I bet it is nice when it all thaws out though.

 

A strange thing happened today. I actually got some thing put together.
This is very unusual.
Most of it is tight. I need a couple longer bolts for the steering box bracket though.

 

I'm not seeing a single thing I'm not liking!

 

Thanks Brian, I sure gained some floor space.

 

This is where the build gets exciting, Imo

 

Hell, this it the easy part. But it sure looks different with a little paint. and all the parts in one place
It is so easy my arms are sore this morning.needless to say the bolts are pretty tight.

 

A little more checking parts for fit. When I made all this stuff I was pretty careful to make fit together easy as possible and not bee loose. All the "ears" on the hangers and shackles are slightly out so when tight they contact the bushing all the way around but still slip together easy.

 

Do you think the ride quality will suffer with the poly spring bushings? The reason I ask is....

My truck has been developing a slight clunking noise in the front end for a few weeks now...seems to getting a bit worse , at least to my paranoid listening.

I can not find any visible signs of a problem, and no noises when I bounce, shake or rock the front end. I am starting to lean towards a spring bushing(s) going bad? Guess I'll have to dig in a little deeper in the next week or so.

 

I don't know for sure, My theory is there is so little rubber in the stock bushings it probably doesn't make much difference in ride.
I do think the stock bushings tend to rip themselves apart faster than a similar rubber bushing that is Say twice the diameter though.

One thing for sure the stock ones are a lot more fun to change.

Could your spring be lightly contacting the frame at the shackle end?

 

I found my spring eye was tapping the frame rail under the drivers seat when I used the truck like Bo and Luke Duke do on the weekends. As long as I don't hit certain (large) bumps at higher speeds, it doesn't contact the frame anymore.


And yes... the stock bushings ripped themselves apart within a couple years, which is totally asinine to me.

You're using Jungle's upgrade kit, right ? That's what I'm switching to the next time I have to do them over again.

 

The 2WD bushings are the same way. that is what started this whole episode.

I made my own shackle parts . But the greasable bolts is a great idea.
Jungle makes some real nice parts.

 

There is no contact between the rear spring eye and the frame. That was one of the first things I thought of, and checked. Only way to know for sure if the bushings are going south is to pull the springs I guess....

Guess I'll look into Jungles upgrade kit.

 

How silly of me.....

I've made greasable bolts myself on my drill press. 3/32 drill bit and locate the output tubes as necessary.

 

That works.
I can see in the future I will be going back and changing some little stuff that I wanted to do but thought: "It is too much of a time bandit right now".

 

I did some little stuff like plugged one of the ports to the front brakes on the balance valve. Then the retainers that wrap around the front springs and hung them on the truck.