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Why did I do this.......

G

GMC5.3

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jul 28, 2014
Posts
100
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Location
Colorado
I got quoted 800 from 4wheel parts here in Denver CO to install my 6inch superlift kit.

I'm feeling pretty stupid for doing this myself cause I can't the the damn used ones in and I'm probably doing the easy ones "rears" first.

I've greased the bushings of the used springs along with the hangers they go in and nothing.

Any tips or tricks, I almost feel like I should ask for help on this forum and just pay someone to come teach me how to do this

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What's the problem, that you can't get the springs to go into the hangers? It looks like there are a bunch of autocorrect errors in there so I'm guessing.
 
So here's my passenger side leaf spring, I just feel like the bushing is stuck out far enough that it won't allow it to slide in and down, along with maybe the top bolt sticking out to far.

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This is as far down as I can get it to go with a hammer, I tried wedging a 2x4 on top to help force the spring down and it just moves the entire truck

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It's pretty simple, remove old springs, install new. Bolt the front spring eye in, then the rear shackle to the spring. Repeat for second side. Once the springs are bolted in, lift the axle up to the springs, line up the center pin and install the u-bolts. Repeat for the other side. Don't torque the spring eye bolts or shackle bolts until you cane put the weight of the truck on it. Install shocks last.

Same thing for the front, except you'll have to deal with the steering. Did you get any steering correction with the lift?
 
I wish it was that simple, I may take a grinder to both ends of the bushings as well as install that bolt threaded end the opposite way so it won't hit the hanger.

Thanks for the replies gentleman, if your in Denver and wanna stop by I'm sure ill still be freezing my ass off doing this haha
 
Is the axle already bolted to the spring? If it is, take it back off. Line up the shackle, bolt it in and then bolt the axle to the spring.
 
I live in green valley ranch, out by the airport, the spring is not bolted to the axle, I'm gonna call it a night and go get more beer for tomorrow night, probably get a grinder to clean off the old hangers and possibly grind some of the sleeve that sticks out of the bushing.

As far as steering correction, I ordered that dropped pitman arm, do you know if the transfer case for the first gen blazers need anything as well?
 
GMC5.3 said:
I live in green valley ranch, out by the airport, the spring is not bolted to the axle, I'm gonna call it a night and go get more beer for tomorrow night, probably get a grinder to clean off the old hangers and possibly grind some of the sleeve that sticks out of the bushing.

As far as steering correction, I ordered that dropped pitman arm, do you know if the transfer case for the first gen blazers need anything as well?
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Flip the bolt around, or use that spring on the driver side.

Don't grind the sleeve please. The sleeve needs the sharp ends to hold properly in the hanger, without them the bushing will twist in the bracket and quickly wear it out. It's a whole lot easier to grab a big crescent wrench or pipe wrench and lightly bend the outer tab on the frame bracket out and make a little more room for the bushing to drop in.
 
Because of the arc of the spring being more than stock, you might have to raise the body up little to let the spring hanger meet the spring eye.
 
ZooMad75 said:
Because of the arc of the spring being more than stock, you might have to raise the body up little to let the spring hanger meet the spring eye.
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Better way is to flatten the spring out. Put a 4x4 (or stack two 2x4's together) between the eyes and use a couple ratchet straps somewhere towards the center to flatten it out some.
 
As was mentioned, the thread side of the bolt away from the frame will help.

Second, ive been known to grab the lip on the spring hanger with a pipe wrench. Just a bit of torque can open it up enough for that bushing to come down.
 
Thank you, I'll definitely give these tips a try, how hard are the body bushings compared to the lack of skill I have with this damn lift?
 
GMC5.3 said:
Thank you, I'll definitely give these tips a try, how hard are the body bushings compared to the lack of skill I have with this damn lift?
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Hey this is how the rest of us learned, so i classify them as doable.

On a related side note, my place of employment routed me down Tower Rd today. I saw no smoke and heard no profanity, so I took that as good news?
Did you burn down the Blazer yet?
 
Body bushings on a 1st gen aren't tough, even easier if they have been done before on the vehicle. Otherwise you may have to cut off a bolt head or two. If you make it through this, you'll be able to do the body mounts.
 
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