdman]

Simpler; no. Grinding away the rivets for the bracket is the easiest way to go. If you don't want to do that, some people have moved the beams far enough forward to do the work, but it'd be better to take off the springs and shocks and remove the arm from the beam (tried moving the beam to do it once myself...didn't go so well and we ended up taking the coils off to do it anyway)...not a terrible project, but replacing the rivets with grade 8 bolts is the easiest way to go.

 

[Number4]

^^^ This is by far the easiest way. It sounds more difficult than it is. Just get an angle grinder and take the heads of the rivets off. Then as mentioned, put in some grade 8 bolts, clean up the area and spray some rust treatment spray paint on it. Yes, you'll nick the bracket a little.

 

[vq5speed]

If you keep the truck long enough you'll make the job easier the 2nd time around. I replaced mine for the 2nd time about 5 months ago.