The "correct" way to remove leaf spring bushings.

stutaeng · Apr 16, 2022

DeCaff2007 said:
I have s 20 ton press and it didn't do crap. Blue wrench for the win.

Really? I've got some junkyard 3/4 ton leaf springs for my 1500 axle swap. I was thinking of putting new bushings before swapping them in. I also have a 20T press...

I think I've seen some YT videos of guys using the HF lighter press for the 1/2 ton leaf springs. Maybe I'm dreaming that up?

I'll have the torch ready if I decide to swap them.

DeCaff2007 · Apr 16, 2022

The HF lighter press is only a 10T IIRC. I've seen that one, too.

I don't think you understand the amount of rust and dry rotted rubber I had to deal with. This instance was about the worst I've seen.

Seems you're in Texas so you shouldn't have that problem. Your 20T press should work fine.

If it's any help, after the old bushings came out and I cleaned up the loops a bit, my press installed the new bushings with NO problem.

Frank Enstein · Apr 16, 2022

An air hammer works surprisingly well. I've worn out hammers beating bushings that wouldn't budge and they zipped right out with an air hammer.

If that doesn't work, NUKE 'EM with the torch!

Erik the Awful · Apr 17, 2022

I've never had success hammering or pressing them out. I've always burned them out. If you keep the flame orange, it's not going to re-temper that spring. My guess is if you use a heat gun or big torch and it's burning blue or clear, you're probably in that heat range that is going to change the temper.

packer0440 · Apr 17, 2022

Air chisel gets them out easy. Just use a jaw puller and an impact to press out the middle sleeve then hit the rubber with the air chisel then get a thin cutting blade and go in the gap on the end of the spring and they come out without too much issue. (Of course if the middle sleeve won't budge then pull out the hot wrench).

langkg · Apr 18, 2022

I’d be more inclined to change the spring out for new if the bushings were that far gone and it was a truck I cared about and planned to keep around for awhile.

DeCaff2007 · Apr 19, 2022

langkg said:
I’d be more inclined to change the spring out for new if the bushings were that far gone and it was a truck I cared about and planned to keep around for awhile.

I'm accepting monetary donations...

PlayingWithTBI · Apr 19, 2022

DeCaff2007 said:
I'm accepting monetary donations...

Well, everyone already gave you their $0.02 worth so, you oughta be getting close

DeCaff2007 · Apr 20, 2022

PlayingWithTBI said:
Well, everyone already gave you their $0.02 worth so, you oughta be getting close

HA! Never heard that one before.

RichLo · Apr 20, 2022

One member tried to open a GoFundMe to crowd source his rebuild... as you can imagine he got some creative responses and hasnt been back on here since. lol

The "correct" way to remove leaf spring bushings.

stutaeng

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DeCaff2007

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Frank Enstein

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Erik the Awful

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packer0440

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langkg

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DeCaff2007

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PlayingWithTBI

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DeCaff2007

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