Replacing rear bushings on leaf springs

[Dino]

The new Moog split bushins will be arriving today so I'd like to get the old ones out.  The nuts on the shackles are loose but the bolts are still in place.  Do I simply set a jack under the axle and raise it to take the pressure off the bolts?  How much should the axle be moved up ideally?  I have stands under the rails nextto the front eye of the leafs.  And is it normal to have the nuts face towards the middle of the car?  Would the rails be in the way when removing the bolts if they were the other way around?

[green69rt]

The new Moog split bushins will be arriving today so I'd like to get the old ones out.  The nuts on the shackles are loose but the bolts are still in place.  Do I simply set a jack under the axle and raise it to take the pressure off the bolts?  How much should the axle be moved up ideally?  I have stands under the rails nextto the front eye of the leafs.  And is it normal to have the nuts face towards the middle of the car?  Would the rails be in the way when removing the bolts if they were the other way around?

No, raise the car, not the axle, to take tension off the springs, yes, yes.   those bolts can be a bugger to get out, sometimes you can just push on the threaded end while turning the bolt head with a wrench so it will "screw" itself out of the bushing.

Edit.  Sorry, I was thinking of the front bushing bolt.  Also, I now see that the car is on stands with the rear hanging on the springs, you did good.

[Dino]

Mine looks to be different. There's nothing to put a wrench on.  The bolt head is flat and round.   

The nuts came off real easy, as did the inner parts of the shackles.  But I can't seem to find the sweet spot in raising the axle to get the tension off those bolts.  Of course the exhaust is in the way so I can't easily tap the bolts.

I'll keep trying!

[Dino]

I figured it out...the bolts are part of the shackle and the top and bottom bolt need to come out at the same time.  I've got some movement going now. 

[Dino]

There we go!  Shackles and bushings are out, leaf spring eyes have been cleaned up and are ready for the new bushings.  Half of the bushings still looked decent but the other half was ripped and cracked.   

I ordered ruber bushings, do I need to apply any type of grease when installing them?  Or more precisely would it hurt?  It would make assembly a little easier.  I figured a bit of high temp wheel bearing grease wouldn't hurt.   

How tight do I need to tighten the nuts?  I can't get anything but a flat wrench on there so a guesstimate will do.   

[303 Mopar]

There we go!  Shackles and bushings are out, leaf spring eyes have been cleaned up and are ready for the new bushings.  Half of the bushings still looked decent but the other half was ripped and cracked.   

I ordered ruber bushings, do I need to apply any type of grease when installing them?  Or more precisely would it hurt?  It would make assembly a little easier.  I figured a bit of high temp wheel bearing grease wouldn't hurt.   

How tight do I need to tighten the nuts?  I can't get anything but a flat wrench on there so a guesstimate will do.   

Grease will help installing the bushings and won't hurt the rubber, but are only required with poly.  With no TQ wrench, I would just muscle them as tight as possible and then recheck/retighten after a few miles..

[green69rt]

Add a little liquid dish soap to some water and wet down the bushing and the bolt, makes thing slip on a lot easier.

[Dino]

Great!  Thanks fellas.   

[68 RT]

Do final tightening with the weight of the car on the springs. 

[Dino]

Will do!  I'll also retighten them after the first drive.   

[Dino]

I was about to clean up the shackles as the bushings arrived but it seems the bolts on mine do NOT run parallel, not even close...

I don't suppose it's a good idea to try to straighten them so I'll have to order a new set.  It's always something isn't it...

Anything wrong with the cheap ACDelco shackles?  I'm on a budget here...

[myk]

The shackles are bent?

[Charger-Bodie]

just straighten them... Also, if you have any solvent pre paint cleaner. that works awesome for making rubber slippery and evaporates so the rubber can work as designed.

[Dino]

Seriously bent.   

I was going to straighten them but they are in really sorry shape so I ordered a new set.  Not only are the side plates bent, the bolts themselves are seriously corroded and on two of them the threads are damaged.  Someone has had some issues with these in the past it seems.  For less than $40 shipped I'm not taking any chances.  No wonder the rear end was so touchy!  The bottom bushings were ripped to shreds.  Crazy stuff! 

Thanks for the solvent tip!  got plenty of that stuff laying around.   

Leaf springs on hold, time to go play with the window motors again.   

[Dino]

Got the new shackles and Moog bushings.  I don't think I've ever had to do a job on this car that was so easy, for once.   

One more job off the list, 70 more to go.   

[ottawamerc]

  Funny how some of these jobs can look so daunting and be as easy as making breakfast then something like changing a dash bulb can almost be the end to the car

Scott

[Dino]

LOL yeah you're not kidding!   

[440]

It's usually the simple jobs that you think will be quick end up taking 5x as long as you thought.