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Front Spring Bushings

dhcomp

dhcomp

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Ok, my creaky/loose front end has been around for too long.

What are my options for stock bushing replacement in the front? Thinking i need front/rear leaf spring bushings, and the rear shackle bushing.

This thing sees road time, no real need to upgrade to anything crazy, or new shackle hangers, or new shackles.

What do you guys recommend? How hard will be they to swap out?

Good reason to not just go delco? The originals have 275 on them....id say thats pretty good :haha:

Thanks!
 
Never tried to push an OEM rubber bushing back into a spring eye.....:dunno:

the poly ones are just too easy not to use them...

For ease of install....I'd do ORD's poly bushings and greaseable bolts....in the springs and a set of new front shackles...

But that's just my .02....
 
Once i get the stock rubber out, i have to cut the bushing sleeve out of the spring eye, correct?
 
yes, I usually use a saw zaw and then a punch & hammer to knock them out. Just be careful not to cut the spring.

and a torch comes in handy for the stubborn rubber oem bushings
 
Ok, thats what i remembered. I'm in CA, so don't have major rust, but it has been my snow vehicle for the last 4 yrs, so its not spotless.

I'll chat with ORD, and see if they have stock size spring bushing for the main eye.

What are the stock spring eye sizes?
 
IMO stock replacements. How old are the ones in there now? :)

GM may even still sell them. Aftermarket rubber might be garbage for all I know, like everything else made of rubber for the trucks they make.

I really don't know if poly is as squeaky as is claimed, but I would assume there wouldn't be greasable ones if it wasn't an issue?

Cost-wise, factory replacements are probably more than poly. I don't particularly hate poly, it's good in some applications (engine/trans/t-case mounts), I just don't think requiring lubricant indicates particularly proper usage.
 
I'm so easily swayed on here with your guys opinions :haha:

Truthfully, picking the right AC Delco part numbers is tough on Rockauto.

Are the front/rear eyes on the springs the same size?

If thats the case, i need 2 ACDELCO Part # 45G15309 per side, and 1 ACDELCO Part # 45G15300

What is the bolt size that i need to get in order to replace all 3 at each spring?

No reason to reuse.

That being said, those Delco bushings are $90, without hardware, shipping or tax.

Going to ORD greaseables, with HD shackle, and bolts, is like $130.

hm.....
 
I haven't dealt with the newer springs, I know at some point (which would be before '91) the dimensions of the bolts changed.

Personally I see no reason NOT to reuse the bolts, back east it may be a problem, but most of the bolts on my truck have no corrosion on them, except the body mount ones, but those tend to puddle water. Those are somewhat substantial bolts, I suspect the shackles flex before the bolts do.

My parts manual goes up to '88, if the bolts changed by then, I can pull the part numbers for you.

Just googled, came up with this, no input on the company https://www.acdelcodirect.com/products/suspension/suspension-springs-and-related-components/45g15309 $14.
 
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You know, I recently did this job on my '89. Something I found that made me glad I got the HD shackle kit from ORD was that the shackle holes were ovalized. The new larger bolts could actually fit in my old stock shackles!

By the way, it really helps to throw the new bushings in the freezer the night before. Not necessarily to make them shrink, but they won't mushroom as much when you tap them in place.
 
Leaning towards the ORD approach.

Thanks for the tip on the bushings.
 
ccarley said:
Looks like I only have 3 photos from that project here:

http://carleynet.net/familypictures/view_album.php?set_albumName=Shackle-Replacement

It's kind of hard to tell from the angle on the shackles to see how bad the holes are, but trust me... they were pretty bad!
Click to expand...


Really, I bet mine are bad too. I've got all sorts of front end noises going on.

I hope my holes are bad too. I love finding the source of noises or destroyed parts when replacing things. Makes me feel like i actually did something. :haha:
 
Oh yeah, I totally hear you on that. I was stoked that replacing those bushings & shackles eliminated a lot of front end creaking :) The ride is smoother now too!
 
I get an awful noise when turning into driveways on the drivers side. Sounds like the tire is coming into the fender. It used to under hard compression, but i think the bushings are allowing it to move enough that its hitting all the time now.

I'm also getting popping from my front end under load in 4wd. Ujoints, diff, ball joints, everything else is good. Hoping its the front grabbing and moving on the bushings.
 
And.....done.

As you guys know, i'm pretty impulsive with these purchases.

I picked up the ORD HD greasable shackles/bushings, Main spring eye greaseable bushings, and sway bar bushings.

Couldn't justify not upgrading with the OEM bushings being so expensive. Plus, this way, i don't have to track down hardware.

Whats everyone's favorite grease for these? Whatever is in the grease gun?

Thinking standard black suspension grease in a tube....but i probably have a bunch of marine wheel bearing grease loaded up in some grease guns, that probably works well too.

Thanks guys!
 
Damn I missed it, but I was gonna tell you to also get the upper shackle hanger bushings, or the FUSH upgrade from ORD or DIY. Those are very commonly linked to the clunking "looseness" you are talking about. The OEM bushings are almost like plastic and they get very hard over time. I have the energy replacement # at home if you want it. I think it was faily inexpensive ~$30 for both sides and difficult to find.
 
MTBLAZER89 said:
Damn I missed it, but I was gonna tell you to also get the upper shackle hanger bushings, or the FUSH upgrade from ORD or DIY. Those are very commonly linked to the clunking "looseness" you are talking about. The OEM bushings are almost like plastic and they get very hard over time. I have the energy replacement # at home if you want it. I think it was faily inexpensive ~$30 for both sides and difficult to find.
Click to expand...


Decided i didn't care do to the FUSH upgrade.

That being said, the HD shackles/bushings include both upper and lower rear shackle bushings. Or at least the pic says so.

So, i should be good. Thanks for the comment!
 
I get an awful noise when turning into driveways on the drivers side. Sounds like the tire is coming into the fender. It used to under hard compression, but i think the bushings are allowing it to move enough that its hitting all the time now.
Click to expand...


Make sure to check the obvious stuff while you have it torn apart.... spring pack center bolts..loose U-bolts.....cracked main leaf.... steering box mounting/cracks in the frame...

stuff shifting around in the front end is not good... :doah:
 
wasted wages said:
Make sure to check the obvious stuff while you have it torn apart.... spring pack center bolts..loose U-bolts.....cracked main leaf.... steering box mounting/cracks in the frame...

stuff shifting around in the front end is not good... :doah:
Click to expand...


Good Call.

Center pins were replaced about 4 years ago, Ubolts last year. ORD Steering brace in place, steering bolts tight.

I swear i have a broken main leaf somewhere, based on how unlevel this old truck sits, but i can't find it for the life of me.

We shall see when i do the bushings. Thanks guys!
 
wasted wages said:
Make sure to check the obvious stuff while you have it torn apart.... spring pack center bolts..loose U-bolts.....cracked main leaf.... steering box mounting/cracks in the frame...

stuff shifting around in the front end is not good... :doah:
Click to expand...


Good Call.

Center pins were replaced about 4 years ago, Ubolts last year. ORD Steering brace in place, steering bolts tight.

I swear i have a broken main leaf somewhere, based on how unlevel this old truck sits, but i can't find it for the life of me.

We shall see when i do the bushings. Thanks guys!
 
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